13 April 2024

The other day Henley Women’s Regatta announced in a press release its line-up of ambassadors ahead of the 2024 event in June. The list includes 11 new ambassadors, all high-achieving athletes whose role will be to help promote the event and support competitors at the regatta.

All of the 15 ambassadors have represented their countries at international level as a rower or coxswain, winning a collective three Olympic and three Paralympic gold medals; 11 Olympic silver medals; one Olympic and one Paralympic bronze medal; 36 world championship titles; nine world championship silver medals and eight world championship bronze medals; 10 European championship gold medals; four European silver medals; and six European bronze medals.

Three of the new ambassadors are set to race for Team GB in Paris this summer – Imogen Grant and Emily Craig as the British lightweight double sculls crew at the Olympic Games, and Erin Kennedy as coxswain of the PR3 mixed coxed four at the Paralympic Games.

Many have also competed at Henley Women’s Regatta on numerous occasions and contributed after their retirement to running the event. In particular, immediate past chairmen Naomi Riches and Miriam Luke have joined the group of ambassadors, maintaining their links with the regatta.

New Zealander Grace Prendergast is among the list of new ambassadors. Prendergast’s achievements include gold in the women’s pair and silver in the women’s eight at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, five world titles, three Henley Royal Regatta cups, and, together with Imogen Grant, the 2022 Boat Race for Cambridge.

Although Prendergast never got the opportunity to race at Henley Women’s Regatta, in 2023 she presented the prizes and joined the commentary team. This year, she will be speaking at the international crew reception.

Henley Women’s Regatta chairman Naomi Ashcroft said: “We are delighted to be supported by a growing number of HWR ambassadors to provide inspiration and motivation for our competitors and to showcase the thrill and excitement of racing at Henley Women’s Regatta. There is now a wonderful opportunity for athletes to draw upon the experience of these role models, as the HWR ambassador programme becomes an integral part of the regatta. Welcome to the HWR family.”

The 11 new ambassadors join the existing roster, which includes UK Sport chair Dame Katherine Grainger, Britain’s most successful female Olympic rower; fellow London 2012 gold medallist Anna Watkins; and Zoe de Toledo and Jess Eddie, who together won a historic silver medal in the women’s eight at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Full list of Henley Women’s Regatta ambassadors:

• Ellen Buttrick MBE
• Emily Craig
• Jess Eddie
• Debbie Flood
• Dame Katherine Grainger DBE
• Imogen Grant
• Erin Kennedy MBE
• Jess Leyden
• Miriam Luke MBE
• Alison Mowbray
• Grace Prendergast MNZM
• Naomi Riches MBE
• Zoe de Toledo
• Imogen Walsh
• Anna Watkins MBE

Henley Women’s Regatta takes place between Friday 21 and Sunday 23 June 2024. For more details on events, entry criteria and the regatta, visit www.hwr.org.uk.