THE SPORT OF ROWING Grand Challenge Cup Ever since Ellis Ward had coached at Henley during Penn’s visit thirteen years earlier, professional coaches had been unwelcome at the Royal Regatta. In order to qualify for Henley, while the Varsity continued to prepare for New London under Wray, the Jayvees trained primarily for the “mile and five” under volunteer coach Robert Herrick.1520 Robert F. Herrick (1866-1942), Harvard ‘90, a successful Boston lawyer, had been stroke of the ‘89 Varsity and captain in his senior year.1521 Union Boat Club had the same issue and left home their own professional coach, Bill Haines, in favor of Edward C. Storrow, Harvard ‘89.1522 After easily defeating the Yale Jayvee in New London, the Harvard second crew boarded a night train to New York and embarked the following day on the White Star ocean liner Olympic, its sister-ship Titanic already two years in its watery grave. The arrival of the two American crews was big news on both sides of the ocean. The New York Times: “The Harvard men are not on the Thames but have ideal quarters at Rosellyn, in the heart of the town. The Union Boat Club of Boston pitched camp at Sonning, three miles upstream. “Henley already presents a festive appearance. Hotel accommodations are getting strained, and many Americans are already in evidence. The handsomest 1520 Dodd, Henley, p. 117 1521 Mendenhall, op.cit, p. 287 1522 Ibid. Kelley Bob Herrick and Jim Wray Saturday, June 27: “Coaching launches were forbidden, so Bob Herrick depended on an old white horse schooled to start and stop with the crews”1524 houseboat along the Henley course flies the Stars and Stripes and belongs to Alfred G. Vanderbilt, who has not yet arrived, but is expected to entertain a large party on the Venture, which is anchored in a choice position right at the finish and adjoining the fashionable Phyllis Court Club.”1523 Eight crews were entered for the Grand Challenge Cup, with heats scheduled for Thursday, July 2: Harvard University Leander Club Winnipeg Argonauts Rowing Club Thames Rowing Club Union Boat Club London Rowing Club Mainzer Ruder-Verein e.V. Jesus College, Cambridge 1523 Harvard Draws Leander in Race, The New York Times, June 29, 1914 1524 Mendenhall, op.cit, p. 288 406
