Harvard Crews Win but Must Oppose Each Other in the Semifinals at Henley

HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England —  Independence Day produced victories for the United States that guaranteed it a place in the final of the Royal Henley Regatta, an event that American crews have won in five of the last seven years.

However, success also brought about the semifinal contest today that the 16 oarsmen and both coxswains from Harvard had hoped to avoid--a confrontation between the university’s freshmen and and junior varsity crews.

That became certain Friday after the junior varsity crew had beaten the 1984 winners, Brown University, by 1 lengths and after the freshmen were even more impressive in defeating a composite first and second crew from Cambridge University by 1 1/2 lengths.

But the sense of achievement was mixed with other feelings. “It’s a long way to come to row each other,” freshman Coach Ted Washburn said.

Junior varsity Coach Harry Parker agreed, saying: “It’s most unfortunate . . . But at least we can look forward to one Harvard crew guaranteed in the final.”

Both Harvard crews know that a major danger will be last year’s finalist, Garda Siochana. The Irish Republic police crew took out Princeton University’s determined crew, which gave away 35 pounds a man, by 1 3/4 lengths.