Another record year in store for Henley Women’s Regatta
Henley Women’s Regatta continues to grow in size and strength, with 547 entries including 33 international crews
For a second consecutive year Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR) has attracted over 500 entries, well above the pre-Covid-19 high of 493 in 2019. Total entries are up from 518 in 2022 to 547, and around 2,150 athletes are set to race down the iconic course from Friday, 16 to Sunday, 18 June.
The number of crews in the Championship category has risen from 64 to 81, while Aspirational entries are up to 224 from 202 in 2022. Coxless fours entries are particularly strong this year, with a total of 14 Championship, 40 Aspirational Club and 18 Aspirational Academic crews entered.
The Frank V Harry Cup for Development Coxed Fours has again attracted the most entries, with 57 boats competing – the same as in 2022.
Of the 201 clubs represented, Marlow RC has the most entries, with 12 boats racing; Leander Club has
nine crews plus athletes in two composite boats. Thames RC is another big entrant, with 11 crews. The Putney club is one of three to be celebrating 50 years of female members in 2023, alongside Nottingham RC (eight crews) and Derby RC (two).
“Henley Women’s is going from strength to strength; each year it is the biggest achievement for some athletes, but for others it is a stepping stone on the way to Henley Royal Regatta. We are looking forward to welcoming all athletes, coaches and spectators, and to seeing some fast and close racing.” – HWR chairman Naomi Riches MBE
The 33 overseas entries are representing 22 clubs from Australia, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the USA. These include the University of Pennsylvania, fresh off a strong showing at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) championships at the end of May. Pennsylvania’s first varsity eight finished fourth in the grand final at the NCAAs and will contest the Ron Needs Cup for Championship Eights at HWR. They will be tested by Oxford Brookes University, who won the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Regatta earlier this year, among a field of 15 crews.
Other US universities making the trip across the Atlantic include Harvard University (racing as Radcliffe College), Princeton University lightweight women, and Georgetown University. Dutch crews are particularly well represented in sculling events this year.
A number of crews feature athletes who have represented Great Britain on the international stage. Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Ellen Buttrick has teamed up with Molesey BC’s Charlotte Coburn to compete in the Redgrave Challenge Vase for Championship Coxless Pairs. In the same event, look out for the Leander and University of London pair of Abigail Topp and Phoebe Snowden, who won silver in the women’s eight at last year’s World Under-23 Rowing Championships. Meanwhile, world under-23 bronze medallists Vwairé Obukohwo and Katherine George race in the W. Peer Cup for Championship Double Sculls.
Racing begins at 09:00 BST on Friday, 16 June with time trials.
The regatta will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
Henley Women’s Regatta would like to thank sponsors and benefactors Blue Peak, Oarsport, Samsung and Tim and Sarah Lohmann for their support.
