Not everyone dreams of racing at Henley Royal Regatta. Many of us in fact are content at racing at our local events. However others may want the opportunity to race for glory on the 2112m course. As you grow into this sport, these dreams either materialise, or grow more unrealistic and unfortunately, this realisation is more likely to fall onto female rowers beyond the junior level. Despite 51% of British Rowing members being female (out of 50,000 members), the opportunity for them to compete at Henley is unequal. This is why, and how we could fix it.
A common myth about HRR is that there is parity between women’s and men’s events. Though that may be the case for the Junior and Open events, it simply isn’t true, with all the other categories only having 1 event for women, or in the case of intermediate, none. Only 10 of the 26 total events at HRR are for women. It is very clear to see that women’s and men’s events are unequal, and do not represent the number of women rowing in the UK, let alone globally. This resurgence of women in rowing, especially among the younger years, is a great opportunity for HRR to show the strength of the women’s rowing scene.
Adding insult to injury, the only events for women in the student and club categories are 8s. It is unrealistic to expect a top 8 from programs across the country, as it is hard for many smaller clubs to put out an 8 regularly. Not only is it hard to put 8s out, but they are also expensive, and you also have to factor in extra equipment such as coxboxes and speakers, which add up over time. It also allows big clubs like Oxford Brookes or Thames to benefit, due to the massive squad depth, and investment they have in boats, equipment and development. While I don’t think the 8s categories of The Island and The Wargrave should be removed, as it is a great demonstration of the momentum women’s rowing has, there are other solutions which can help get more women participating in HRR.
The HRR schedule is already packed, and with rumours of a 7 day HRR, changes to events need to be made to allow for more women’s events. The addition of an intermediate women’s 8 event, as discussed by Hugo Gulliver on the End of The Island Podcast, will help to promote a high level of women’s rowing. However, it is not enough, and it will only benefit the high level programs. Another quad event, perhaps in the intermediate category, would encourage more sculling, and would help female scullers compete at the level they are at, rather than forcing them to compete against national team athletes in the open category. A club coxless or coxed four event for women would allow for a wider variety of clubs to participate, and a better representation of clubs in this country. Lastly, another missing category is a women’s coxed four, perhaps in the student level, to allow competitive schools or universities. However, due to the controversy surrounding the Prince Albert racing we have seen, I’m hesitant to add a category in.
To allow for more events, cuts do need to be made to others. One event which could have cuts is the Prince Albert. Despite 47% of PA entries competing in the event, the reality was that the racing was very uncompetitive throughout the week. The verdict in the final of 3 3/4 boat lengths is an accurate representation of the racing we saw throughout the week. But surely eliminating men’s events at the regatta conflicts the principle that the event should be equal and comes across as more radical feminism rather than equality.
This leaves one remaining question, what will happen to HWR if more women’s events are added to HRR? I don’t think an increased number of events at HRR would take away from HWR, as HWR is a celebration of women’s rowing, and its categories allow competitors from clubs around the UK, and globally, a fair opportunity to race on the Henley course. It has a wide variety of events, which HRR doesn’t cater to, and it gives an opportunity for crews to race other crews with similar abilities. And, an expansion of HRR categories could, in fact, increase the HWR entries, as crews will want a practice run on the HRR course.
To conclude, HRR needs to, and should, make more room for female rowers. It needs to continually evolve to keep up with the times, otherwise, it risks becoming out of touch with the community it seeks to represent.
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