Henley Royal Regatta 2024 – Another Record Breaking Year

*BROOKES|Rowing took another step into greatness with another illustrious set of results at Henley Royal Regatta.*

After qualifying a record 103 athletes to the regatta, the stage was set for the most competitive and challenging racing on the calendar. After last year’s success, there was a potential question mark around where Brookes could go having written themselves into the history books with 7 wins out of 7 on Finals day.

The week included abhorrent conditions for racing and spectating; this added another dimension to the true test that it is Regatta week. Sunday started with 9 crews in 8 finals. By the end of finals day, Brookes had recorded yet another astonishing haul of silverware. The first-time club level crews have won the Grand, the Remenham and the Stewards in the same year, alongside a second sweep of the student events.

One of the stand out races of the entire week was the Remenham Challenge Cup. The crew was made up of the bones of the Island winning crew from the previous year. The draw had meant they were against the stiffest opposition, on the outside station each race throughout the week. In the final, Brookes lined up against the quasi-USA 2V. After a scintillating start, the Brookes women immediately established a half a length lead coming out of the island. The crew from America held the Brookes women there and threw numerous punches throughout the middle part of the race. Approaching the enclosures, the US had closed the gap to just a canvas and looked to take advantage of the inside station approaching the finish. In an astonishing sprint to the line by both crews, Brookes somehow kept their bows ahead and crossed the line to win the Remenham Challenge Cup for first time in 22 years. Half a length was the closest margin of the entire day. A huge outpouring of emotion was felt afterwards by all, not least after such a tight encounter but also with the Brookes Women rowing in the boat named after our late director of sport, Keith Kelly. Keith’s influence will be felt for years to come.

The day included some of the most memorable races in history, Brookes took on the University of Washington in the Grand Challenge Cup. The race was initially delayed due to an equipment failure as Washington rowed to the start. However, the stage was finally set for a transatlantic battle between the two university rowing superpowers. Both crews were level coming out of the island and there was little to separate them as they made their way to the barrier. The Brookes crew held true to their lane as Washington found themselves edging closer into the booms until they collided with them which ended the race in the blink of an eye. From that moment, Brookes walked away from UW and comfortably won the Grand Challenge Cup by 3.5 lengths.

Four members of the crew doubled up in the Stewards Challenge Cup in the last race of the day against Leander Club. In another race for the ages, Leander jumped out to a length lead as the crews emerged from the island, but the Brookes boys kept contact, never letting the margin grow to anything more than a length. By the Fawley marker, Brookes had started to inch back but only to 3/4 of a length. Then as the crews entered the enclosures Brookes suddenly hit another gear, rowing with pure aggression and passion, they rowed through the crew from Leander to win the Stewards Challenge Cup by over clear water. This truly was a phenomenal outcome but a performance that personifies the Brookes program; the true will to win and the culture of every individual striving to nurture their own best effort through hard work and never giving up.

Brookes faced stiff opposition for the Temple Challenge Cup final with another North American crew from Princeton University. Princeton led Brookes by half a length to the barrier. Brookes then started inching back over the next 500m with Brookes getting their nose in front by the Fawley marker. Brookes didn’t stop there and continued to press away to win the Temple Challenge Cup by 1 length. This is the first time in history that the Temple has been won three years in a row.

In one of the most dominant races of the day, Brookes had the potential to create history, in becoming the first university to retain the Island challenge cup. They lined up against an extremely talented crew from Newcastle University in the final. Brookes got out to an electric start and led Newcastle by 1/3 of a length by the end of the island. By the barrier, Brookes had pressed out to a length lead and didn’t stop there, stretching out further to win the race by 3 lengths. Brookes have now won the Island Challenge Cup in 3 of the 4 years that the event has been in the race program.

The Prince Albert Challenge Cup was up with both A and B crews booking their places in the final on Friday, the scene was set for a battle between teammates. The B crew fought valiantly and held with the A crew for much of the course. The A crew showed their class and extended their lead to make it 3 wins in 3 years for Brookes in the Prince Albert. Yet another first for any club in this event.

The Visitors’ final saw Brookes against Leander ‘A’. Brookes got out to a strong start and the crews were level out of the Island but Leander managed to push out to 3/4 of a length lead as they came to the barrier. The gap closed and grew between 1/2 a length and a length but Brookes were not able to get their bow ball ahead and Leander took the Visitors Challenge Cup in an incredible battle all the way down the course. Congratulations to the crew from Leander.

Jenny Bates, one of the Island winners from last year raced in the Stonor Challenge Trophy with Freya Keto from Thames Rowing Club. They were up against a very strong German double made up of Wibberenz and Gurfleish. The German double got out to a flying start and held this lead right until the finish, where the German double took home the trophy.

In a week which did not feel like summer, the scenes both on the river, on the towpath and boat tents will be forever etched in our memories. An outstanding achievement for absolutely every individual involved in the team this year. Brookes prides itself on performing to the highest possible level while enjoying an incredibly healthy and enjoyable environment for its athletes to experience and this was clear to see in the raw, unrivalled passion and emotion that was on show throughout the week. We are incredibly thankful and proud of the support each crew had throughout the week. The dedication of Brookes athletes past and present was highlighted in every success on finals day.

This marks the end of the season for most of the team, however, several athletes now go their separate ways as they work towards selection for the upcoming U23 World Championships with their respective nations. Meanwhile, our representatives in the senior national teams are finishing up their training before the Olympics begin in a few weeks time. Best of luck to all in the coming weeks!

Photos courtesy of AllMarkOne