Record entries for Henley Royal Regatta

HENLEY Royal Regatta has attracted a record number of entries.

A total of 771 entries from 27 countries had registered by last Monday’s deadline, eclipsing the previous record of 739 entries that was set in 2022.

Of these, 554 are domestic entries and 217 are from overseas, breaking the 200 barrier for the first time.

There is a record entry from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the USA and Algeria features for the first time.

This year will see the most races ever at the regatta with 409, up by 15 on last year.

Sir Steve Redgrave, who chairs the regatta’s committee of management, said: “What a summer of rowing we have in store. I am delighted to see record entry numbers at the regatta, which is set to have a real blend of youth and experience amongst the crews.

“Establishing pathways from junior levels to the elite squads and keeping our athletes in the sport is always something I have been passionate about, which is why I’m so pleased to see such a breadth of entries this year.

“We will see five male single scullers going head-to-head ahead of the Paris Olympics and this year is also a fantastic opportunity for under-23 crews to continue their development and test themselves against top-quality competition from around the world.

“I look forward to seeing those leading development crews targeting the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles in action out on the water, including a strong British eight in the Grand Challenge Cup.”

Oliver Zeidler, 27, the reigning world and European champion, is returning to seek a fourth Diamond Challenge Sculls title before going for Olympic gold in Paris.

Just missing out on Olympic qualification in the Swiss women’s double scull, Jeannine Gmelin, enters the regatta in a strong Princess Grace quadruple crew.

Her doubles partner is also racing in another Swiss entry in the same event.

A few weeks ago, Estonia took the last qualifying place in Lucerne in the men’s quads for the Paris Olympics, with the USA missing out by 0.13 of a second.

They have both entered the regatta in the Queen Mother Challenge Cup, with the USA crew having something to prove. But both crews won’t have it all their own way as the depth of talent in this event is outstanding.

Canadian, American, Dutch, German and British development teams are entering the regatta’s open events, with many of the athletes having just missing out on Olympic qualification.

Oxford Brookes will be attempting to make it a hat-trick of wins in the Temple Challenge Cup for men’s student eights.

Last year, the university secured the largest trophy haul ever by any rowing club in a single royal regatta, winning all seven of the contests it competed in.

The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy, for junior women’s eights, is set to feature the first, second and third ranked crews from the USA, plus the Australian national champions.

Meanwhile, the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, for junior men’s eights, will feature New Zealand’s national champions, Australia’s second ranked crew as well as USA’s fifth ranked crew. St Paul’s School, having won the National Schools’ Regatta, leads the British challenge.

Wycliffe College is returning in The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup this summer with a crew that is currently unbeaten on the domestic circuit. They won championship quads against a selection of senior and junior crews at the Metropolitan Regatta and have several junior internationals on board. It is arguably one of the strongest junior women's quads this year.

For events where more entries have been received than the number of crews permitted, qualifying races will be held on the Henley Reach on Friday.

This year’s regatta draw will take place at noon on Saturday in Henley town hall.