London Rowing Club, Club Men’s Eight
This was supposed to be London’s year. Heading into Henley Royal Regatta, they were hot favourites for the Thames Challenge Cup, having finished second at Marlow Regatta with an 11-second gap between themselves and Thames Rowing Club. Although they were unable to get the better of Thames in an epic Saturday showdown, this London crew followed up on their forebearer’s Wyfold Challenge Cup win in 2023 with a fantastic campaign that included two crews in the top ten at the Head of the River Race and a first win in the Boustead Cup for over ten years.
Thames Rowing Club, Club Men’s Eight
The way in which Thames overturned the odds at Henley Royal Regatta demonstrated how far this program has come. A decade ago, it would have been Thames on the receiving end of a mature, robust showing from an opposition who refused to roll over no matter how much was thrown at them. Sander Smulders and his team of coaches have developed this group into a Henley-winning machine with another three Trophies secured in 2024 (although the quartet of club events continues to evade them – for now).
Thames Rowing Club, Club Women’s Eight
Of all the Thames crews entered into Henley Royal Regatta in 2024, this boat looked the most assured of victory from the off. Despite a stacked Wargrave entry roster – including New Zealand national champions from Avon, a strong Australian contingent from Sydney and German upstarts from Ruderverein Münster, Thames once again placed two crews in the semi-finals, with their top-ranked boats running out comfortable winners ahead of London on the Sunday. This added to silverware collected at Henley Women’s Regatta, Wallingford Regatta and the Women’s Head of the River.
Marlow Rowing Club, Club Men’s Coxless Four
We simply love an insurgency, if not simply to avoid the monotonous reflection on rowing that four wins for one club would be. Marlow were the providers of this guerilla warfare approach in 2024, defeating Thames in the Wyfold Challenge Cup final in one of the most dramatic races of the day. Thames led them throughout, only for Marlow’s remarkable sprint finish to see them edge ahead before a clash 20 metres out left the latter to row clear. Marlow arrived into the event as narrow favourites, having finished as the fastest club-eligible four at Marlow Regatta, so a win was not altogether surprising but the manner in which they secured it will live long in the memory. That victory was one of three finals the club had on the docket at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta in a fantastic display of squad depth and breadth.
Molesey Boat Club, Club Women’s Coxless Four
This crew was a late entrant to the scene and although not strictly of club material – featuring New Zealand senior international Ella Cossill – the way in which they took on their field was worthy of a mention. Molesey have a storied history in producing quality club crews and this unit reached the finals of championship coxless fours at Henley Women’s Regatta before making the Saturday of the Town Challenge Cup and losing to the Canadian national team.
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