HENLEY, England -- The Mercyhurst College men's crew team continued its winning ways at the 2009 Henley Royal Regatta, taking its semifinal race in the Visitors Challenge Cup against Molesey B.C. by a 1/3 length verdict in a time of 7:12.
The Molesey B.C. crew is a traditional powerhouse where several national team members have come through the program.
The Lakers will now face the winner of the Isis B.C./N.U.I. Galway squad on Sunday at time to be determined for the Visitors Challenge Cup. Isis B.C. and N.U.I. Galway will compete today at 2:40 p.m. GMT (9:40 a.m. EST).
In Sunday's Championship, the Lakers will be just one of two crews from a field of 16 from all over the world that qualified for the Visitors Cup Challenge -- a division that is for club and university crews below The Stewards' Challenge Cup standard. No F.I.S.A. Senior national crew (heavyweight or lightweight) may enter for this event.
Mercyhurst has defeated teams from Ireland, Germany and England en route to the championship race. In the first round, the Lakers easily defeated two-time Henley champion and seeded Galway Rowing Club before taking on Berlin & Hannoverscher, Germany in the quarterfinals where they had their usual strong start. In the race against the German Crew. Mercyhurst led at the end of temple island by a six foot lead and at the first check point the Lakers had stretched their lead to one and half lengths. Berlin mounted a charge, but to no avail as the lakers extended their lead to three lengths by fawley and increased it to nine lengths by the finish.
Quotes from head coach Adrian Spracklen -
"Well, we made it. Unbelievable as it sounds. The conditions were hard going. It was a strong head wind and giving 42 pounds to each guy in the Molesley boat -- they were big guys. We had another good start that took us a quarter of a length lead by the quarter mile. We extended the lead to 2 lengths by Fawley (about half way). It was then that Molesley started to charge and charge they did. With 300 meters to go Molesley cut into the Mercyurst lead. Molesley poured on the pressure and with its weight advantage clawed away at the Mercyhurst lead. Molesley raised its rate to 42 and Mercyhurst scrapped to hold on. At the line the Lakers won by one third of a length. Jubilant, but exhausted the Lakers celebrated. The buzz in the crowd was who is Mercyhurst and where did they come from. Mercyhurst has become the surprise of the regatta and is amassing a following.
Tomorrow the Lakers face local favorite Oxford University in a David and Goliath battle. This is a monumental occasion for Mercyhurst. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would have a final like this. What an opportunity. The race is at 2:40 pm GMT. It can be heard over the Internet at regattaradio.co.uk"
First Round - Mercyhurst defeated Galway, Ireland - 3 lengths verdict, 6:55
Quarterfinals - Mercyhurst defeated Berlin & Hannoverscher, Germany - Easily, 7:07
Semifinals - Mercyhurst defeated Molesey B.C. - 1/3 length verdict, 7:12