3 Jul 2010

New Zealand Eight defeats Boat Race winners as Princess Royal looks on

8:56 am on 3 July 2010

The New Zealand men's eight rowing in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta have knocked out the Cambridge Boat Race winning crew while being watched by Princess Anne.

The Princess Royal visited the regatta to take in some of the racing and meet some of the star athletes.

The New Zealand crew of Jade Uru, Tyson Williams, Chris Harris, Ben Hammond, Ian Seymour, Sean O'Neill, Hamish Burson and David Eade coxed by steerswoman Alison Williams dominated their clash with the Light Blues, taking a decisive early lead and extending it through the middle of the race in an impressive row.

They will now race the British number one eight in the semi final on Sunday, and if they win will face either the German world champions or Canada's top boat.

World champion Mahe Drysdale, the men's pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, the lightweight world champions Storm Uru and Peter Taylor and the women's quadruple scull of Louise Trappit, Emma Feathery, Paula Twining and Fi Paterson also made it through their heats.