Across The Line: Records tumble on finals day of Henley Royal Regatta
Our Henley Royal Regatta finals day debrief, and what happened over 10 hours of racing at Talkin Tarn Regatta
Credit: AllMarkOne
We’re Across The Line! Join us to look back on a superb weekend of racing from across the UK.
Course records obliterated at Henley Royal Regatta
As thousands of spectators made their way back to the station to begin a journey back to civilisation, hundreds more stayed to celebrate the 2025 edition of Henley Royal Regatta. It was a historic year for HRR as the Bridge Challenge Plate made it’s debut and 16 records were broken on the final day of racing. Before the first race of the day, the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, got underway, the boat tents were stirred into life as a lone piper led out Edinburgh University BC. The rousing rendition of Highland Cathedral set the tone for the day and everyone along the banks were set for a tremendous day of action. Sadly for the Scots, they would fall at the final hurdle as the University of London won the PA for a fourth time in their history.
In the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy, the defending champions took on the national champions. Headington School BC slowly edged just a one-foot lead at the Barrier and extended this out to a ½ length lead by Fawley. The local favourites would lead an almighty charge through the middle of the race, but Headington had just enough power left in their legs to hold the lead across the line in a record time of 7:09, bettering the previous record by four seconds. Shiplake were also finalists in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, going up against Radley College. For Radley College, this was an opportunity to win the P.E. for the first time since 1998, while for Shiplake, history would also be made for the club, having never previously won the trophy. Both Shiplake and Radley blasted off the start, eager to take an early lead. Shiplake, however, were the first to reach the Barrier a ½ length ahead. With grimaces etched onto their faces, Radley drove on in front of the Regatta Enclosure and brought their rate up to close down on Shiplake. The Shiplake crew, with supporters screaming them on, continued to just cling to their lead. In a moment that those racing will never forget, Shiplake crossed the finish just one length ahead of Radley. It’s worth noting that Shiplake’s time was just one second slower than the mind-blowing performance of St. Paul’s back in 2018.
Across the club events, it was a year to remember for London RC. It has been a 19 year wait for them to return to the final of the Thames Challenge Cup and what a return it was. In a re-run of last year’s infamous semi-final, London RC were able to flip the script and beat their neighbours Thames RC. It wouldn’t be the only trophy that London would lift but it would take two attempts for them to lift the Wyfold Challenge Cup. The Putney programme were half a length up at the ¼ Mile but were quickly warned for steering as they veered into the waters of Sydney RC. Moments later, their boat stalled almost perpendicular to the booms, colliding with Sydney RC and sending the race to a grinding halt. We later learned that London RC had collided with a log on the way to the start line, severing the rudder and authorising a re-row in the afternoon.
Restarting later in the day, the two crews, now more familiar with one another, set off at high rates. London CR led by a length at the Barrier, a margin they extended to two and a half lengths by the time they reached Fawley. In haste, Sydney RC’s strokes suffered. A crab by the Aussies near the spectators pushed London even further away, who achieved a convincing three-length victory in what was a dramatic Finals Day for both crews.
Not to miss out on the club action, Molesey BC stepped up and dominated the Wargrave Challenge Cup. In the final they beat Leander Club in a time of 6:47, smashing the previous record by 19 seconds. Molesey BC’s win snapped a three year winning streak for Thames RC, who Molesey beat in the semi-finals. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Thames as the club made history by winning the first final of the Bridge Challenge Plate beating Oxford Brookes University BC in a final that will be catalyst for women’s rowing for years to come. Thames RC would also lift the Britannia Challenge Cup meaning they’ve now won the event for four years in a row.
The Great Britain Rowing Team were also in action at the business end of the week and the Men’s Quad, racing as Nottingham RC and Leander Club put a cracking performance together to come from behind and beat the Australians in the final. One of the most dominant displays came from Lauren Henry, racing for Leicester RC. Henry was one of two scullers from Leicester RC to make the draw and in the final she beat 2025 European bronze medallist Frida Sanggaard Nielsen comfortably and beat the previous course record by seven seconds.
Speaking of dominant displays, how about the Junior Quadruple Sculls. For the third year in a row and the fifth time since 2017, The Windsor Boys’ School lifted the Fawley Challenge Cup, while Wycliffe College have now won the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup for the second year in a row with Marlow RC being runners up on both occasions.
It wouldn’t be Henley without a couple of wins for Leander Club. The Henley-upon-Thames based clubwon the Ladies’ Challenge Plate for the first time since 2022 and a composite crew with Tideway Scullers beat Oxford Brookes University BC in the final of the Visitors Challenge Cup for the second year in a row.
View all the results here.
The North East descends on Talkin Tarn Regatta
Saturday’s racing at Talkin Tarn Regatta drew a huge crowd as entries were suspended two days before the deadline. Competitors flocked to Talkin Tarn Country Park to race three abreast over 700m. With over 10 hours of racing, it showcased the very best of northern rowing.
Queen Elizabeth HS sent the largest flotilla of boats with 40 crews racing and Hexham RC also travelled en masse with 34 boats taking part. Talkin Tarn warmly welcomed crews from north of the border as ST Andrew BC, Glasgow RC and the furthest travellers, Aberdeen Schools RA all the the journey south.
With 77 events being run between 180 races, it was a packed schedule of racing. It was no surprise to see Hxham RC picking up the most number of wins with 10 given their large entry. Amongst the wins ,for the Tyne based club were the titles in the Open J15 Double Sculls, the Women’s Mas C/D/E Double Sculls, the Mixed Ms D Quads, and theOpen Mas A Single Sculls.
It was great day for St Andrew BC’s Catie McKendrick who won the Women’s J16 Single Scull and teamed up with Tyne United RC to win the Women’s J16 Pair.
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View the full results here.
Check out last week’s results
The greatest Henley race of all time: as told by Peter Haining
Credit: HearTheBoatSing Chris Dodd
History is written by the victors. So, Fergus Mainland caught up with Peter Haining to hear all the stories from the 1989 final of the Ladies’ Challenge Plate between Notts County and Harvard University
Social Spotlight: Thames RC win the inaugural Bridge Challenge Plate
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That’s all from Across The Line this week!
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