Henley Women’s Regatta Update

Henley Women’s Regatta, the world’s biggest women-only rowing regatta, has confirmed that renewed support from UK fund management company Invesco Perpetual and management consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers will make separate events for academic and club crews a permanent fixture, starting this year.   Their support has also made the addition of new junior classes possible for 2010.

Regatta chairman Diane Graham says the continued backing of Invesco Perpetual and PricewaterhouseCoopers has allowed the committee to establish permanent separate sections in its ‘intermediate’ matches, which allow less experienced rowers to compete at the world-famous event.

“We’ve now been able to make permanent the changes we tried last year, which recognised the different challenges faced by rowers from colleges and universities who row mainly in term time and fit in time on the water around exams and studying, to those from local clubs who mostly have to balance rowing with work commitments,” she explained. 

The new club and academic events – the ‘Invesco Perpetual Challenge Cup’ and the ‘PricewaterhouseCoopers Cup’ respectively – join another new class of events for Junior 16 competitors this year, with the J16 coxless quadruple sculls and J16 coxed fours also being made permanent events.

“The junior section of the sport has grown tremendously in recent years; by adding these events we’re taking the number of under 18 crews that can race at the event to almost 100.”
The continued support of the Copas Partnership as hosts of the regatta is also acknowledged. “The Copas family have given their full support to the regatta since it was founded in 1988 and without their help the regatta would not be possible,” adds Diane.

The regatta hosts around 2000 competitors each year from the UK, Europe, North America and Australasia.  It is being held from 18-20 June this year and races 1500 metres upstream from Temple Island to Upper Thames Rowing Club.  Entry to the site is free of charge.