Henley Women’s Regatta 2024 attracts record entry
The regatta has attracted record entries for a third year in a row, with a total of 579 crews entering this year, up by 32 crews compared to 2023
Oxford Brookes University winning the Ron Needs Challenge Cup at HWR 2023. (Photo: HWR/Jan Weldenhain)
Athlete numbers have risen to over 2,300 for the first time ever, up from around 2,150 in 2023.
There has been particularly strong growth in the championship and junior events, which have both attracted more entries than in previous years. With junior, student and club women’s eights a feature of Henley Royal Regatta since 2021, there is a continued rise in entries in the bigger boats at Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR). Entries for the Ron Needs Challenge Cup for championship eights have soared 33 per cent year-on-year to 20 boats. There are 24 entries in the Peabody Cup for junior eights and 31 crews are set to race for the Colgan Foundation Cup for aspirational academic eights.
HWR will also feature para-rowing for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic; three scullers are entered in the Grosvenor Cup for PR3 single sculls.
Once again, the most popular event is the Frank V Harry Cup for development coxed fours, which has 53 entries this year. It is the third year in a row where more than 50 crews have entered the event, which is designed to be an entry point to HWR for those near the start of their rowing careers. Meanwhile, 47 crews will race for the Rosie Mayglothling Trophy for aspirational double sculls, a huge jump from 30 crews in 2023.
HWR’s new Chairman Naomi Ashcroft said, “We are absolutely delighted to receive yet another record entry for Henley Women’s Regatta. It reinforces HWR as a world-class regatta, supporting the continued growth of women’s rowing. With this quality of entries the regatta really does promise to showcase some exceptional racing and we look forward to welcoming all the athletes, coaches and supporters between 21 and 23 June.”
The draw and timetable for HWR will be published on Tuesday, 11 June on the HWR website. Racing begins on Friday, 21 June with time trials, and finals take place on Sunday, 23 June in the afternoon.
Henley Women’s Regatta would like to thank key sponsors the Colgan Foundation and Wentworth House Partnership, and also recognises the continued support of The Copas Partnership.
