HENLEY-ON-THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE, U.K. – The Columbia lightweight varsity eight went down to the wire against a heavier Université de Lyon (France) crew, but fell just short in the semifinals of the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta Saturday.

The Lions, battling a strong headwind, got off to the start they wanted and methodically pushed out to an open-water lead around the midway point. However, Lyon never panicked and crept up to Columbia setting up a stroke-for-stroke finish in the final quarter of the race.

Lyon used a pair of spurts to take the lead down the stretch and held on for the 3/4 length win to advance to the finals, where they will face Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus (Holland) Sunday.

Columbia's run was the furthest for a lightweight crew since 1929. Lyon is the only crew besides IRA National Champion Cornell to defeat the Lions' top boat this season.