A composite eight from Durham University, University of London and Leander Club beat Thames Rowing Club ‘A’ by 1/3 length to claim the Ron Needs Challenge Cup in a time of 04:55.21 amid blustery headwinds.
The wind meant that no record times were set during the final day, but there was still plenty of close racing to enjoy.
Molesey BC claimed the Avril Vellacott Cup for coxless fours after surviving a clash in the semi-final with Dutch crew AUSR Orca and winning by ¾ length. In the final, they had an easier win against Leander Club.
Sculling powerhouses Reading University won the Borne Cup for quadruple sculls, defeating a composite of four clubs comfortably, as well as the W Peer Cup for double sculls, with Bath University the runners-up.
Olympic and world lightweight women’s double sculls champion Imogen Grant, competing in her first Henley Women’s Regatta since 2018, took the George Innes Cup for single sculls, and had the trophy presented to her by her Paris 2024 doubles partner Emily Craig.
Grant, who is also an HWR Ambassador, said afterwards she had not been sure she would be able to compete after suffering a concussion last week in a bike accident.
“It feels really good,” she said. “Being back out on the water’s really special. Racing in Henley is always amazing because you’re so close to the bank, and you can hear the shouts and cheers of everybody on the bank and there was so much support out there this weekend.”
Thames RC and Oxford Brookes University BC both achieved a remarkable four wins in a row in the aspirational club and academic eights, but neither had an easy route to their trophies. Thames beat near neighbours London RC by just ¼ length for the Copas Cup, while Brookes defeated Newcastle University A by 1¼ lengths for the Colgan Foundation Cup.
Thames also took the Lester Trophy for club coxless fours, over Upper Thames RC by 1 length.
KSRV Njord won the Cathy Cruickshank Trophy for academic coxless fours, after an all-Dutch final against USR Triton.
A GB pathway composite claimed the Chairman’s Trophy for quadruple sculls, while Leicester RC won aspirational double sculls. The crew of Eleanor Gough and Lizzie Webster had had a pep talk from club mate Lauren Henry – the Paris 2024 gold medallist and new European women’s single sculls champion – before they raced, but confessed they could not really remember what she had told them.
However, Webster said: “It’s nice to have someone so supportive of the club. When she comes back to the club she steals our Nutella and things like that.”
Wycliffe College won the Bea Langridge Trophy for quadruple sculls for a third year in a row, but were pushed to the line by Marlow RC – the winning margin just ¾ length.
Surbiton High School took the Groton School Challenge Cup for junior coxed fours, and a composite of Nottingham RC and Northampton RC won the Rayner Cup for double sculls by a canvas over Walton RC.
Headington School achieved back-to-back wins in the Peabody Cup for junior eights. Coach Ryan Demaine said: “This event holds a very special place for us, because we’ve raced it for years, and been successful some years and some years not so successful. The event is held at a very prominent place in our calendar, it’s always been at the sharp end of the season and we’re trying to find more speed. When it comes together, this is where you start learning that it has.”
St Andrew BC’s Samantha Gough was unable to retain her title in the Grosvenor Cup for PR3 single sculls, losing in the final to new course record holder, 17-year-old Amalia Sangiovanni Vincentelli of Rob Roy BC.
Edinburgh University won the Frank V Harry Cup for development coxed fours, beating Surrey University by ½ length in the final. It was the third year in a row that the Scottish university has won this event.
Full results
