Changes for the 2025 regatta are marked in RED

Q: Is there a summary of all the exclusions for each event?

A. Yes, see the Qualification Grid document (above), which should be read with the Regatta Rules and Qualification Rules.

Q: We raced time only at WEHoRR 2023 due to an ineligible substitute. Our finish time would have placed us 40th, does this rule us out of the Frank V Harry 4+ event?

A: Any athletes in this WEHoRR crew are ineligible for the Frank V Harry 4+ event at HWR because their standard is such that they would have placed in the top 50. Athletes should remember that the WEHoRR placing is a “forever” rule and not a “for 5 years” rule.

Q: I qualified for the Remenham Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2022 and the Wargrave Challenge Cup in 2024. Do I need to race Championship in 2025 even though we didn’t win the Wargrave?

In 2022 there were no Qualifying races for the Remenham Challenge Cup. If you won a round of side by side racing in 2022 then yes, you need to race in a Championship level event at HWR in 2025. If you were beaten in your first side by side race in 2022 then No, you do not need to race Championship at HWR in 2025. HRR-List-of-Entries-2022.pdf.

Qualifying for/competing in the Wargrave Challenge Cup doesn’t mean you have to race Championship at HWR, but if you won the Wargrave in 2024 then Yes, you need to race Championship.

Q: I raced in the Oxford/Cambridge Lightweight crew in 2024, does this mean I have to race Championship?

A: You are not mandated to race Championship, but you are excluded from the Frank V Harry 4+ and the Fiona Dennis Lwt 1x. It is the athletes in the Openweight Oxford/Cambridge crews who need to race Championship level events.

Q: I won Lightweight 4x at BUCs in 2024 and then we won the Lightweight 4x event at EUSA. Do I need to race in a Championship event?

A: No, you are not mandated to race Championship based on your BUCS and EUSA result, but you are excluded from Frank V Harry 4+ and the Fiona Dennis Lwt 1x trophies.

Q: I won Intermediate Club 8+ in 2016, Can I race in the Copas Cup (Aspirational Club 8+) or the Lester Trophy (Aspirational Club 4-)?

A: Previous winners of Intermediate (Club or Academic) are excluded from the Frank V Harry 4+ only (see Qualification Rules). This is because up to and including the 2017 regatta, the Intermediate events were our entry level events.

Q: Your rules say that anyone who qualified via a time trial (except from the Frank V Harry 4+ or J18 or J16 events) is ineligible for the Frank V Harry 4+ in 2025. I raced in the Cathy Cruickshank Trophy in 2019 but no crews were eliminated from our time trial and we LOST in our first side by side race. Am I eligible for the Frank V Harry 4+ in 2025 if I meet all the other Development criteria?

A: Yes, you are eligible for Frank V Harry 4+ in 2025. The time trial was for seeding only and no one was eliminated.

Q: Your rules say that anyone who qualified via a time trial (except the Frank V Harry 4+ or J18 or J16 events) is ineligible for the Frank V Harry 4+ in 2025. I raced in the Cathy Cruickshank Trophy in 2019 but no crews were eliminated from our time trial and we WON our first round. Am I eligible for the Frank V Harry 4+ in 2025 if I meet all the other Development criteria?

A: No, you are not eligible for the Frank V Harry 4+ in 2025 because you won a round in an Aspirational level event.

Q: I got to the quarterfinal of J4+ in 2019. I then gave up rowing while at university but have now come back to rowing at my local club. I’m training with some people who have never raced at HWR. Can we race in the Frank V Harry 4+?

A: No, you are not eligible for the Frank V Harry 4+ in 2025 because you have previously won a round in your Junior 4+.

Q: Why are composite crews allowed in Senior events except the Frank V Harry 4+?

A: Composites were previously allowed in Senior and Elite events, but not in Intermediate. They are now allowed in Aspirational and Championship events (but not Development) to enable clubs with fewer athletes the opportunity to compete at this level. We would expect that, for the leading UK universities and clubs, their first crews may be racing in Championship and other crews will race in the Aspirational events.

Q: Can overseas crews race in Aspirational events?

A: Some overseas crews may be eligible to race in Aspirational level events. Any crew wishing to race in Aspirational will need to provide a rowing CV as per Regatta Rule 3.3. We expect American Division 1 crews to race in Championship. American Division 3 crews can enter Aspirational. Note: CVs are not required for crews entering Championship events or for crews entering Junior events but they must meet the age rules.

Q: Why can I only have 2 juniors in the Frank V Harry 4+ event? My club only has 1 eligible athlete but she has been rowing with 3 similarly eligible juniors during the winter.

A: The Frank V Harry 4+ is intended to be an event for Seniors. Clubs with lots of Juniors should enter the Junior 4+ event. The rule is set at 2 juniors to try and enable smaller clubs to form crews to participate in this event.

Q: Why have you not split the Development event into Club and Academic?

A: Having analysed the range and standard of entries over a number of years, offering a Club and Academic event at the Aspirational level rather than Development is appropriate as it reflects the improvement in women’s rowing. However, the Committee recognise that the regatta should support the pathway for less experience oarswomen and have offered a Coxed Four event. The Frank V Harry 4+ is the entry level event for the regatta, whether you are training as a student or otherwise.

Q: In the Qualification Grid, none of the Development 4+ exclusions are listed as *from 2020-2025. Why is this?

A: The Frank V Harry 4+ is our entry level event and the exclusions are based on ability and performance history rather than when you achieved that performance. We appreciate that people take time away from the sport for a variety of reasons, but if you have been successful in the sport historically then you will have a level of skill and ability that will quickly return when you return to training.

Q: I raced at an autumn regatta for my home club in September. I am now at University. Can I race in the Cathy Cruickshank (Aspirational Academic 4-) event for that University?

A: Yes, you can race for your university in an Academic event because you are a registered internal student for the year at that university.

Q: I am at University. I have not raced in a regatta for that University. Can I race for a local club in the Copas Cup (Aspirational Club 8+) or Lester Trophy (Aspirational Club 4-) events?

A: Yes, you can race in Club events if you have not raced in a regatta for that university.

Q: I decided not to continue rowing at university after the first term and so have come back home and am rowing with my local club while I job hunt. Can I race for my local club in the Copas Cup (Aspirational Club 8+) or Lester Trophy events?

A: Yes, you can race in Club events. As you are no longer a registered student at university you cannot race in the Colgan Foundation Cup or the Cathy Cruickshank Cup.

Q: I finished my PhD and graduated in January but have continued training with the other students, can I race in the Colgan Foundation Cup (Aspirational Academic 8+) or the Cathy Cruickshank Trophy (Aspirational Academic 4-) events this summer?

A: As you are no longer a registered student at university you cannot race in these Academic events but you can race in Club sweep events or any sculling events for which you meet the qualification criteria.

Q: Why is there a minimum number of crews required to enter for the event to run?

A: The committee believe that a HWR medal should not be won in a straight final. However, we recognise that the number of crews in some events is relatively small and have reduced the minimum to be 4 at CLOSE of ENTRIES. If 1 crew scratches after entries close the event will still run.

The Ron Needs Cup – for Championship Eights
The Avril Vellacott Cup – for Championship Coxless Fours
The Redgrave Challenge Vase – for Championship Coxless Pairs
The Borne Cup – for Championship Quadruple Sculls
The W. Peer Cup – for Championship Double Sculls
The George Innes Cup – for Championship Single Sculls

The Haslam Trophy – for Championship Lightweight Double Sculls
The Parkside Trophy – for Championship Lightweight Coxless Pairs
The Godfrey Rowsports Trophy – for Championship Lightweight Single Sculls

The Colgan Foundation Cup – for Aspiratonal Academic Eights
The Copas Cup – for Aspirational Club Eights
The Cathy Cruickshank Trophy – for Aspirational Academic Coxless Fours
The Lester Trophy – for Aspirational Club Coxless Fours
The Chairman’s Trophy – for Aspirational Quadruple Sculls
The Rosie Mayglothling Trophy – for Aspirational Double Sculls
The Bernard & Pauline Churcher Trophy – for Aspirational Single Sculls

The Fiona Dennis Trophy – for Aspirational Lightweight Single Sculls

The Frank V Harry Cup – for Development Coxed Fours

The Peabody Cup – for Junior Eights
The Groton School Challenge Cup – for Junior Coxed Fours
The Bea Langridge Trophy – for Junior Quadruple Sculls
The Rayner Cup – for Junior Double Sculls
The Di Ellis Trophy – for Junior Single Sculls

The Grosvenor Cup – for Para-rowing PR3 Single Sculls
The Vesta Cup – for Para-Rowing PR2 Single Sculls