Competition
Entries
Events
There are 25 events at Henley Women’s Regatta 2025 in championship, aspirational, development, junior and para-rowing categories.
Championship and championship lightweight events
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
Aspirational and aspirational lightweight events
The Colgan Foundation Cup – for aspirational 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 and Pauline Churcher Trophy – for aspirational single sculls
The Fiona Dennis Trophy – for aspirational lightweight single sculls
Development event
The Frank V Harry Cup – for development coxed fours
Junior events
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
Para-rowing events
The Grosvenor Cup – for PR3 single sculls
The Vesta Cup – for PR2 single sculls
Key entries dates for HWR 2025
Thursday, 1 May 2025: Entries open on BROE.
Thursday, 15 May 2025: Last day for international crews wishing to enter any event other than Championship, Championship Lightweight or Junior to submit rowing CVs for crew members to entries@hwr.org.uk
Friday, 23 May 2025: Date by which HWR will provide decisions to overseas crews as a result of CV submission
Tuesday, 3 June 2025: Entries close at 22:59 (UK time)
Saturday, 7 June and Sunday, 8 June 2025: Draw takes place
Tuesday, 10 June 2025: Draw published by 12:00
Friday, 20 June 2025: Racing starts at 09:00
Regatta and qualification rules
Please read the regatta rules carefully before entering.
The qualification rules set out below can also be downloaded as pdfs.
Any queries on competitor eligibility should be sent to entries@hwr.org.uk.
Championship events
- Open to members of any eligible club
- Composite crews allowed
- Coxes shall be born before 1 September 2011
- All other competitors must have been born before 1 September 2008 i.e. be at least J17
- American Division 1 crews, who have qualified for NCAA Championships, are expected to enter these events
- No CVs are required for these events.
Championship lightweight events
- Open to members of any eligible club
- Composite crews allowed
- No juniors allowed
- American Division 1 crews, who have qualified for NCAA Championships, are expected to enter these events
- The crew average must not exceed 57kg, and no competitor may exceed 59kg
- No CVs are required for these events.
Aspirational events
- Open to members of any eligible club
- Composite crews allowed
- Coxes shall be born before 1 September 2011
- All other competitors must have been born before 1 September 2008 i.e. be at least J17
- All overseas crews are required to submit a rowing CV (per Regatta Rule 3.3) detailing all wins, both rowing and sculling, to be considered for these events.
No crew may contain any competitor, who has been selected (including spares) for a(n):
- Olympic Games
- Paralympic Games
- World Rowing Championships
- World Rowing Cup
- World University Rowing Championships (FISU)
- World Rowing Under 23 Championships
- Commonwealth Rowing Championships
- European Rowing Championships or other continental equivalent.
No crew may contain any competitor who has, from 2020-2025 inclusive:
- Won gold in a women’s openweight championship or club event in any boat type at the senior British Rowing Championships (or the equivalent in any country) where there were 5 or more entries
- Won a medal at the World Rowing Junior/U19 Championships
- Won a medal at the European Rowing Under 23 Championships or other continental equivalent
- Won a championship/aspirational event at HWR in either discipline
- Won a BUCS Regatta gold medal in a championship openweight event in either discipline (or the equivalent in any country).
- For Irish crews, won a senior openweight event at University Championships
- Won a EUSA gold medal in a championship openweight event in either discipline
- Won a medal in either discipline at the NCAA regatta for openweight events or IRA Championship for Fiona Dennis Trophy (this exclusion does not apply to Division 3 universities)
- Qualified to race through the qualifying races, or won a round in an event with no qualifying races, in any open event at Henley Royal Regatta in either discipline
- Won a club/student/junior event at Henley Royal Regatta
- Been invited to closed GB trials or equivalent in any country (GB clarification: GB Rowing Team December trial and testing or April trial). Irish competitors who have been to any Irish closed trial should contact the entries secretary.
- Been selected for Oxford/Cambridge in any openweight crew (not the lightweight crew)
- Won a senior event at the Home International Regatta in either discipline (excluding Para categories and 500m sprint racing)
- For the Fiona Dennis Trophy* for lightweight single sculls only: Won a lightweight event at the Home International Regatta (excluding 500m sprint), or a lightweight championship BUCS Regatta (or USA IRA Championship) event or been selected for Oxford/Cambridge in the lightweight crew or won a championship or club event at the senior British Rowing Championships (or the equivalent in any country) or won a lightweight event at EUSA.
Aspirational club events
- No crew shall contain any competitor who is a registered internal student of an academic institution or school and who has raced in an open regatta (not head race) including BUCS in the current season (i.e. 1 September 2024 – 20 June 2025) for that club.
Aspirational academic events
- Competitors shall be registered full time students of the university, school or college for the whole of the academic year 2024/25. For those with a course start date between 1 January and 1 April 2025, they must be a registered full time student for the whole of 2025.
- A student (non-junior) studying at an academic institution not registered with their national federation may, upon written approval from the Race Committee Chairman, race in these events for an alternative affiliated institution.
Development event
- Open to members of any one club affiliated to British Rowing, Scottish Rowing, Welsh Rowing or Rowing Ireland
- Crews from Ireland must be of novice or club status level
- Crews are encouraged to use experienced coxes
- Any competitor who has competed in another country and wishes to take part in this event as a member of a UK club is required to contact the Entries Secretary
- Composite crews are not allowed
- Crews may contain a maximum of two juniors who must have been born before 1 September 2009 i.e. be at least J16
- Coxes shall be born before 1 September 2011
- No crew shall contain any competitor who has represented her country in any international regatta at any level/age.
In addition, no crew may contain any competitor who has at any time:
- Previously won any event at HWR
- Previously qualified via the time trial for any event at HWR except Development 4+ or any Junior or J16 events
- Previously won a round at HWR in any event except Development 4+
- Competed in any non-lightweight Championship event at BUCS Regatta
- Won a gold medal in a Lightweight Championship event at BUCS Regatta
- Won an Intermediate event at BUCS Regatta or Irish University Championships
- Won any event the British Rowing Senior Championships (or the equivalent in any country) in either discipline, irrespective of number of crews raced
- Won a medal at National Schools Regatta in a Championship event or won a medal in a J18 event at the British Rowing Junior Championships (or the equivalent in any country) in either discipline, irrespective of number of crews raced
- Placed in the top 50 in the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race
- Been classified as time only in the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race and achieved a time which would place them in the top 50 in that year
- Raced in any event at Henley Royal Regatta in either discipline, irrespective of whether there were Qualifying Races or not
- Been invited to closed Senior or Junior GB trial or equivalent in any country
- Been selected for Oxford or Cambridge in any crew (Open or Lightweight).
Para competitors or competitors wishing to enter this event should contact the Entries Secretary at entries@hwr.org.uk.
Junior events
All events are classified as Junior
- Open to members of any eligible club or academic institution
- Composite crews allowed; composite crews which include final triallists for the junior team or similar are expected to enter an Aspirational event
- Competitors including coxes must not have attained 18 years of age before 1 September 2024
- At least 50% of the crew (excluding cox) must be born between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2009. i.e. are J18, J17 or J16. The remaining crew members must be at least J15 ie born before 1 September 2010
- Competitors in the Di Ellis Trophy must be born between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2008 i.e. are J18 or J17. Any J16 or younger entries will not be accepted.
- Coxes shall be born before 1 September 2011.
Note: J16 Events have been withdrawn.
Para-rowing events
- Open to competitors who have a World Rowing Para classification
- Open to members of any eligible club or academic institution
- Competitors must have been born before 1 September 2008 i.e. be at least J17
- Where there are more than four entries the first round may be run as a time trial on Friday, 20 June 2025.
Eligibility FAQs
Changes for the 2025 regatta are marked in red and italics.
Q: Is there a summary of all the exclusions for each event?
A. Yes, see the Qualification Grid document, which should be read with the Regatta Rules and Qualification Rules (above).
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.
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 ccademic) 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 are 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.
How to enter Henley Women's Regatta
Entries must adhere to the Regatta Rules.
All entries must be made using the British Rowing Online Entries system (BROE).
Entry fees: £47 per seat. Refunds will be make promptly for any paid-for crew withdrawn before the close of entries.
Using BROE for Scottish, Irish and International crew entries
This requires a straightforward 4-step process:
- If your club is not already set up to use BROE, the club’s Entries Administrator should contact competitions@BritishRowing.org and ask to be set up
- Each competitor takes out a British Rowing Scottish & Overseas Race Licence
- The club Entries Administrator enters the crew in BROE
- The club Entries Administrator pays the entry fee in BROE.
We strongly recommend that clubs and their competitors start registering with British Rowing as early as possible to allow time to complete the process – remember that that every competitor needs to register on the system before entries can be made.
Please note that the last Monday in May is a bank holiday in the UK so British Rowing staff will not be at work that day to assist with the entry process.
The entry process and payment need to be complete before the close of entry (see Regatta Rules clause 4.2). Entries CANNOT be made after this date and any unpaid entries will NOT be accepted.
Contact our entries team on entries@hwr.org.uk as soon as you know that you plan to enter the regatta, We can help you through the process and assist with your queries.
Don’t forget that international crews wishing to enter Aspirational events must submit a rowing CV (per Regatta Rule 3.3) and the deadline for doing this is earlier than the closing date for entries.
Further entries actions
All boats must:
- Display display boat identification stickers comprising a 6-character (3 letters+3 digits) code on their boat. Find out more >>
- Be registered with the Environment Agency (EA) – a fee applies. Clubs affiliated to British Rowing can do this via British Rowing ClubHub. Otehr visiting crews can buy a temporary licence directly from the Environment Agency. Find out more >>
Overseas crews renting boats should check with the club or supplier regarding its boat identification stickers and EA registration, both of which are specific to the boat not the crew.
Travelling to the UK
Next regatta
19-21 June 2026
The road to HWR
In the run up to HWR 2025, we talked to Leicester RC scullers Eleanor Gough and Lizzie Webster – and their coach Howard Marsh – who went on to win the aspirational double sculls.
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