The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup – Our Favourite Races

The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup is the event for junior women’s quadruple sculls – the only junior women’s event held at Henley Royal Regatta. Due to this, it is always a popular event, and the draw must often be cut down to the top 20 crews for the racing. Each year a selection of the most promising junior athletes from around the world come together to race in this event, pushing the standard up and up. Since its inauguration in 2012, there have been a great number of hugely exciting performances from the crews entered; here’s a summary of our favourites.

2013 – Latymer Upper School vs. Headington School – Final

The Latymer Upper crew set a course record, reaching Fawley in 3.35 minutes, and finishing with a time of 7.26 in their 2013 final. This was the second year that the event ran, and the first time it ran with a view of permanency; the previous, introductory year having been viewed as a trial run. The strength and tenacity of the Latymer crew is evident in the fact that they won by a gap of 4 ½ lengths – a feat which is made particularly impressive given Headington’s formidable reputation. Though there is no video footage to help generate an accurate portrayal of this race, the fact that it wasn’t until two years later that the course record was broken by the victorious Gloucester crew in the 2015 final suggests that this was most definitely a strong start to the continuation of what has become one of the most exciting and competitive events at Henley Royal.

2016 – Gloucester RC vs. Headington School BC – Final

Coming into this final Headington were the crew to beat, having been 3 seconds faster to the barrier in their semi-final than the Gloucester crew were in theirs. Both crews had two athletes who went on to compete in GB junior trials, whilst the Gloucester crew were also gold medallists in the coxless four at National Schools’ Regatta. Gloucester took the lead off the start, staying ahead of the Headington crew by a canvas for the first few hundred metres, before Headington made their move to draw level with their competition. Both crews set an incredibly powerful rhythm, demonstrating maturity beyond their years, and providing top-class rowing for their spectators. The race was close throughout, with the crews side-by-side for much of it. Indeed, their technique and ability were so impressive that it seemed impossible to call which way the win would go. As they came into the last few hundred metres, Headington made their move, trying to catch the Gloucester crew who clung to their pace, holding off their competitors. Perhaps it was the knowledge that they were the underdogs coming into the race, perhaps the fact that Gloucester had dominated the Diamond Jubilee event for the previous two years: whatever the reason, the Gloucester crew allowed nothing to get in between them and the win, sprinting into the finish with finesse, power and class and winning by just ¾ of a length.   

2016 – Nottingham RC vs. Lady Eleanor Holles School BC – Heats

Though not quite as nerve-wracking as a final, this race was nonetheless a competitive one! Both Nottingham and Lady Eleanor Holles had had a fantastic season, with the LEH crew members winning bronze in the girls’ championship VIII at National Schools’ Regatta and the Nottingham crew having come 6^th in the coxless quad, also at National Schools’. Both had a strong start, remaining neck and neck past the island. The Nottingham crew made their move, taking the lead over the LEH crew with a rate of 34, in comparison with the LEH crew’s lower rate of 32. However, the Nottingham crew kept relaxed, with very tidy blade-work and a smooth rhythm. Coming into the final stages of the race, the headwind began to take its toll on both crews, though here Nottingham showed the strength of their cohesion, demonstrating their superior timing as the LEH crew began to show signs of flagging. However, they kept their determination until the end, refusing to break contact with their opposition and beginning to catch up with the Nottingham crew. It wasn’t enough, and Nottingham finished triumphant, just ½ a length ahead and eager to discover whether they would be racing Warrington or Henley in the semi-finals!    

2017 – Henley RC ‘B’ vs. Headington School BC ‘B’ – Heats

This race saw Henley RC up against old rivals Headington School BC. Conditions were generally good, although a crosswind saw both crews veer out of their stations off the start, with Henley heading dangerously close to the booms and buoys. Once both crews had regained their lines, Headington was ahead by ½ a length, settling into a strong rhythm and demonstrating just how well-drilled a crew they were. As the crews came past Fawley, Henley had taken the lead, driving on through the wind with solid strokes. Despite intervention from the umpire – largely due to the persistent crosswind – both crews were rowing nicely, with Headington trying to catch the Henley crew who were still just ahead. Coming through Stewards’, Henley was still ½ a length up, with Headington beginning to wind into their finish, though finding themselves slightly too close to the booms to do so comfortably. Henley won the race by ½ a length, though both crews deserved praise for their well-executed races, with almost flawless technique demonstrated by each boat. It was a tough race due to the fact that the crews were incredibly well matched meaning no respite was available for either at any point, but the girls handled it well and proved their abilities.

2018 – Latymer Upper School ‘A’ vs. Ruderverein Kreuzgasse – Heats

This race between Latymer Upper School ‘A’ and Ruderverein Kreuzgasse is perhaps one of the closest races to have taken place over more recent years. Both crews had an aggressive start, remaining level with one another past the island and settling into explosive, attacking rhythms. Despite Latymer’s successes of the season making them intimidating competition – they took second place at National Schools’ Regatta, won Schools’ Head whilst setting a new course record and were finalists at Henley Women’s where they lost out to Henley – it was Kreuzgasse who had the faster time by 17 seconds of 7.38 coming into this race. The crews remained close coming through Fawley, and it was becoming obvious exactly how powerful and unified each crew was. Moving into the second half of the race, Latymer made their move, gaining half a length’s advantage over the Kreuzgasse boat, though the German crew retained their solid rhythm and held contact. Despite the closeness of the race, both crews kept their focus in the boats, and it was this determination to row their own race which contributed further to the intensity of the race, with both demonstrating an athletic maturity beyond their years. In the final few seconds of the race, Kreuzgasse reeled the Latymer crew in, and it seemed as though they might be the ones to take the victory; indeed, a photo finish was required to determine who had won. After a few very tense minutes, it was declared that the Latymer crew were victorious, though only by a margin of 6 inches! Overall, it was an incredibly well-executed, entertaining, and mature race from both crews, whose performances served as a reminder of just how fantastic junior racing can be.

2018 – Y Quad Cities Rowing Association, USA vs. Marlow RC – Final

This was the first time in four years that the final of the Diamond Jubilee Cup didn’t contain a Gloucester RC boat! This year, it was local club Marlow racing the American Y Quad Cities crew. In their semi-final the Y Quad crew set a new course record with a time of 7.23, replacing the record previously held by Latymer Upper School. However, whilst Marlow had a very fluid start – despite drifting out towards their opposition passing the island – the Y Quad crew had a rather more turbulent start, with one athlete catching a crab just a few strokes into the start. For a while, Marlow managed to retain their ½ a length lead, holding off the Y Quad crew – which contained athletes who had previously raced at junior worlds. Coming through into the final stretch, Y Quad took the lead, putting clear water between themselves and Marlow, and demonstrating their tidy technique and prowess. Marlow dug deep but were unable to catch their opposition who won by 4 ½ lengths. For such young crews – three members of the Y Quad boat were just 16 – this was a top-quality, highly impressive race, and despite being less close than others, was a showcase of outstanding ability and promise which these young athletes have.

2019 – Latymer Upper School BC vs. Headington School BC – Final

The most recent final of the Diamond Jubilee cup was also one of the most exciting. With a draw reminiscent of the 2013 final (also between Headington and Latymer Upper School), Headington were certainly the favourites, having taken bronze in the quad at National Schools’ Regatta, an event where their opposition didn’t even make it to the final. Headington had a slight steering issue off the start, but quickly recovered, although by this point Latymer Upper were already striding ahead, intent upon widening the gap. Headington managed to get back on their rhythm, but the Latymer crew held their lead. By the half-way point, Latymer were over a length ahead, whilst Headington were rowing in their dirty water, unwilling to sacrifice the middle line. Despite some lingering uncertainty as to which way the race was going to sway, by the time the crews reached Fawley, it was apparent that if Headington were going to manage to reclaim the lead they’d have to put in a huge effort. Latymer’s style was long and strong, their confidence and comfort in their race plan evident in each stroke and their symmetry and cohesion as a crew was hugely impressive for such young athletes. Headington tried to make a move in the last few hundred metres, but it wasn’t quite enough to catch the Latymer crew, who sailed into the finish in disbelief at their achievement, winning by 1 ¾ length.

To win the prestigious Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup is a huge achievement and over the years it has become one of the most exciting events Henley Royal has to offer. Hopefully, this recap of some of the most impressive races over the years serves as motivation to those hoping to race at Henley next year, as well as reminding us all of just how inspiring junior racing can be.

This article was produced as part of our Phantom Racing series for the 2020 regatta season. 

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Lucy Lloyd

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