Saturday’s Qualifiers brought with them celebrations for the final crews who will be racing for Henley Royal Regatta’s iconic trophies during next week’s competition.
‘Day two of Qualifiers’ was a new phrase that the rowing community quickly took in their stride when scorching temperatures meant that Friday’s usual day of jam-packed racing schedule had to be split over Friday evening and Saturday morning, the weekend before Henley Royal Regatta.
It was the Junior Events first run at the Course, and with a faithful forecast remaining below 30 degrees, next week’s final racing slots were filled as all qualified boats took their places in the iconic blue and white striped boat tents beside the river Thames.
Firsts for the University of Miami and Putney High School
The University of Miami qualified for the Bridge Challenge Plate after Saturday’s first set of time trials, marking the start of their first ever Henley Royal Regatta campaign. Speaking on their race, rower Scarlett Pringle said: “We qualified for the NCAAs and then we really wanted to come to Henley, so the training didn’t stop. It’s an incredible course and we really wanted to prove a point and be up against teams that also deserve to be here. Next week we’ll just keep perfecting what we know we've been doing all season, and give it our best shot coming into Thursday.”
For Putney High School, their Prince Philip Challenge Trophy crew was their first to make it through Qualifying Races; their goal since September 2025. Jayna Ramji said the result wasn’t expected, but hoped for. “We got a bit of a curveball at Henley Women’s Regatta, so we spent the last week really locking in.”
Her coach Rachel Saunders added: “Putney High School pushes females' empowerment and female roles in sports. Our goal is that they all push on forward through to university, and we see them representing different universities as Putney Rowing Alumni.”
Leeds Rowing Club ready to take on powerhouse schools in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The Leeds Rowing Club Princess Elizabeth eight is the second boat they’ve qualified for Henley Royal Regatta, having earned a place in the Fawley Challenge Cup last year. Zac Lodge said: “It's just brilliant to have that feeling again of hearing our name called out for the second year in a row. That's just the sound that we've been waiting to hear all season.”
Coach Rob McKenzie said: “The Northern clubs are here and ready to take on the big schools. This year our girl’s quad got really close, and the boys have stepped up one. It sends a message to everyone back in Leeds - the J14s racing right now will be thinking ‘that’s where I want to be in the next couple of years’”.
Competitors from near and far in the first Queen Victoria Challenge Cup
The Queen Victoria Challenge Cup is one of the Regatta’s new events this year for Student Women’s Quadruple Sculls. Qualifying for the University of Edinburgh, Jess Mack was proud to be a part of the event’s newly-forged first chapter. “Rowing has given us all such a space to be strong women that a lot of people never find. The fact that we get more opportunities to show that and to show young people, it's incredible. We feel so much pride to be part of that.”
Jess was returning to her home stretch to race, having learned to row at Henley Rowing Club. “It's so much fun rowing somewhere new at uni, but also coming back and being on my home course and being able to share my memories with my crew is amazing.” Her crewmate Amy Fraser, from Glasgow and Inverness, said: “It was tough out there, the headwind was strong, but I think we really just kept on it and committed the whole way through.”
University crews fight for spots in the Temple and Island Events
Newcastle University qualified their ‘A’ boat in the Temple Challenge Cup and cox Lily Teague was thrilled with the experience. “It’s a very special river to row on; the boys enjoyed it so much.” Newcastle also qualified their ‘B’ crew in the Island Challenge Cup, and Annabel Collins was thrilled with their race. “We had a really strong rhythm, which we were really working towards this week, and then we managed to pull it off when it re- mattered.”
From the north east to the south west, University of Bath coach Isabella Makepeace was equally proud of her crew for qualifying in the Island Challenge Cup. “This is their first Henley and their first step into senior rowing at a standard they're really proud of. To see them blossom and start to believe in themselves across the year, this feels like a real reward that they're very deserving of.”
What qualifying for Henley Royal Regatta means
For Jennifer Titterington of Newark Rowing Club, two days of racing was a blessing, as she attempted to qualify for the Princess Royal Challenge Cup on Friday and the Stonor Challenge Cup on Saturday. “It's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, having not qualified yesterday and having rest up and get back on it. This morning Izzy came in and said ‘let's go do it’, so feeding off that energy has been quite nice.” Jennifer and Isabel were successful in being one of six crews to qualify for next week’s racing. “I think in the hands of the draw gods now! With the right draw, there's a chance of making it through. Although we would love to draw the New Zealand Olympic double.”
The Diamond Challenge Sculls saw the end of 2026 Qualifying Races, and the final jewel placed in London Rowing Club’s crown as Arun Jackson’s qualification meant that all of their boats had successfully qualified for the Regatta. The club will be looking to defend their title in the Thames Challenge Cup and the Wyfold Challenge Cup, but for Arun, qualifying in a Premier event was the goal in itself.
“This has been six years in the making and now I’m going to enjoy every second of it. The hard part's done; I don't mind who I draw. I don't care if I get knocked out within 100 meters of round one! Just the fact that I'm on the start line is going to be the greatest day of my rowing career.”
Find all Qualifying results for Henley Royal Regatta 2026 here.
