Photo by: Grace Mackinlay
Two UW Women's Crew On To Semifinals At Henley
July 03, 2026 | Women's Rowing
HENLEY-ON-THAMES, U.K. – The Washington women's rowing team won each of its quarterfinal races Friday, and will compete in the semifinals of The Island Challenge Cup and The Town Challenge Cup Saturday at Henley Royal Regatta.
Washington opened its quarterfinal races Friday with a win in The Island Challenge Cup, as the Husky women's eight, made up of athletes who rowed in the UW's first and second eights during the season, took on the top crew from Cambridge University in the U.K.
The Huskies, who led for the entire 2,112-meter race course, got a solid challenge from the Cambridge crew, but never surrendered the lead and won the race by, officially, two-thirds of a length. That Husky women's eight will face a crew from Durham University (U.K.) in a Saturday semifinal.
Washington's women's four made its Henley debut Friday morning in a race vs. Leander Club & Oxford Brookes Univ. (U.K.). Both coxless fours had an issue with steering in the early-going, but corrected themselves and completed a clean race the rest of the way. The Husky four led from start to finish and won by two and a half lengths.
Saturday, the Husky four will face Hollandia R.C. (NED) in a semifinal.
Earlier in the week, two other UW entries raced at Henley. A second Husky women's eight in The Island Challenge Cup had to compete in the qualification races and successfully made the final draw, but fell to a crew from Brown University in its opening race. UW alum and assistant coach Elena Collier-Hezel also qualified for The Princess Royal Challenge Cup (women's single sculls), but was beaten by veteran international sculler Vivian Preil of Hungary in their heat.
Fans can follow all of the competition, including a live (free) video feed, at Henley's website. Check that website later today for the schedule for Saturday's semifinals. The time in Henley-on-Thames is currently eight hours ahead of Pacific Time.
WASHINGTON LINEUPS
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "A"
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Izzy Michaelson (Everett, Wash.)
Stroke: Issy Melville (Hamilton, New Zealand)
7: Emily Myers (Oxford, England, U.K.)
6: Chloe Sheppard (Tewkesbury, England, U.K.)
5: Kalee Verd (Olympia, Wash.)
4: Jayna Palmer (Truckee, Calif.)
3: Katie Gardner (Cowbridge, Wales, U.K.)
2: Amelia Westbrook (Lincoln, England, U.K.)
Bow: Violet Holbrow Brooksbank (Monmouth, Wales, U.K.)
The Town Challenge Cup
Shell: Powerhouse
Stroke: Jess Weir (London, England, U.K.)
3: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
2: Zola Kemp (Wellington, New Zealand)
Bow: Cait Whittard (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)
The Princess Royal Challenge Cup
Elena Collier-Hezel (Buffalo, N.Y.)
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "B"
Shell: Jan Harville
Cox: Perry McLoughlin (Port Washington, N.Y.)
Stroke: Carmel Bollag (Seattle, Wash.)
7: Emily Downing (Marlow, England, U.K.)
6: Nienke Overgoor (Bunnik, Netherlands)
5: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash.)
4: Grace Worthington (Grand Haven, Mich.)
3: Caroline Law (Bellingham, Wash.)
2: Sofia Suhinin (Adelaide, Australia)
Bow: Margaret Young (San Anselmo, Calif.)
Washington opened its quarterfinal races Friday with a win in The Island Challenge Cup, as the Husky women's eight, made up of athletes who rowed in the UW's first and second eights during the season, took on the top crew from Cambridge University in the U.K.
The Huskies, who led for the entire 2,112-meter race course, got a solid challenge from the Cambridge crew, but never surrendered the lead and won the race by, officially, two-thirds of a length. That Husky women's eight will face a crew from Durham University (U.K.) in a Saturday semifinal.
Washington's women's four made its Henley debut Friday morning in a race vs. Leander Club & Oxford Brookes Univ. (U.K.). Both coxless fours had an issue with steering in the early-going, but corrected themselves and completed a clean race the rest of the way. The Husky four led from start to finish and won by two and a half lengths.
Saturday, the Husky four will face Hollandia R.C. (NED) in a semifinal.
Earlier in the week, two other UW entries raced at Henley. A second Husky women's eight in The Island Challenge Cup had to compete in the qualification races and successfully made the final draw, but fell to a crew from Brown University in its opening race. UW alum and assistant coach Elena Collier-Hezel also qualified for The Princess Royal Challenge Cup (women's single sculls), but was beaten by veteran international sculler Vivian Preil of Hungary in their heat.
Fans can follow all of the competition, including a live (free) video feed, at Henley's website. Check that website later today for the schedule for Saturday's semifinals. The time in Henley-on-Thames is currently eight hours ahead of Pacific Time.
WASHINGTON LINEUPS
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "A"
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Izzy Michaelson (Everett, Wash.)
Stroke: Issy Melville (Hamilton, New Zealand)
7: Emily Myers (Oxford, England, U.K.)
6: Chloe Sheppard (Tewkesbury, England, U.K.)
5: Kalee Verd (Olympia, Wash.)
4: Jayna Palmer (Truckee, Calif.)
3: Katie Gardner (Cowbridge, Wales, U.K.)
2: Amelia Westbrook (Lincoln, England, U.K.)
Bow: Violet Holbrow Brooksbank (Monmouth, Wales, U.K.)
The Town Challenge Cup
Shell: Powerhouse
Stroke: Jess Weir (London, England, U.K.)
3: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
2: Zola Kemp (Wellington, New Zealand)
Bow: Cait Whittard (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)
The Princess Royal Challenge Cup
Elena Collier-Hezel (Buffalo, N.Y.)
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "B"
Shell: Jan Harville
Cox: Perry McLoughlin (Port Washington, N.Y.)
Stroke: Carmel Bollag (Seattle, Wash.)
7: Emily Downing (Marlow, England, U.K.)
6: Nienke Overgoor (Bunnik, Netherlands)
5: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash.)
4: Grace Worthington (Grand Haven, Mich.)
3: Caroline Law (Bellingham, Wash.)
2: Sofia Suhinin (Adelaide, Australia)
Bow: Margaret Young (San Anselmo, Calif.)
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