23 June 2026

Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR) ended on Sunday, 21 June. Here is a press release from HWR. (Photographs provided by HWR.)

Four course records fell and one was equalled in a blistering final day of racing at Henley Women’s Regatta 2026.

Finals day brought a light tailwind, making the racing fast and furious. The course record dropped by five seconds in two events. In the semi-finals of the Borne Cup for championship quads, the composite from Nottingham Rowing Club and Reading University set a record of 4:43. They went on to win the final.

Likewise, Headington School took five seconds off the old record as they claimed their fourth Peabody Cup for junior eights in a row.

London Rowing Club set a record of 4:44 for the Copas Cup for club eights in their semi-final, knocking one second off the old standard. They won the final in 4:45. Rachel Aldridge of St Andrew BC equalled the record of 5:38 in the George Innes Cup for championship single sculls as she took victory in the final.

London capped their best HWR ever with victory in the Haslam Trophy for championship lightweight double sculls and the inaugural Chairman’s Trophy for club quadruple sculls. The new Nina Padwick Trophy for academic quads was won by Reading University.

Marlow Rowing Club went away with two wins, in the Bea Langridge Trophy for junior quadruple sculls – setting a course record of 4:50, four seconds quicker than the previous record – and in the Rayner Cup for junior double sculls. Headington School also claimed the Groton School Challenge Cup for junior coxed fours to add to their Peabody win.

St Andrew’s University won both the Cathy Cruickshank Trophy for academic coxless fours and the Rosie Mayglothling Trophy for aspirational double sculls.

Oxford Brookes extended their stranglehold on the Colgan Foundation Cup for academic eights with their fifth win in a row, beating Edinburgh University in the final. Since 2018 the University of London is the only other club to have won this event.

Only two trophies went overseas this year: Elizabeth Martin of Riverside BC, USA, won the Godfrey Rowsports Trophy for championship lightweight single sculls and Dutch crew AUSR Orca won the Avril Vellacott Cup for championship fours.

For perhaps the first time in HWR regatta history, a married couple both won: Kyra Delray claimed the Redgrave Challenge Vase alongside Esther Briz for Oxford University, while her wife Saskia Delray won the Ron Needs Challenge Cup for championship eights as part of a University of London and Molesey Boat Club composite.

The prizes were presented by Paris 2024 Olympic champion in the quadruple sculls, Lauren Henry, who said all competitors should be proud of what they had achieved.

“Women’s rowing continues to grow, becoming faster, stronger and more competitive, and more visible with every passing year. The athletes racing here today are part of that story.

“Regardless of where rowing takes you, I can almost guarantee that the sport will give you far more than race results. The friendships you build, the lessons you learn, the confidence you gain, and the belief that you can overcome challenges will stay with you long after your final race.”

HWR chairman Naomi Ashcroft said: “The quality of the racing was fantastic, right from the Friday afternoon when we started the side-by-side racing, right through to the finals.

“It is all about women’s rowing and seeing it continue to thrive. I’m delighted to think that Henley Women’s Regatta can contribute to that and continue to create a pathway for wherever women want to go in their rowing careers.”

For more information, visit www.hwr.org.uk.