Henley Women’s Regatta is excited to reveal this year’s official, limited edition poster, designed once again by Andy Tuohy – this year in support of the University of Reading initiative ‘Show Your Stripes’.
24 February 2025
The eye-catching design incorporates ‘warming stripes’, a visual representation of how temperatures have increased around the world since the industrial revolution. The concept was created by Reading climate scientist Professor Ed Hawkins, with each stripe representing one year and the colours transitioning from cool blues to warm reds to represent the increases in temperature seen throughout the past 150 years or more.
The poster uses the climate stripes specific to Oxford, a few miles up the river from Henley-upon-Thames, and shows how the local temperatures in the Thames Valley have soared in recent years.
The impact of warming temperatures is having a growing impact on rowing. In the UK, rising rainfall leading to more frequent flooding and stronger river flow, in turn causing the cancellation of around a third of planned winter head racing, including in Henley itself in recent weeks. In turn, this impacts clubs’ revenue and can reduce the number of people who start and stick with the sport, as they are less likely to commit when they are unable to get on the water. Elsewhere in the world, low water levels or excessive heat can restrict rowing activity.
This year’s HWR coincides with Show Your Stripes Day 2025 – Saturday, 21 June. The climate team at Reading are calling on individuals, businesses, and cities around the world to highlight their local climate stripes and share the powerful message they convey.
Designer Andy Tuohy said: “It has been my absolute honour to rise to the challenge of producing a different take on the posters for Henley Women’s Regatta for over a decade now. This year was no exception.
“The inclusion of the climate stripes was an additional challenge and I am very happy with the result. Climate change is something I worry about on a daily basis and is without doubt the biggest challenge we face, one I am sorry to see governments around the world doing very little to address. Show Your Stripes is a very good way to demonstrate graphically how critical the situation is.”
HWR chairman Naomi Ashcroft said: “The HWR poster seemed an excellent way to promote the ‘warming stripes’ and Show Your Stripes Day, raising awareness of the multiple impacts of our warming planet and prompt all of us to consider how we can take action to reduce the rate of climate change and minimise these impacts for future generations.
“Hopefully, the poster will evoke conversations which will ultimately lead to actions, no matter how small, that start to contribute to the bigger picture.”
The official HWR 2025 poster can now be purchased from the HWR shop, along with copies of the other stunning posters designed by Andy Tuohy since 2013. Delivery is from 1 April.
For more information about Show Your Stripes and to view or download the climate stripes for your area, visit the Show Your Stripes website.
Order your poster now!
