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

The New Zealand men’s eight rowing in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta knocked out the Cambridge Boat Race winning crew today - watched by an enthusiastic Princess Anne.

The Princess Royal visited the regatta today to take in some of the racing and meet some of the star athletes. After watching the Kiwi eight defeat Cambridge in an impressive row, she demonstrated a very keen interest in New Zealand rowing by taking time out to chat to world champions Mahé Drysdale, Eric Murray and Hamish Bond and single sculler Emma Twigg.

The eights race was the headline race of the day, and Rowing New Zealand Chairman Bill Falconer and coach Dave Thompson joined the Princess Royal on the umpire’s launch to watch the entire race - with Thompson giving the Princess plenty of inside information on the Kiwi racers!

The Kiwi crew - Jade Uru, Tyson Williams, Chris Harris, Ben Hammond, Ian Seymour, Sean O'Neill, Hamish Burson and David Eade coxed by Great8 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.

In a reasonable headwind they got very close to the course records at the early checkpoints and left their more favoured opposition behind. They will now race the British number one eight in the semi final on Saturday, and of they get past that race 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 all made it through, though Duncan Grant was knocked out by Sweden's top heavyweight sculler Lassi Karonen and Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan were defeated by the unbeaten British double of Marcus Bateman and Matthew Wells.

Emma Twigg also made it through her heat but has now withdrawn on medical grounds. The men's quadruple scull also makes its first appearance at the regatta on Saturday.

Around 30,000 spectators filled the banks on the Thames for the day's rowing.