Yale Cops Y-H Regatta

GALES FERRY—It was an especially momentous time to be on the Thames River last Saturday (June 6) as the Yale heavyweight crew team took down Harvard in three of the four races at the 156th Yale-Harvard Regatta. With more than just pride on the line, the Bulldogs persevered through unusual weather conditions that consisted of sun and clouds, rain and choppy waters. On Friday, the fourth varsity boat took a deciding nine-second victory over Harvard. Then on Saturday, despite the third varsity falling in the first race, the second varsity battled to a come-from-behind victory, while the first varsity absolutely dominated the four-mile-long marathon race.

“I feel so happy for the guys. All the races were contested,” said Steve Gladstone, Craig W. Johnson ’68 Head Coach of Heavyweight Crew. “It really was a great day. Nothing more satisfying than seeing the people you have worked with and trained demonstrate their speed. What's more satisfying than that? That is what we work for.”

In speaking on the 1V Crimson boat, Gladstone noted, “Harvard never let go once. That is four long miles, and they were on it and after it all the way up the course.”

Gladstone acknowledged that in a long race, truly anything can happen, but the Bulldogs were poised and paced by an experienced coxswain in Harry Keenan.

"Going into the race, we knew we were just going to do our thing; stick to our race plan, be prepared to battle to the end. It was a long race, it hurts a lot, so mentally going in there and preparing for that," said captain Fergus Hamilton on their preparation heading into the weekend.

It was a bittersweet day for not only Gladstone, who coached his final race at Yale before retirement, but also the senior class.

“It was Steve's last race and I think we had that in the back of our minds all week. We really wanted to get this one for him,” noted Hamilton. “There was also a moment for the seniors as well when you know you'll pass the rock for the last time and then you realize these are your last 20 strokes wearing a Y. It was definitely special, especially when you hear from your first year that you want to beat Harvard. No matter what results you get during the season, as long as you beat Harvard, you've had a successful season.”

With Gladstone at the helm, the first varsity boat has not lost a Yale-Harvard Regatta race since 2014. With IRA National Championships, Eastern Sprints and Ivy League titles under his belt, as well as numerous Coach of the Year honors, Gladstone will certainly go down as one of, if not, the best coaches in rowing history.

Final Results

1V

Yale – 19:14.9

Harvard – 19:26.6

2V

Yale – 14:29.4

Harvard – 14:33.3

3V

Harvard – 9:55.0

Yale – 9:57.3

4V

Yale – 9:54.2

Harvard – 10:03.1