The Morning Session
Conditions: Sunny intervals, occasional breeze
Royals Rally
Race 6: The Britannia Challenge Cup, London Rowing Club 'A' v Royal Chester Rowing Club
In the first session of semi-final Saturday, several races provided excitement as favourites were overturned, leaders were rowed through, and the prospect of a red box felt closer. One such race was between favourites for The Britannia Challenge Cup, London Rowing Club ‘A’, and Royal Chester Rowing Club. London led from the start, as expected, and whilst both crews were rate-matched, London quickly drew out a ½ length at the Island, extending to 2 ½ lengths at the Barrier. They settled there, with Royal Chester clawing back half a length, but at the Mile, London were back out to 2 lengths. At the Mile ⅛, Royal Chester reduced the deficit to 1 ⅓ lengths, before mounting a charge through the Enclosures. Under pressure, London crabbed twice on strokeside, but held on. Whilst they won by ½ a length, with more water, Royal Chester certainly rattled the Tideway club.
Patience Prevails
Race 9: The Princess Royal Challenge Cup, P. Badenhorst, South Africa v M. Lobnig, Austria
Posting similar times at the Barrier and Fawley markers on Friday, P. Badenhorst and M. Lobnig came into this semi-final of The Princess Royal Challenge Cup as a veteran of the single scull and a former Olympian returning to flat-water rowing. Launching off the start at a whopping 46, Badenhorst quickly set the pace, but it was Lobnig who claimed the first lead, holding a canvas at the Island and a foot at the ¼ Mile. Exchanging blows up the course, Badenhorst’s rate soon carried her through to a three-foot lead at the Barrier. Passing Fawley, that margin grew to ½ a length, before reaching its maximum of ¾ length at the Mile. However, Lobnig remained collected and began to push. At the Mile ⅛ she edged to a foot lead. She finally lifted her rate through the Enclosures and began a perfectly timed sprint that saw the Austrian across the line with ½ length over her astonished opponent.
The Tides Turn to Thames ‘B’
Race 11: The Wargrave Challenge Cup, Thames Rowing Club 'B' v 94 Molesey Boat Club 'A'
The first semi-final of The Wargrave Challenge Cup brought together two of the strongest clubs in domestic women’s rowing. Molesey Boat Club entered as holders, record-setters and favourites for this race, and went out at a blistering 47, but only managed to gain a ¼ length margin, which they maintained to the Barrier. By Fawley, they had managed to inch out a little to a ½ length, but Thames ‘B’ - rating lower than Molesey throughout - decided to empty the tank. They leapt out, reeling Molesey into just a canvas at the Mile, and at the Mile ⅛, Thames took a foot lead. In a Henley Royal Regatta year where ‘B’ crews have reigned supreme, Thames Rowing Club ‘B’ joined the ranks, and rowed a lower and longer race, seeing them across the line by ¾ length and awarding them an outstandingly patient victory. Thames have now reached four of the five Wargrave Challenge Cup finals, winning three. Sunday’s Thames A-v-B showdown is the first one-club final of the 2026 Regatta and underlines Thames’ status as one of the Tideway’s leading clubs, fielding three of the four crews contesting in a club eight final.
The Afternoon Session
Conditions: warm, cross-tail
Shiplake Stand Firm
Race 40: The Prince Phillip Challenge Cup, Shiplake College v Chicago Rowing Foundation, USA
Shiplake College strengthened Britain’s chances to win The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy with a commanding victory over Chicago Rowing Foundation, leaving just one more American crew with the chance to reach Sunday’s final. Both crews flew off the start at 45 strokes per minute, but Shiplake College quickly to control, leading by a ½ length off the Island before extending their advantage to 1 ¼ lengths by the ¼ Mile and 1 ½ lengths at the Barrier. Chicago briefly reduced the deficit in the second half of the course, but Shiplake remained composed, restoring their 1 ½ length margin before the finish to complete an accomplished and assertive victory. With Chicago’s campaign over, all eyes now turn to RowAmerica Rye, the final American crew still bidding to prevent an all-British Prince Philip Challenge Trophy final.
Temple Titans Toppled
Race 30: The Temple Challenge Cup, Oxford Brookes University 'A' v Cambridge University 'A'
Few semi-finals were as anticipated as the Oxford Brookes University ‘A’ against Cambridge University ‘A’ in The Temple Challenge Cup. Brookes, perennial contenders, exploded off the start at 47 strokes per minute, but Cambridge refused to be drawn into the early battle. Despite rating seven pips lower, the Light Blues held a quarter-length lead by the Island before Brookes briefly drew level approaching the Quarter Mile. From there, Cambridge’s rhythm took over. Half a length at the Barrier became 1 length at Fawley, then 1¼ lengths by the ¾ Mile and 2 lengths at the Mile. While Brookes continued to rate around 40 in search of a speed, Cambridge did the opposite, gradually lowering their rate before crossing the line at a balmy 32 to win by 1½ lengths. It was a masterclass in efficiency from a crew whose confidence and cohesion were evident from the first stroke.
St Paul’s Pulls It Off
Race 38: The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, Radley Cup v St Paul’s School
Few crews arrived at Henley Royal Regatta with greater expectation than Radley College. Fresh from claiming their first National Schools’ Regatta Championship Eights title in 20 years, many tipped them to go all the way in The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. However, it was St Paul’s School who booked their place in Sunday’s final. The crews were locked together from the start, still rowing stroke for stroke at the Barrier, with St Paul’s only beginning to edge ahead approaching halfway. A canvas at Fawley was a ½ length by the ¾ Mile before Radley responded, reducing the margin to just a ⅓ length at the Mile. But with the pressure mounting against Radley, St Paul’s remained the more composed crew. They found another push at the 1 ⅛ Mile to extend their advantage to 1 length before crossing the line, clear winners. In the race of the day, composure proved the decisive ingredient.
The Evening Session
Conditions: Hot, blustery crosshead
PORTUGAL WILL FACE Germany IN THE DIAMONDS
Race 45: The Diamond Challenge Sculls, C. Baxter, South Africa v D.M.V. Gonçalves, Portugal
With the German Oliver Zeidler on one side of the draw, the more unpredictable semi-finals of The Diamond Challenge Sculls saw South Africa’s C.J. Baxter and Portugal’s D.M.V. Gonçalves fly out of the starting blocks. Both scullers left the start rating at 46, with Baxter opening a canvas lead by the end of the Island, stretching it to a length by the ¼ Mile. But while Baxter settled into a lower rhythm, Gonçalves refused to let the gap grow. Gradually reeling the South African back in, they drew level at Fawley. From there, Gonçalves steadily extended his advantage, leading by 1 ½ lengths at the Mile before crossing the line 1 ¾ lengths clear. It was a superbly-paced row from the Portuguese sculler, whose composure and consistency earned him a place in Sunday’s final, facing the much-vaunted Olympic Champion.
NATIONAL GIANTS GO HEAD TO HEAD
Race 47: The Queen Mother Challenge Cup, Team Italia, Italy v Oxford Brookes University & Queen's, Belfast
Two world-class crews came together for the semi-final of the Queen Mother Challenge Cup. Team Italia, 37 years on from the last time they won this event (Olympic Champions at the time) took on Oxford Brookes University & Queens, Belfast, the current Irish national composition. A strong matchup for a semi-final, the crews left the stakeboats striking 50 strokes a minute. By the ¼ Mile, Team Italia took a ¾ length lead. Both quads continued to rate highly through the Barrier marker, striking 38, but it was the horsepower of the Italian boat that allowed them to pull ahead to a 1 ¼ length advantage. Despite the conditions, Team Italia remained ahead, two lengths up passing Remenham. Tiers commenced at Remenham but to no avail for the Oxford Brookes & Queens, Belfast composite, and Team Italy crossed the line 1 ¾ lengths ahead of their competition.
A Blue Star Saturday
Race 50: The Prince Albert Challenge Cup, Oxford University 'A' v Newcastle University
Newcastle University strengthened their claim as Prince Albert Challenge Cup favourites with a relentless victory over Oxford University ‘A’ in one of today’s closest student contests. The crews were level through the opening stages before Newcastle edged ahead approaching the ¼ Mile, gradually extending their lead to a ⅔ length by the Barrier. Refusing to ease off, they maintained a combative rhythm throughout, never dropping below 35. Oxford remained within striking distance and mounted their strongest challenge approaching the Mile, reducing the margin to just half a length, but Newcastle always had an answer. Crossing the line a ⅔ length ahead, they booked their first men’s final since 2021.
