Exciting racing awaits at Henley Royal Regatta
The Draw for the 2024 edition of Henley Royal Regatta has created a thrilling set of match-ups up on the opening day with the prospect of more to come on the path to Finals Day on Sunday, 7 July
Sir Steve Redgrave doing The Draw for Henley Royal Regatta. (Photo: Ben Tufnell)
The open events at Henley are generally slightly different in Olympic years and 2024 is no exception, with most – although not all – national crews absent as they complete their final preparations for Paris. And with a record number Entries – and number of races – across the 26 events, the challenge for competitors and the thrills for spectators remain as high as ever.
“The range of athletes and crews competing on the opening days of the Regatta is indicative of a racing schedule that is not only exciting, but in very good health,” said Sir Steve Redgrave, Chair of the Committee of Management for Henley Royal Regatta. “We are delighted to see so many crews selecting Henley Royal Regatta as one of their cornerstone summer races, including several boats that are headed to the Paris Olympic Games in just a few weeks’ time. Many will view winning a trophy next week as a key part of their preparation.
“We have selected crews based on their performances and also on geography – so as to offer the most compelling racing as the week progresses. With a record overseas Entry in 2024, we want to give athletes competing at Henley Royal Regatta the best possible experience at one of the toughest side-by-side rowing events in the world.”
The ‘Zeidler Zone’
The Draw held in Henley Town Hall on Sunday, 30 June, revealed intense anticipation, particularly among scullers who were selected and spread out in The Diamond Challenge Sculls. Oliver Zeidler, the holder as well as current World and European Champion in the Men’s single sculls, will be competing for his fourth Henley title, and many will have hoped to avoid him. Selected on the other side is Jacob Philal, the USA’s representative in the single scull at the Olympic Games, who secured his seat at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta. Such is the depth of the field, some Paris-bound scullers have not received a bye to the second round.
With byes to the second round, both Zeidler and Philal will race first on Thursday.
Home and Away in The Island
In The Island Challenge Cup for student women’s eights, the Draw has neatly separated the bulk of the international entries, including fast boats from the Netherlands and the USA, and the UK’s domestic favourites from Oxford Brookes. With a completely new line-up to the crew that won in 2023, Brookes arrives at the Regatta from winning the premier Ron Needs Challenge Cup for Championships Eights at Henley Women’s Regatta.
A transatlantic Grand Challenge
The best of the British will meet a crew from either the USA or Canada in the final of The Grand Challenge Cup, in what promises to be one of the races of the Regatta. With the top eights from Oxford Brookes and Leander, plus the US collegiate national champions from the University of Washington all receiving a bye to the semi-finals, it will be development crews from the USA and Canada who will face off on the Friday for the chance of trying to unseat a fearsome Husky outfit.
(Nearly) Totally Thames in The Wargrave
For the second year in a row, Thames’ women have qualified four eights into The Wargrave Challenge Cup. With two crews on either side of the Draw, there is a possibility of an all-Thames affair in the semi-finals. However, to make history, they will need to overcome significant international competition, including New Zealand national champions from Avon Rowing Club.
A wonderful weekend awaits
Although the first day’s racing on Tuesday will throw up a host of superb races, the weekend looks set to be one of the most intriguing in recent years. In The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, Wycliffe’s ‘A’ crew – who are unbeaten national champions – might well face their ‘B’ boat in the semi-finals, both having received a bye to Thursday. In The Temple Challenge Cup, Harvard’s unbeaten lightweights could meet the defending champions from Oxford Brookes on Saturday, whilst Princeton’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ boats could convene on the other side of the Draw. In The Queen Mother Challenge Cup for open quads, the American and Estonian national boats have been kept apart, potentially leading to a Saturday showdown with the newly-appointed German Olympic quad.
Prince Philip shows its strength
Despite only being introduced in 2021, The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy has quickly become one of the most coveted prizes. With the fastest three American schoolgirl crews competing in 2024 alongside the Australian national champions, the early rounds will promise fierce competition, including a notable match-up between 2023 Semi-Finalists from Winter Park, USA, and St Catherine’s School of Australia.
Three’s a charm
After a tremendous season so far for both their boys’ and girls’ squads, Hinksey Sculling School, a community rowing program in Oxfordshire, will have three crews racing at Henley Royal Regatta for the first time. After qualifying their Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup eight yesterday, these nine athletes will join their National Schools-winning women’s eight and a quad containing two previous finalists in the Fawley Challenge Cup in the hunt for silverware. If Hinksey were to win either of the school eights events, this would be the first domestic club victory in history.
