Wet in and off the water as regatta is hit by heavy rain

THIS year’s Henley Royal Regatta was one of the wettest on record as spectators watched much of the racing from under umbrellas.

After a sunny start on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, it became increasingly wet and the rowing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday was hampered by heavy rain, fast-flowing currents and strong tailwinds.

Racing on Sunday was moved from 11am to 9.30am to ensure the full programme of races could be completed after the weather forecast predicted a chance of lightning.

Due to the rain, the grass along the towpath quickly became churned up and queues formed as people tried to avoid stepping in the mud in their finery.

The regatta shop sold out of umbrellas and outside the stewards’ enclosure staff mopped up puddles using sponge rollers.

Despite the downpour over the weekend, there were intermittent periods of sunshine and around 300,000 spectators attended across the six-day event.

A record 771 crews from 27 countries entered the regatta, which featured a record 409 races.

Regatta chairman Sir Steve Redgrave thanked the regatta staff and volunteers at prize-giving on Sunday.

He said: “The regatta this year obviously has had some challenges, mainly from the weather. Right the way from August through to spring, it has rained and rained and rained. In April this site was flooded.

“Even now the sky’s open, we get rain, wind, mud and sunshine but our members still turn out, huddled together in the rain in the bars and restaurants enjoying the racing.

“A special thank-you to our contractors, who have worked especially hard, our professional team and, of course, all our volunteers. Without them, we just could not do this event.”

Sir Steve recognised the hard work of all the competitors, saying they had spent days, months and even years preparing for the event. He said: “The quest to get one of these red boxes for next year starts tomorrow. For this year, that dream started a year ago.

“At the time they got to qualifiers 10 days ago, there were 4,340 athletes trying to bring that dream alive. Here on finals day, that was down to 274 trying to keep that dream going. And now today we’re presenting those trophies to 137 that have achieved that.”

The prizes were presented by Prince Albert II of Monaco who previously presented the awards in 2004.

In 1981 they were presented by his mother, American actress Grace Kelly, after the introduction of the Princess Grace Challenge Cup.

Sir Steve said: “Prince Albert has his own Olympic history, competing in five winter games in the sport of bobsleigh for Monaco, but he comes from great rowing Olympic predigree. His grandfather, Jack Kelly, won three Olympic gold medals, one in the single and in the doubles in Antwerp in 1920 and in Paris in 1924.

“Unfortunately, at that time, Henley didn’t allow manual workers to compete at the regatta. He was a builder but owned his own building company.

“Henley Royal Regatta came in for heavy criticism for that decision and we have changed it, which allowed me to compete as I’m from a building family.”

Prince Albert said: “It’s an incredible pleasure for me to be back here at Henley and this beautiful event.

“Henley owns a special place in our family’s history and I hope that some day maybe rowers from Monaco might win a trophy here.

“I will be in Paris to cheer on our sculler [Quentin Antognelli], who will be competing in his second Olympic Games but I will be cheering on all the competitors that have competed here at Henley.”

On the water opposite the enclosures, leisure boats were moored next to the course for people to watch the rowing.

A handful of spectators were cruising on novelty boats, including a floating garden lawn complete with a table, benches and bunting, a motorboat with a comically large umbrella and Lily, a giant inflatable duck and mascot for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Some of the well-known figures at the regatta included former Prime Minister Theresa May and Made in Chelsea stars Freddie Knatchbull and Jack Taylor.

New Henley and Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo was there with his family on Sunday.

Shiplake College superfan Jack Harvard Taylor clapped out the school’s crews from the boat tents.

He has been an avid supporter of the school’s crews since he competed in the Fawley Challenge Cup at the regatta in 2007.

The 34-year-old is a familiar face at the regatta, easily identifiable in his blazer, waistcoat, trousers and rowing cap all in the maroon, gold and black Shiplake colours.

This year, to combat the rain, he had an additional Shiplake-themed accessory in the form of an umbrella.

Mr Harvard Taylor said: “I was featured in the Daily Mail fashion guide on Tuesday. I was a bit disappointed. The guy had told me he was from the Financial Times so I thought it would go in a slightly higher-brow publication but no, sadly.”

Former rowers Max Tilney, from Gallowstree Common, and Phillip Stott, from Sonning Common, wore comical umbrella hats to keep the rain off.

The men, who rowed for Shiplake College and Upper Thames RC respectively, were in the stewards’ enclosure to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mr Stott reaching a regatta final in 2004.

He said: “I rowed with Upper Thames. We came second and, in the beautiful way they described it, the winning crew won ‘easily’.”

At Phyllis Court Club on the opposite bank, guests enjoyed drinks and cream teas on the front lawn and were entertained by a number of groups including stilt walkers and a mariachi band which played ranchera-style covers of popular songs including As It Was by Harry Styles and Shake If Off by Taylor Swift.

Katie Tillyer, 24, who was with her mother Kerry Fretwell, of Berkshire Road, Henley.

She said: “I grew up here but I now live in Manchester and I came down came down especially for the regatta. It’s nice to have such a nice atmosphere in the town.”

Ms Tillyer said she had fond childhood memories of walking down the towpath with her family to find a picnic spot.

Her mother, who was wearing a blue dress and matching tiara, said: “Isn’t it so nice to see everyone dressed up — the men in their suits and the ladies in their beautiful dresses?

“I bought this dress on holiday and my partner actually bought me the tiara for the coronation and I wore it because it goes with the dress.”

Former Shiplake College rower Adam Hunt, 21, was watching the racing from the towpath with his former schoolmates.

He said: “We try to come down every year on the Friday and the Saturday. We came on Friday and it was pouring with heavy rain.

“But we put all the stuff in the wash and got back out here today. It’s nice to see loads of people I haven’t seen in ages.”

Mr Hunt, from Caversham, competed with the school at the regatta in 2021 and said he missed the sport.

Eduardo Pecorari, from Wargrave, said he was not interested in the rowing but attended the regatta every year to socialise.

He said: “We have come down every year for 10 years. It’s the atmosphere, the free drinks and the Pimm’s, I love Pimm’s.

“It’s nice to see my friends and hang out and the sun is shining.”

To deal with the heavy rain on Saturday morning, Mr Pecorari said they developed a Roman-inspired shield formation with their umbrellas.

He said: “We all love our history and we all love the Roman Empire, so one guy just randomly shouts ‘testudo’ and we all go into Roman formation with the umbrella and we are all dry.”

Sophie Sweetland, 29, of York Road, Henley, was with old school friends Felicity Punnett, 29, and Zara Gower, 28.

She said: “I just love the vibe. The town gets so busy that you might as well get involved. I have brought a couple of my school friends and a couple of my work friends.

“I love the atmosphere it brings to the town. I know probably a lot of locals might not like it as much but I like just getting among it.”

Ms Sweetland said that the rain and mud had destroyed her shoes, adding: “I had put them in the oven to dry them off after yesterday but we are back for a second day.”

Toby Chapman, 27, also of York Road, said that despite the weather this had been his favourite regatta since moving to the town two years ago.

He said: “I was working in London and couldn’t afford to buy there but was lucky enough to be able to buy here, so decided to make the move and it worked well.

“So this is my third regatta and it is the best one yet. With a bit of experience of being here and getting to know the people, it just gets better each year.”

Matt Richardson, 58, a former rower who recently rode a penny-farthing from Henley to Paris for charity, watched the racing from the stewards’ enclosure.

He said the wind had caused problems for some of the rowers.

“I think it was a crew from Germany, a few strokes before the end, the bowman lost his blade, which bounced off the water and hit the number two man around the head.

“It was so hard you could hear it, his shouting in pain. I have never seen that before and I have been coming since 1985.”

Mr Richardson, who rowed for Upper Thames Rowing Club, York University and Oxford Brookes, said the highlight was seeing his old team-mates.

He said: “If you have been rowing for a long time, or did row a long time ago, whenever you come to regatta, it’s like a reunion. I will see people from all over the world that I used to row with.”

On Saturday night after racing had finished and the enclosures emptied, scores of young people headed along the towpath in search of a party.

Mahiki’s, a popular spot for rowers and locals, was charging a £45 entry fee at 8pm.

Keeping watch outside was a Pc Robinson, of Thames Valley Police, who said: “Along this bank, we are looking out for the safety of people enjoying themselves. There is no barrier and we have already had someone in the water.

“At this time of night there is quite a lot of people enjoying themselves with alcohol and we don’t want people jumping in the river or falling in.” He said one of the biggest issues was theft and urged people to beware of pickpockets, distraction theft and open bags.

In the centre, there were queues outside of the Angel on the Bridge as people waited to be admitted to the pub’s temporary dance floor set up on its waterside seating area.

Similarly, the Hart Street Tavern, the Cheesy Grape in Market Place and the Bull in Bell Street all attracted big crowds with makeshift dance floors and DJs.

Mounted police kept an eye on revellers in the town square and along the towpath and the Street Pastors, a group of volunteers from different churches, were out in force offering help to vulnerable people on the streets.

On Saturday football fans could watch England play Switzerland in the Euros at a televised game shown at the Barn Bar Garden, while DJ Josh Jose entertained the crowd.

Brothers Will, 24, and Tom Fennell, 26, from Henley, enjoyed the game with a beer in hand.

Will said: “I’m wearing the same clothes as I was yesterday and they’re very damp. Today, however, has been lovely. We couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Tom, who has visited the regatta every year for the last decade, said: “Henley is really nice, the company is unbelievable, and people are awesome but my favourite highlight was England’s victory.”

Also watching the football were Marina Dobson and Sara McKay, from Sonning.

The women said they enjoyed a 45-minute ABBA set at the Barn Bar Garden on Friday before returning for the football game.

They joked that they could have been the oldest people there.

Ms Dobson said: “We were in the enclosure with all our friends but decided to come and watch the game, even though it’s a bit of a walk.

“The rain was terrible last night but it was all right once you were inside. It was still fun and amazing vibes.

“Today has been excellent and everyone is here despite the rain. I don’t think you can stop doing things because of it.” Also popular was the tradition of picnicking along the towpath towards Temple Island.

Those not put off by the rain included Donna Corr, of Hamilton Avenue, Henley, who enjoyed a picnic with her friend Anna Kotowicz.

They had champagne and “picky bits” on a blanket on the bank as they watched the racing.

Ms Corr said: “Because I have lived here for the last few years, we have been coming with friends to watch the regatta.

“I think the atmosphere is what we like because it’s an interesting mix of people. I’m originally from Newcastle so I’m hoping they win.

“It’s also been nice catching up with friends and watching the races when the sun comes out.”

Malcolm Selway, 85, who has lived in Henley for more than 50 years and rowed for Upper Thames and Phyllis Court, was with family celebrating the engagement of his son-in-law’s sister Yasmin Tredell and her fiancé, Oliver Staite. They met while rowing at Oxford Brookes when they were 15.

While taking time off from rowing in 2016 due to an injured back, Ms Tredell became the fastest British woman on an aerodynamic recumbent bike, setting a new land speed record at 71.05mph.

She said: “I had to have a year off, so I was doing a lot of cycling, which was a good filler year. I rowed at Leander for a couple of seasons around 2014 and 2015.

“The girls’ squad was much smaller then and now the Leander squads are incredible.

“I’m really enjoying it this year and the racing has been fab. I love all the racing and I like to see all the young people surrounding the boat tents because you still remember how much it meant to you.

“Bumping into people along the towpath that I haven’t seen in years is just wonderful.”