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“I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.” Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat.
3 July 2024
By Tim Koch
Tim Koch is fascinated at The Royal.
The 185-year-old but still sprightly Henley Royal Regatta began on a sometimes chilly and overcast day yesterday, Tuesday, 2 July. As always, over Henley’s six days I will be attempting to strike a balance between posts and Pimm’s so my reports will be heavy on pictures but light on time consuming text. HTBS is rarely a results service, not least because such information is readily available online for those interested.
Via the wonders of the Internet, the schedule is here, today’s timetable is here, the results here and the regatta’s YouTube Channel has both live and recorded coverage.
My pieces are an attempt to convey the atmosphere of an important and unique rowing event but also a British social, cultural and sporting tradition that is part of the UK’s heritage.
Setting the scene
A busy start to the regatta at the Boat Tent Area.Wind in the Willows
In the pink.
Society Column
British Royalty: His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent (left). The Prince rowed while at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and is now a Patron of Thames Rowing Club. He sports a Thames cap and tie and a Remenham Club blazer.
Pop Royalty: Dhani Harrison, son of Beatle George Harrison, coxed at Shiplake College, Leander and Brown University. I recently wrote about his rowing career.
First Citizen: The current Mayor of Henley, Rory Hunt, is a rowing man and, at 30, the town’s youngest ever mayor. During his or her term of office, the Mayor of Henley is, ex officio, a Steward of the Regatta and has temporary possession of Steward’s Badge Number One.
Going To Blazers
Famously, many Dutch student rowing clubs pass their blazers on from one intake to the next with cleaning and repairs strictly forbidden.
Even the red lion on Henley’s Red Lion Hotel is suitably blazered.
Pre Race
Latymer Upper School’s Princess Elizabeth crew in a pre-race huddle.
Fist bumps from the Durham coach for his Temple crew.Nottingham University goes afloat for The Temple.
Attention… Go!
Kingston Grammar School and Latymer Upper School in the Prince Philip.Latymer in action.Cornell, USA, in the Temple. Picture: Benedict Tufnell.
Pic 18. Cornell, USA, in the Temple. Picture: Benedict Tufnell.
The University of London ahead of Cornell at the finish.Molesey beating Kölner RV, Germany, in the Britannia.Westminster leading S.R.V. Alter Teichweg, Germany, in the Princess Elizabeth.Headington School pass Putney High School in the final few strokes of the Diamond Jubilee.
Post Race
Putney High School’s bow, Honor Parish, gets a post-race hug from her father, Matt (CUBC 1994, 1995). Looking on is big brother, Ollie (CUBC 2021, 2022, 2023). Later there were also hugs from Honor’s other big brother, Jasper (CUBC 2022, 2023) and mother (who coxed for the University of London). More post race comforting, this for the bow of Sir William Perkins’s School Prince Philip crew.Winning embraces between the Riverside Boat Club, USA, crew who won a round of the Britannia.A photo finish for Vesta.
Hear The Boat Sing 
I enjoy the photos, please keep them coming.
David Kacala
Undine BC
SN Regatta Team
Great photos as usual from Tim!
Thank you both. I’ll have a couple of Pimm’s in your names.
Nice piece by Tim which captures the HRR spirit. I could smell the adrenaline and joy! Sadly I can’t be there this year.