Next year’s Henley Regatta is sure to mark the achievements of Olympic gold medalist Andy Holmes, who died unexpectedly last month.
The British sporting legend, aged 51, passed away having contracted a disease thought to have been contracted through exposure to contaminated water.
Holmes shared much of his glory with Sir Steve Redgrave, who said: “I have received a huge number of calls, texts and messages from people who knew Andy, including young rowers telling me how he had inspired them.”
Many of those rowers will be at Henley from June 29th to July 3rd next year for a Regatta whose history has been made so much richer through Holmes’ participation.
The rower won his first event at Henley at just 19. He then used winning the Grand Event in 1982 as a springboard for Olympic success; two years later he was in the boat which pipped the Americans to gold in the coxed four.
It was Britain’s first triumph in Olympic rowing since 1948 and it was no fluke; two years on and it was gold again, this time in the coxless pairs with Redgrave.
What better way to spend a summer day then heading to Henley for the Regatta? Races tend to last seven minutes each so there is plenty of time to wine and dine between heats.
Try and grab a place by Temple Island, the place where races begin and a perfect spot to admire the water, meadows and tree-lined hills of this corner of South Oxfordshire.