July 7, 2008

HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England - California rower Will Dean won the Grand Challenge Cup at part of Canada's under-23 men's eight at the Henley Royal Regatta on July 6 on the River Thames. Dean, who will be a junior this fall, and Canada's eight defeated USC by two boat lengths in a time of 6:29. In addition, former Golden Bear and current U.S. Olympian Elliot Hovey tuned up for the Beijing Olympics when he paired with Wes Piermarini to win the Double Sculls Challenge by one and one-fourth boat lengths with a time of 7:35 at Henley.

Dean was a member of Cal's varsity eight that took third place at the 2008 IRA Regatta.

Also in the Henley regatta, Hovey and Piermarini rowed in the California Rowing Club's quadruple sculls, losing in the Queen Mother Cup to Estonia's Olympic boat with a time of 6:47.

Hovey and Piermarini claimed a 2008 Olympic berth in the double sculls when they won the first two races in the best two out of three final series June 11-12 at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J.