"You know it is a momentous day when Six-times Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Redgrave is brought to tears. His beloved Marlow Rowing Club, sitting on a quiet bend in the Thames upstream from the Henley regatta course since 1871, had never actually won the World Cup for Men's Fours. 

He's a Marlow boy and he completely choked up." I am speaking to Kieran Collins, father of Mac Collins (OR23) & member of the winning Riverview 1st VIII in 2023, after watching his son row down the famous Henley course and take the prize. We have all heard of how prestigious the Henley Regatta is and being in the finals is a major feat. Making it onto the podium puts you in a very special league of elite rowers. I asked Kieran how Mac came to be in the Marlow crew. "He was in London and reached out to Oxford-Brookes rowing club. They advised "there's no point hanging around here because you're not going to college. You're not going to enjoy it". 

So, Oxford-Brookes put him on to Jamie, the head coach at Marlow. They had a cup of coffee in February this year. He joins and starts at the bottom as the new kid. The men in his crew are London based professionals and have collectively rowed 15 Henley Regattas. This was Mac's first attempt." The Marlow Club coach Jamie was taken by Mac's outlook early on. He said "You know what I like about Mac - He's tough. He's not just tough. He's proper, tough"! That toughness was in evidence at the end of the 2112 metre race, when the Marlow four came from behind to beat the more favoured crew from the Thames Rowing Club. 

It was also great to have Riverview Rowing MIC Dan Noonan on the banks of the Thames cheering Mac and the Marlow crew on. He's raced at Henley before. He knows how tough it is to get to the final, let alone win it. "It was a terrific result for Mac. Mac and his crew showed their determination and will to win by coming from 1 length behind and overhauling the Thames crew in the last 300 meters. This caps off another amazing season for Mac after stroking the undefeated 1st VIII last year for Riverview", added Noonan.

Congratulations to Mac from the OIU on this really special result and good on Mac for having his Old Ignatians' tie handy to wear to the medal ceremony!