Day 2 Henley Royal Regatta

So, the day of their big race. The boys were down at the club preparing physically and mentally for their race. Meanwhile Tom's father and my friend Jeremy came over from Oxford to join me in the Leander Enclosure where we started with a jug of Pimms and did some serious people-watching (especially the ladies in their finery). Then we moved to the Steward's Enclosure for lunch and a very kind man approached us and offered to take us up into the Steward's viewing platform over the finish whilst they were at lunch - clearly a privilege afforded to very few. When he heard it was our first time at the regatta and that our son was rowing that afternoon he went off and brought back a few souvenirs for us.

We had a lovely lunch and watched the races - a dramatic and painful crash for a poor Norwegian crew, and some stunning neck to neck racing to the line. Then over back to Leander for a bottle of their own pink fizz whilst we waited for the boys to boat and to cheer them on their way. Then back to the finish line.

After a tense 30 minutes we watched them row to victory against their very worthy opponents, umpired by Matthew Pinsent who rowed to Olympic gold with Steve Redgrave. That means they are through to Day 3 of the Regatta, the notoriously tough Friday racing when they face a Germany crew. Whatever the outcome tomorrow I am proud to see our band of almost entirely state-school boys doing so well in a sport absolutely dominated by the big public schools.

We finished the day with a glass of champagne!

They race again tomorrow at 7.30pm streamed live on You Tube.