We have reached the summit. As a rowing community, there are few weeks in the calendar that we collectively look forward to more than Henley Royal Regatta. The unique match-racing style format, the frivolity and festival unfolding on the banks alongside a pomp and circumstance that transports the punter back through the pages of time itself. All of this is secondary though to the curvature of competition that angles upwards as the week unfolds. From heats on the Tuesday to finals on the Sunday, all roads lead to the red box. JRN will be with you every step of the way to provide the most comprehensive coverage of the Regatta available anywhere in the world – and we start with our exclusive set of event previews. Roll on the racing.
Total Entries: 29 (To be reduced to 16 by Qualifying Races)
Thames Rowing Club
In the 25-year history of this event, last year was the first time a club had won the Britannia Challenge Cup two years in a row. Attempting the hattrick to really stamp their authority, Thames are back with a strong line-up. With a strong presence at the Metropolitan Regatta at the very beginning of June, Thames took the win on the Sunday and a third place on the Saturday, finishing behind two university crews. They also were the top club level crew at the Head of the River Race in March, showing that they have a pool of talent behind their squad. With this sort of strength backing them, they will be most people’s favourites to win the Britannia Cup.
Kølner Ruderverein von 1877e.V., Germany
A German crew, Kølner Ruderverein von 1877e.V. have recently been put together but boast strong individual performances. With a previous U23 rower, German national champion in the eight and Head of the Charles Regatta winner, there’s a good amount of experience on-board. Raoul Overath, who will sit at three, has a 5:52 two-kilometre time on the ergo, so there is plenty of horsepower to call on in this boat.
Molesey Boat Club
The only club to beat Thames all season, Molesey took the win at Wallingford Regatta this year. Without anything to show at Metropolitan Regatta, they demonstrated their full force again at Marlow, claiming sixth place. Having not come across Thames since Wallingford, it will be a dog fight if they cross each other on the Henley straights.
Royal Chester
Royal Chester have never managed the win the Britannia Challenge Cup but 2024 might represent their best shot in recent memory. On the Saturday of the Metropolitan Regatta, they were within a second of the Thames crew, and four seconds off on the Sunday. Marlow Regatta saw them place in fourth, just over two seconds ahead of Molesey, but critically as the fastest club crew on the docket. Alexander Bain is a three-time winner of the Jackson Trophy whilst rowed at strokeman Henry Mcgarva has been at Royal Chester since 2008.
Los Gatos Rowing Club, U.S.A.
Travelling across the pond, Los Gatos are a part junior, part club outfit with California-bound Jackson Cheetham in the stroke seat. With a wealth of experience behind them, they have claimed wins at the Head of the Port, where they set the course record, the Pacific Invite, where they won heat two in the fastest time of the day, alongside a fourth-placed finish out of 90 crews at the Head of the Charles. With Alberto Lasso a past Henley semi-finalist in the Fawley Challenge Cup, they will be an interesting crew to watch.
Sydney Rowing Club, Australia
2015 was Sydney’s last win in the Britannia Challenge Cup and they’ll be desperate to reclaim the trophy. With a focus on fours rather than eights this year, they have a clear goal in mind and will come with intent. With each member picking up medals of different colours at the Australian national championships, including several of the gold variety, they will be one of the quicker crews in the category.
Koninklijke Amsterdamsche Roei -en Zeilvereeniging ‘De Hoop’, Netherlands
Semi-finalists in the Wyfold Challenge Cup last year – in an epic tussle with eventual winners from London Rowing Club – and beaten finalists in the Thames, ‘De Hoop’ return in 2024 to try and claim a much-coveted club title. This crew were second at the Bosbaan Voorjaarsregatta and placed third in the elite coxless four at the Holland Beker.
Riverside Boat Club, U.S.A ‘A’
With a vast contingent of crews present in the 2024 Regatta, Riverside clearly mean business. Club rowing is not exactly booming in the USA but Riverside are determined to buck the trend. This boat finished second at the summer nationals in the coxed four and third in the coxless four and also win the Independence Day Regatta in the coxed four. As to what that means in comparison to UK clubs, it’s hard to tell. The Stewards felt it was enough to pre-qualify them though.
Bremer Sport-Club e.V., Germany
Another German crew to make the trip in a record Henley entrant year for this proud rowing nation, Bremer have collected a range of results throughout the season, including fifth in the eight at the 2023 Northern German Chamionships, second at the Heineken Cup in the eight, third at the Bremer Ruderregatta in the eight and second in the Westelijke Rotterdam in the four.
Prediction
The Britannia Challenge Cup is a brutal event in 2024. The final could feature a number of different players. Molesey have earned an amount of credit, but might not quite be quick enough to make the final. Kølner Ruderverein von 1877e.V. are a strong crew, but haven’t quite got the edge they need to take the win. Thames and Royal Chester is a fight I am really looking forward to, as it will be tight, but I think Thames will just about have the edge on them. Sydney have some good results in the bag, but I believe will be knocked out on the Friday just before the final. Los Gatos are hard to predict, but given their schoolboy foundation might not have the horsepower to stick it out with the fastest in this category. De Hoop were extremely quick in 2024 and if this boat contains any remnants of the crews from 2023, they could be a dark horse. I think ultimately it may come down to Thames taking the win over Royal Chester, completing the hattrick and solidifying the Britannia as their event to lose.
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