The 2022 Event Guide - Ones to Watch

12 Open events

THE GRAND CHALLENGE CUP

Men's Eight Oars with Coxswain (M8+)

Holders: Oxford Brookes University

Crews: 4

A chance to see how four new international eights are shaping up; Great Britain, USA, Australia and China. The GB crew, racing as Oxford Brookes and Leander Club, start as favourites; they had a commanding win by more than 10 seconds over the Netherlands and China at World Cup I in Belgrade at the end of May, they have four of the eight that won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics last year, and they have the local knowledge - including two of the eight that won the Grand for Oxford Brookes last year. 

They will have to do it the hard way after the draw left them probably needing to beat both their most likely rivals -  the crews from the USA and then Australia. 

USA, racing as California Rowing Club (Grand winners in 2012) & Penn Athletic Club Rowing Association, have just one of the eight that finished fourth in Tokyo. They have had little competitive time together, and were split into a four (M4-) and two pairs (M2-) at World Cup II. 

Rowing Australia,  were a close second to Germany (GB knows what it is like to finish behind them) in a much larger field at World Cup II in Poznan the weekend before last (June 17-19), and look ready to strike. They have a young crew rebuilding around three of the eight that were sixth in Tokyo.

Australia first faces the Chinese National Rowing Team, who may struggle to keep pace. Their eight was a distant  third to GB in World Cup I and only raced as two coxless fours (M4-) at World Cup II. 

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THE REMENHAM CHALLENGE CUP

Women's Eight Oars with Coxswain (W8+)

Holders: Leander Club

Crews: 9

Australia and USA start as top two and Great Britain should also battle for the Cup, with China the weakest of the four national crews entered. But with a multinational field full of internationals in the top club boats, no one can afford a slip. 

Rowing Australia might be considered marginal favourites. They have four of the eight that were fifth at the Tokyo Olympics and like their rivals here are combining crews that dominated in smaller boats at the World Cups. They have two of the four (W4-), Lucy Stephan and Annabelle McIntyre who won gold in Tokyo.

USA, racing as Princeton Training Center (winners in 2016) & Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast, have six Tokyo Olympians, with three of the eight who finished fourth ahead of Australia by just over a second. 

The Great Britain women’s eight are racing as Imperial College and Leander Club, a combination that won in 2014 and were runner’s up in 2015 and 2019. Henley Royal Regatta will be their debut as an eight. The eight include the top sweepers from World Cup I who won coxless four (W4-)and the pair. Three of the eight were in the Leander Club boat that won last year and Sam Redgrave, part of that four, doubled up and won the Hambleden Pairs too. 

The Chinese National Rowing Team eight is a mixture of the two eights at World Cup I, who were split into smaller boats at World Cup II and are a wholly new eight from the one who finished third in Tokyo.

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THE STEWARDS' CHALLENGE CUP

Men's Four Oars (M4-)

Holders: Oxford Brookes University

Crews: 2

A straight final for the fastest four boats, but what a final. Great Britain, racing as Oxford Brookes & Leander, versus Rowing Australia. The winners of World Cup I versus the winners of World Cup II. 

The Australians, with three gold medallists from Tokyo (Alex Purnell, Spencer Turrin and Jack Hargreaves), are the clear favourites. The young British crew were fast in Belgrade but it will take something extraordinary to beat the Olympic champions. 

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THE TOWN CHALLENGE CUP

Women's Four Oars (W4-)

Holders: Leander Club

Crews: 8

With a lot of the top sweepers in the Remenham, there is an opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves. Danmarks Rocenter (Denmark) start as favourites after taking silver at World Cup I behind the GB four, who are only racing in the eight here. They have pedigree, speed and youth.

The Sydney Rowing Club and Nereus combination are the outside bet. There are two British boats. Cambridge University & Leander Club boat including Lauren Carey, who won the inaugural Wargrave Challenge Cup with Leander Club last year. Leander Club A, the holders, won the Championship Coxless Fours at Henley Women’s Regatta.

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THE QUEEN MOTHER CHALLENGE CUP 

Men's Quadruple Sculls (M4x)

Holders: Leander Club

Crews: 4

The quads from China, men’s and women’s, look hard to beat.

The Chinese National Rowing Team starts as overwhelming favourites after this quad won the first and second World Cups this season and history beckons for Ha Zhang, Xudi Yi, Zhiyu Liu and Sulitan Adilijiang. It would be a first win at Henley for a men’s crew and only the second for the Chinese National Rowing Team.

Great Britain, racing as Leander Club, are rebuilding after taking silver at the Tokyo Olympics. Jack Beaumont and Angus Groom retired from international rowing and Seb Devereux and Sam Meijer (U23 World Champions and multiple Henley winners) came in but the new crew failed to make the A final at World Cup I. The experienced John Collins has replaced Meijer for Henley.

New Zealand, racing as Waiariki Rowing Club, are also on a learning curve, but any boat that includes Phillip Wilson, part of New Zealand’s formidable gold medal-winning eight in Tokyo, are not to be taken lightly. 

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THE PRINCESS GRACE CHALLENGE CUP

Women's Quadruple Sculls (W4x)

Holders: Leander Club

Crews: 12

The draw left Leander Club, the holders, facing a formidable early challenge against the favourites, the Chinese National Rowing Team, who won Henley 2019 (the first Chinese winners at the Regatta) and include three of the quad that won gold in Tokyo - Yunxia Chen, Yang Lyu and Xiao Tong Cui. As a measure of the challenge facing the champions from 2021 throughout the Regatta, Leander has to get past a confident Brown University (USA) first. Brown were required to qualify and duly did so in first place.

China’s task became easier after Great Britain (racing as Leander Club & Edinburgh University) withdrew. Rowing Australia, in the other half of the draw, look the most likely finalists, and have made one change to the crew that finished fourth at World Cup II. The New Zealand and USA quads are both development crews, who may struggle to keep pace by the end of the week.  

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THE SILVER GOBLETS & NICKALLS' CHALLENGE CUP

Men's Pair Oars (M2-)

Holders: Morgan Bolding and Mat Tarrant (Oxford Brookes University)

Crews: 12

There is a strong Great Britain entry in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup (Men’s Pair), with the promise of another Great Britain - New Zealand showdown. Britain’s top pair, Ollie Wynne-Griffith and Tom George, racing for Cambridge University, are on the opposite side of the draw to Matt Macdonald and Tom Mackintosh, racing as Waiariki Rowing Club, 

Wynne-Griffith and George, were part of the Cambridge eight in the Boat Race this year and the Olympic bronze medal-winning boat in Tokyo. Macdonald and Mackintosh were part of NZ’s Olympic gold medal-winning eight from Tokyo. The New Zealand pair won World Cup II, beating the Netherlands pair by a similar margin to the one the British pair managed in World Cup I. 

The draw has set up the probability of an all-GB semi-final. The second GB squad boat are Harry Glenister and Josh Bugajski (Leander Club & Oxford Brookes University), a new combination for Henley. Bugajski (who was also in the eight that won bronze in Tokyo) won the GB trials with Matt Aldridge at GB trials (which they won) and they were sixth at World Cup I. But Aldridge has been switched to the Stewards (Men's Coxless Four), so the experienced Glenister comes in from GB’s third pair. The intersquad rivalry is intense. 

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THE HAMBLEDEN PAIRS CHALLENGE CUP

Women's Pair Oars (W2-)

Holders: Samantha Redgrave and Susannah Dear (Leander Club)

Crews: 12

The strong New Zealand presence at the Regatta includes Kerri Williams (née Gowler) and Grace Prendergast, (racing as Waiariki Rowing Club), who are the World and Olympic champions, have been a dominant force for almost a decade and won this event both times they entered (in 2017 and 2019). 

Williams and Prendergast won silver too as part of the eight in Tokyo, but will not be doubling up at Henley. The withdrawal of Kirstyn Goodger and Jackie Gowler (Williams’s sister and also part of the silver medal winning eight) has removed the probability of an all-Waiariki final. 

If it is hard to look past the New Zealand pair winning, there are plenty of intriguing and famous pairs at different ends of their careers in the field. 

A late change to Rowing Australia’s pair may have upset their hopes of getting to the final from the other side of the draw. Georgie Gleeson is a late replacement for Eleanor Price to partner Jean Mitchell, who was in eight that won bronze at World Cup II. Gleeson, who has switched in from The Stonor Challenge Trophy (Women’s Double Sculls), was bow in the women’s quadruple sculls boat that finished fourth. 

The draw has a possible semi-final for them against two rowers with a boatful of experience and medals between them - the USA-Australian pair of Meghan Musnicki and Jessica Morrison, racing as California Rowing Club. USA’s Musnicki is a two-time Olympic gold medallist (London and Rio) five-time World Champion. She was fourth at the Tokyo Olympics in the Women’s Eight. Australia’s Morrison won gold in the Women’s Coxless Four in Tokyo. 

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THE DOUBLE SCULLS CHALLENGE CUP 

Men's Double Sculls (M2x)

Holders: Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy (Skibbereen Rowing Club and University College, Cork, Ireland)

Crews: 12

Two heavyweight favourites followed by more national squad lightweights in a tough field to call. 

Rowing Australia’s heavyweights, Caleb Antill and Jack Cleary look marginal favourites. They just won bronze at World Cup II and were both members of Australia’s Olympic bronze medal-winning quad from Tokyo - their senior debut. 

In the bottom half of the draw, Great Britain’s Matt Haywood and George Bourne (racing as Nottingham Rowing Club and The Tideway Scullers School), were fourth at World Cup I. 

Jamie Copus and Dale Flockhart (racing for Edinburgh University and Oxford Brookes University) are the GB lightweight crew. Copus was a finalist in this event last year. Matt Dunham and Chris Stockley (racing as Waiariki Rowing Club) are the New Zealand lightweight crew. They have not raced together this season, but Dunham won the Men’s Single Sculls at World Cup II. Both these crews are in the top half of the draw.

The USA lightweights, Jaspar Liu and Zach Hesse (racing as Texas Rowing Centre) have more experience together and were fifth at World Cup II.

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THE STONOR CHALLENGE TROPHY

Women's Double Sculls (W2x)

Holders: Emily Craig and Imogen Grant (University of London and Cambridge University)

Crews: 10

Even harder to call as the Men’s and with similar quality lightweight variables. It was a good draw for the Polish / Ukraine entry in the Stonor Challenge Trophy (Women’s Double Sculls);  Poland’s Agnieszka Kobus-Zawojska, a silver medallist in the women’s quadruple sculls in Tokyo, and former European champion Olena Buriak (racing as Ukrainian Rowing Federation, Ukraine and Akademicki Zwiazek Sportowy Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego Warszawa, Poland). In their half of the draw the other Selected boat is now the lightweight Australian crew (a good one, winning silver at World Cup II) after their heavyweight double dropped out after Georgie Gleeson moved into the Hambledon.

They avoided the USA and New Zealand lightweights - and the outside bet from France in the top half of the draw. Rachael Kennedy and Jackie Kiddle, racing as Wairiki Rowing Club are the new New Zealand lightweight crew. Kiddle was world champion in 2019, and following the retirement of Zoe McBride, has teamed up with Kennedy.

USA’s more experienced lightweights, Molly Reckford and Michelle Sechser, racing as Sarasota Crew and Cambridge Boat Club, just won World Cup II (ahead of the Australians) and were fifth at the Tokyo Olympics . 

But the heavyweight French duo of Elodie Ravera Scaramozzino and Helene Lefebvre, racing as Société d’Encouragement du Sport Nautique, though not a Selected boat, are fancied by many. They have raced together since 2015, were European champions in 2018, have been French national champions twice, and were fifth at the Rio Olympics and eighth in Tokyo. France has never won a women's event at Henley Royal Regatta. Will a sense of history provide that extra pull?

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THE DIAMOND CHALLENGE SCULLS

Men's Single Sculls (M1x)

Holder: Graeme Thomas (Agecroft Rowing Club)

Crews: 16

Oliver Zeidler, the German sculler and World and European champion, racing for Frankfurter Rudergesellschaft Germania 1869 e.V., is an even bigger favourite for The Diamond Challenge Sculls (Men's Single Sculls) after the withdrawal of Britain’s Graeme Thomas, Henley’s defending champion. Zeidler won the event in 2019. 

The other Selected rower in the bottom half of the draw with Zeidler is the Monaco rower Quentin Antognelli, racing for Oxford Brookes University. He has won at Henley before with Brookes and was a finalist in the Men’s Double Sculls last year. 

Dmytro Mikhay (Leander Club), Ukraine’s former world champion in the men’s quadruple sculls, will have been relieved to have been drawn in the opposite half to Zeidler.

James Scott (representing Waiariki Rowing Club), has big oars to pull with New Zealand having won this event seven times in the last 15 regattas mainly thanks to Mahe Drysdale (Matthew Dunham won in 2017). 

The two Selected rowers in the bottom half are the USA’s Ben Davison (California Rowing Club), part of the USA eight that finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and who started out as a sculler; Denmark’s number one sculler, Bastian Secher (Danmarks Rocenter), who was fourth at World Cup II. 

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PRINCESS ROYAL CHALLENGE CUP

Women's Single Sculls (W1x)

Holders: Lola Anderson (Leander Club)

Crews: 16

Emma Twigg (racing as Waiariki Rowing Club), New Zealand’s Olympic gold medal in the women’s single sculls in Tokyo and favourite for the The Princess Royal Challenge Cup, was drawn in the same half as perhaps her strongest challenger (if fully fit), Magdalena Lobnig of Austria (racing as Völkermarkter Sport- und Turnverein 1868), who won Olympic bronze in Tokyo and bronze in the 2017 and 2018 World Championships. Twigg won The Princess Royal in 2009 and 2019. 

With them in the bottom half is Great Britain’s talented lightweight, Imogen Grant (Cambridge University), who won The Stonor Challenge Trophy (Women's Double Sculls) here last year. She was part of Cambridge University’s winning eight in the Women’s Boat Race this year. She missed a bronze medal by 1/100th of a second at the Tokyo Olympics and won World Championship bronze medals in 2018 and 2019. 

In the top half of the draw, all four of the Selected rowers will fancy their chances of a run to the final. USA’s Kara Kohler (Texas Rowing Center) just won bronze in the Women’s Double Sculls at World Cup II and is an Olympic bronze medallist in the quad (London 2012) and and World Championship bronze in 2019. She finished ninth in the single in Tokyo.

Ukraine’s Diana Dymchenko, rowing for Rowing Club Baku, Azerbaijan, won World Cup II in 2021 having narrowly missed qualifying for Tokyo with a fourth place at the Final Olympic Qualifying Regatta.  

Australia’s unselected Ria Thompson (University of Queensland) is also one to watch. She’s  another Tokyo Olympic medalist, winning bronze as a member of the quad, and was the U23 World Champion in the single in 2019.

Hannah Scott (Bann Rowing Club), is Great Britain’s number one heavyweight sculler and won a head-turning bronze at World Cup I this season on her debut in the single scull. In her first senior year in 2021, she was part of the quad that finished seventh in Tokyo and won European silver.

But who would rule out a tilt from Lauren Henry, the 20-year-old from Leicester Rowing Club?  A rising star in the Great Britain team, she almost pulled off the shock of the Regatta last year in this event after an epic run to the final. 

Three Student events

THE TEMPLE CHALLENGE CUP

Men's Eight Oars with Coxswain (M8+)

Holders: Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus

Crews: 32

The holders - Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus - are back, but it is their rivals from the Netherlands - Utrechtsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Triton - that are the more fancied crew. Triton won the HE 8+ (Men’s Elite) at the Westelijke Regatta the weekend before last (Sunday, 19 June), beating Nereus by over two and half seconds.

After the disappointment and shock of defeat by Triton in one of great Henley comebacks on Friday last year, Oxford Brookes University have bounced back in powerful fashion. They have been a dominant force domestically and performed well overseas. But for all these eights, the Temple at Henley is the event they have been trying to peak for since September. So many crews entered this year (75) that 50 had to vie for just seven places in the Qualifying Races. 

Brookes have three of the final 32 lining up, including two of the Selected boats. Brookes and Triton are on the same side of the draw, but both have significant hurdles before they meet. Brookes could have a Friday showdown with their most significant domestic challengers this season, University of London Boat Club. Likewise for Triton and University of California, Berkeley. Cal were a dominant force at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships at the beginning of June and their Temple-eligible crews were second and fifth in their finals. 

In the top half of the draw with Nereus, is the A boat of Yale University’s two entries, and the University of Washington, the winners of this event in 2018 in a record time, and coming off a strong IRA performance by their eligible Varsity eights. 

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THE ISLAND CHALLENGE CUP 

Women's Eight Oars with Coxswain (W8+)

Holders: Oxford Brookes University

Crews: 22

One of the three new women’s events introduced in 2021.

A who’s who of the greatest names in university rowing from the world shows the draw of the Island Challenge Cup after the inaugural event last year. 

It may come down to the boat that has peaked perfectly. Brown University, USA start as favourites after a barnstorming run in the Henley Women’s Regatta (17-19 June), which saw them break the event record and beat University of London Boat Club in the final. 

University of London, who lost a thrilling final to Oxford Brookes in the final of this event last year, may be the best domestic hope. 

Brookes beat them at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Regatta at the end of April, but University of London were without their top two rowers, Emily Lindberg and Georgie Robinson Ranger, who were at Team GB trials.

Brookes muddied the waters further by getting knocked out of the first round of Henley Women’s Regatta by a quick Thames Rowing Club, after deciding to paddle the time trials to save energy and go into the draw unseeded. 

Brookes have Brown in their half of the draw. And vice versa. Whoever wins the Island will have beaten many illustrious names along the way from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands and USA.

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THE PRINCE ALBERT CHALLENGE CUP

Men's Four Oars with Coxswain (M4+)

Holders: University of London

Crews: 16

Another event with no clear favourite. Oxford Brookes University starts as the domestic favourites (but that was true last year and it did not turn out that way). Their four includes two of the crew that won the Championship Coxed Fours at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Regatta and eased to a clear water win at the Marlow Regatta. Brooks are in the more sympathetic-looking bottom half of the draw.

Edinburgh University, University of Bristol and Newcastle University are the other domestic crews to watch, but it is from overseas the biggest threats look likely to come.

Sydney University Boat Club, Australia would not have come unless they were quick. They will need to be with the top half of the draw looking dangerous. If they get through, USA’s top two, University of Washington and University of California, Berkeley, USA will face each other in the second round.

After that Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus, Netherlands may await them in the semi-finals. It is  that kind of event. 

Four Junior events 

THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH CHALLENGE CUP

Men's Junior Eight Oars with Coxswain (JM8+)

Holders: Eton College

Crews: 32

Eton College, the holders, strong favourites and winners of four of the past seven editions are on the other side of the draw from their biggest unknown - The King’s School Parramatta, Australia, said to be fastest schoolboy eight in Australia. 

Before King’s College, Eton are likely to have an early test from fellow Australians The Scots College and beyond that Brunswick School, U.S.A. or St Edwards School, who have pushed Eton this year. 

In the other half of the draw, The King’s School won this event in 2001 and went down in legend. Can this generation shake off jet lag and deliver? They will need to get past perennial challengers, St Paul’s and Shiplake College. Beyond that Woodrow Wilson High School, U.S.A. are potential semi-finalists. won the Varsity Eight at the US Scholastic (SRAA) National Championship Regatta and there are big claims about them being the fastest that Washington DC has ever produced. 

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THE PRINCE PHILIP CHALLENGE TROPHY (formerly Junior Women’s Eight)  

Women's Junior Eight Oars with Coxswain (JW8+)

Holders:  Headington School

Crews: 16

One of the three new women’s events introduced in 2021 and renamed for this year.

In the The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy (Junior Women's Eight), the favourites, Henley Rowing Club may be thankful that they are in the opposite side of the draw to two leading Australian schools, Melbourne Girls’ Grammar and St. Catherines (both from Victoria). 

The two Australian entries have been fierce rivals for the last two years, both providing equal parts of  the Australian Women’s Junior Eight at last year’s Junior World Championships.

In Henley’s half of the draw, the holders Headington School have been written off by many after an injury-ravaged season has kept them out of competition, but they say they have their top eight back together, have they got enough time to gel and challenge? 

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THE FAWLEY CHALLENGE CUP

Junior Men's Quadruple Sculls (JM4x)

Holders:  The Tideway Scullers’ School

Crews: 24

The most oversubscribed event this year with 65 entries. After 21 were pre-selected that left 44 quads fighting for 3 places at Friday’s Qualifying Races. Losing finalists last year, The Windsor Boys School ‘A’ are red hot favourites not just to win this year but also for their squad to be held up as one of the best schoolboy sculling crews for a long time. They won every single Championship sculling event on offer at the National Schools’ Regatta without doubling up. They are unbeaten this season and are beautiful to watch. Without their star and European champion Marcus Chute they still won the Championship Quads by 2.5 seconds. They won this event in 2017 and 2018. 

The only unknown, and in their half of the draw, is Los Gatos Rowing Club, USA from the West Coast, who have been fast this year but, on paper, not fast enough.

In the other half, Leander Club and Gippslands Grammar School, Australia are the most likely to progress. Gippslands are the national champions in the Schoolboy Coxed Quad.

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THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CHALLENGE CUP

Junior Women's Quadruple Sculls (JW4x)

Holders:  Shiplake College 

Crews: 24

The holders Shiplake College start are favourites and are fresh from victory in Henley Women’s Regatta, beating Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club by 1 ¾ lengths in the final. Two return from the win last year, the stroke Merry Oakes and bow Mia Vickerman. This crew won Championship Girls Quads at the Schools’ Head of the River and the most likely challengers will come from overseas. 

Redwood Scullers, USA, in the other half of the draw, could be the ones to do it, if they live up to their billing. The last time a US national champion travelled to Henley Royal Regatta for the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, in 2018, they won the event. Redwood are unbeaten in the USA in 2022. Redwood will need to get past the hugely impressive Henley Rowing Club quad first. 

Marlow Rowing Club (finalists last year), Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club and The Tideway Sculling School are ones to watch.