7 July 2026

The Henley Royal Regatta Finals were wrapped up on Sunday, 5 July.

Unfortunately, HTBS didn’t have an on-the-scene reporter at the regatta this year, so we offer you the HRR press release from the Finals instead.

Here are the results from the Finals.

The Britannia Challenge Cup Winner: K.A.R.Z.V. De Hoop, the Netherlands

K.A.R.Z.V. De Hoop, the Netherlands v London Rowing Club ‘A’ 

Heading into the first final of Henley Royal Regatta in The Britannia Challenge Cup, K.A.R.Z.V. De Hoop had put down some strong racing. They beat Avon Rowing Club by 1 ½ lengths on Tuesday, Thames ‘A’ by ¾ length in their quarter-final, before striding into finals day after a 2-length win over Potomac, USA.

Their charge for a red box was clear from the outset of Sunday’s showdown, setting a new record at the Barrier mark, at 1 minute 56 seconds, one second ahead of the previous. Striding out to 1 ¾ lengths ahead by Fawley, the Dutch boat continued to show their speed, and, in crossing the line first, became the first ever De Hoop crew to win The Britannia Challenge Cup.

The Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup Winner: L. Meriano & A. Codato, ITA

A. Santruckova & P. Flamikova, Czechia v L. Meriano & A. Codato, Italy

L. Meriano & A. Codato, Italy, beat both C.L. Westley & K.E. Williams of South Africa and L. Zehetmair & L. Swoboda of Austria to reach Sunday. Their opponents, the Czech pair of A. Santruckova & P. Flamikova, progressed through the competition by winning rounds against M. Mast & M. Van der Wal of the Netherlands, and L.C. Bryden & I.H. Campbell of Cambridge University.

In the ninth staging of The Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup, the Italians swiftly pulled away from the adjacent pair, and by Remenham, there were four boat lengths between the crews. This was further extended by The Grandstands, and the Italians blazed through the line five lengths ahead, in a time of 7 minutes and 48 seconds. 

The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup Winner: Nautilus Rowing Club & Edinburgh University

Leander Club v Nautilus Rowing Club & Edinburgh University

In this race, punters were treated to the spectacle of two stand-out quads in the final of The Prince of Wales of Challenge Cup, with the latter containing the provisional line-up for seats in the GB boat for the upcoming U23 World Rowing Championships. Both crews showed strong form coming into Sunday’s racing, with Leander Club beating Reading University ‘D’, and Oxford Brookes University, and Nautilus R.C. & Edinburgh University eliminating Leander Club & Leeds Rowing Club, and Reading University.

Leaping out from the stakeboats, both crews aimed to take control of the race. They remained almost level out of the Island, but the Nautilus R.C. & Edinburgh University, just a foot ahead, made the early decision to move away, 1/2 a length ahead by The Barrier. Both crews rated 37, but it was the Nautilus & Edinburgh University boat held firm, with 1 ¼ length clear water at the Mile. No sprint from Leander Club could draw them level, and Nautilus & Edinburgh crossed the line to win The 2026 Prince of Wales Challenge Cup.

The Island Challenge Cup Winner: Brown University ‘A’, USA

University of Washington, ‘A’ USA v Brown University, ‘A’ USA

In an all-American final of The Island Challenge Cup 2026, Brown University ‘A’ entered as the underdog. Having raced their ‘B’ crew on Thursday, the Rhode Island crew were hoping to repeat their performance from 2022, when they last won this Trophy. They dispatched the University of London and second-favourites Oxford Brookes University ‘A’ in their quarter and semi-finals.

Come the final, title favourites from the much-heralded University of Washington led at the Barrier and the Fawley markers. Under the guidance of cox and former Henley Royal Regatta winner Summer Balla-Kellett, Brown held their nerve, executing the first row through of the day. The roar of the Enclosures only pushed them forward, and whilst Washington went with them, it was not enough and Brown took The Island Challenge Cup by ½ a length. 

The Double Sculls Challenge Cup Winner: M. Mackovic & N. Pimenov, Serbia

M. Mackovic & N. Pimenov, Serbia v M.E.C. Haywood & J.J. Knight

Securing their slots in the final of The Double Sculls Challenge Cup were M. Mackovic & N. Pimenov of Serbia and M.E.C. Haywood & J.J. Knight. Their opponents, the GB double sculls racing in club colours, had beaten M.Q. Oddershede & J.R. Poulsen, Bagsværd Roklub of Denmark easily, and P.L.V. Rodrigues & T.A. Neves of Portugal by 2 ¼ lengths, and were prepared to make their mark.

In Sunday’s final, it was the Serbians who set the pace, rating 43 to edge a canvas lead advantage by the ¼ Mile. Whilst just ahead, their opponents’ ability to reverse the narrative was put to rest by the Half Mile, where Mackovic and Pimenov were 1 ¼ ahead. Commanding throughout, with a four-length lead at The Mile, the Serbians were delighted with their race, winning Henley Royal Regatta for the first time in their country’s history. 

The Danesfield Challenge Cup Winner: Molesey Boat Club

Leander Club v Molesey B.C.

Coming in as favourites for this new event for 2026, Leander Club hadn’t allowed previous opponents to get within two lengths of them in The Danesfield Challenge Cup. Despite beating Tideway Scullers by 2 ½ lengths, Marlow R.C. by 2 ¾ lengths and Thames ‘A’ by 2 ½ lengths, they met their Sunday match in Molesey Boat Club, who had an equally successful campaign, beating Worcester, London Rowing Club. and Strathclyde Park Rowing Club easily.

In the final, Molesey Boat Club took charge of the contest, ⅓ lead up at The Barrier, ½ up at The Mile, and ¾ lengths ahead by Fawley. Whilst they experienced a wobble at Remenham, with the umpire warning them for their steering, they remained commanding throughout, and secured victory in emphatic fashion. Molesey Boat Club will be the first name engraved on The Danesfield Challenge Cup, whilst also setting a record time of 7 minutes and 13 seconds.

The Fawley Challenge Cup Winner: Leander Club

Leander Club v Tideway Scullers’ School

With two-time reigning champions Windsor Boys School out in the quarter-final of The Fawley Challenge Cup, it was Leander Club and Tideway Scullers’ School that made it to Sunday this year.Tideway Scullers’ School didn’t let any crew get within 1 ½ lengths of them heading through the week. Leander Club bested Tiffin School, The Belen Jesuit Prep School ‘A’, USA crew and Sir William Borlase Grammar School.

Tideway Scullers’ School led off the start, rating 39 to charge ¾ length ahead of Leander coming out of the ¼ Mile. Coming to the Half Mile, both crews had settled onto race rhythm, but Leander did so with more steam, 1 ½ length up on Scullers. Leander strode away, 2 ½ lengths up at Remenham, which Tideway was only able to scrape ½ a length from as they passed The Progress Board. It was Leander who came away crowned winners of The Fawley Challenge Cup.

The Visitors’ Challenge Cup Winner: Nautilus Rowing Club ‘A’

Nautilus Rowing Club ‘A’ v Leander Club ‘B’

Curtailing their first boat, Leander ‘B’ punched their ticket into Finals Day in dramatic fashion. Nautilus Rowing Club also defeated their ‘B’ crew in the quarter-final and then beat an Austrian composite by 1 ¾ lengths in the semi-finals.

In this coxless four final, Leander ‘B’ were keen to gain the upper hand, and by the ¼ Mile, had drawn out a one-length advantage over Nautilus R.C. At the Barrier, they remained out front, but their lead had been reduced to just ⅓ of a length and Nautilus could smell blood. The GB U23 composite took the lead at Fawley and, with fresh momentum, strode away from Leander. They were 2 ½ lengths up at the Mile, and a mighty 4 ¼ lengths ahead as they crossed the line as winners, the first time a full Nautilus crew has won Henley Royal Regatta since 1991.

The Town Challenge Cup Winner: Hollandia Roeiclub, Netherlands 

Hollandia Roeiclub, Netherlands v Nautilus Rowing Club ‘A’

Hollandia Roeiclub entered The Town Challenge Cup as one of the title favourites. Both crews had posted similar times across their racing, so this was one of the most anticipated finals of the day.

Nautilus Rowing Club ‘A’ went off the blocks hard and fast, tucked to Temple Island’s buoys, but a storm was brewing. Trouble in the Nautilus crew caused their steering to veer dramatically into the middle then onto the Hollandia side of the course, water the Dutch were then forced out of and onto the buoy line. After a few warnings, a mid-Island blade clash brought the charge to an abrupt end. 

Hollandia came to almost a complete stop, having to readjust to avoid the oncoming booms. Undeterred, Nautilus continued up the course and led by three lengths at the Barrier, matching this lead at the Fawley, and crossed the line far ahead of their competition. Moments later Hollandia were across and the hands went up in protest. Nautilus’s steering troubles proved fatal: they were disqualified, handing victory to Hollandia Roeiclub.

The Ladies’ Challenge Plate Winner: Leander Club

Leander Club v Cambridge University & Harvard University, USA

To make finals day, Leander Club had beaten London Rowing Club and Nautilus Rowing Club. The composite crew had posted faster times up the course throughout the week whilst racing Oxford Brookes and the University of Washington.

A tight contest saw Leander Club narrowly hold off the Cambridge and Harvard composite in this final of The Ladies’ Challenge Plate. Rating 44 off the start, Leander took a canvas lead over the composite stroking 43, nudging ¼ length clear by the Quarter Mile and a full length by The Barrier, in 1 minute 44 seconds. The lead held through the Half Mile and out to Fawley, before the chasing crew clawed back to ¾ of a length as both began their tiers through Remenham. Cambridge and Harvard kept closing, cutting the gap to ½ a length in the enclosures and to ¼ length passing the Grandstands. Leander held on, in Paralympic Champion cox Erin Kennedy’s final competitive race before retirement, crossing ⅓ of a length clear of the composite to win this year’s Ladies’ Challenge Plate.

The Thames Challenge Cup Winner: Thames Rowing Club ‘A’

Thames R.C. ‘A’ v London R.C. ‘A’

To reach the finals, both Thames, R.C ‘A’ and London ‘A’ faced multiple rounds of racing in what was an extensive roster in The Thames Challenge Cup this year. London were victorious over Tyne Amateur Rowing Club, Molesey Boat Club, Sydney Rowing Club and Marlow Boat Club to reach Sunday racing. Their opposition, Thames Rowing Club had struck off Avon, Crabtree, City of Cambridge and Leander. 

Thames Rowing Club were never complacent in their final against London. Rating 44 to the end of the Island, neither crew settled, and Thames and London continued to rate a high 38, with Thames just a canvas ahead. By Fawley, they had clawed a ½ length lead and despite London lifting their rate, Thames won by ¾ of a length in 6 minutes 12 seconds.

The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup Winner: Marlow Rowing Club ‘A’

Tideway Scullers’ School ‘A’ v Marlow Rowing Club ‘A’

Marlow Rowing Club ‘A’ entered as firm favourites to win The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup after collecting both the Schools’ Head and National Schools’ Regatta titles. However, Tideway Scullers School ‘A’ have looked among the standout crews throughout this week, setting up a final that divided the masses. Marlow Rowing Club came in with perhaps more in their legs after defeating Headington School, Hartpury College and Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School by large margins, but Tideway Scullers School had looked equally formidable, overcoming Sydney Rowing Club, Shrewsbury School and holders Wycliffe College. 

Marlow Rowing Club knew they were up against a formidable opponent and went out determined to prove themselves worthy winners. They took a canvas lead by the Island and ¼ Mile, extending it to a ¾ length by Fawley. Tideway Scullers School mounted a charge approaching the Mile, reducing the margin to ⅔ of a length, but every time they closed the gap, Marlow found another response. Pulling away again from Remenham, they crossed the line a length clear to secure the title. 

The Grand Challenge Cup Winner: Oxford Brookes University & Leander Club

Team Italia, ITA v Oxford Brookes University & Leander Club

With only two entries in The Grand Challenge Cup for Premier open eights this year, it was a battle of two national teams: Great Britain, composed of rowers boating under Oxford Brookes University and Leander Club, and Team Italia, Italy. The GB boat came into today’s race off the back of a second-place finish in last week’s World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne.

It was down and out as soon as the flag dropped for Italy. Off the start, rating 48, Oxford Brookes and Leander took a canvas lead over an Italian crew. They led by ½ a length at the Barrier, in 1 minute 45 seconds, three seconds short of the record, but claimed a further ½ length by the Half Mile. Unfazed by Italy’s persistently higher rating, they were two boat lengths clear by the Mile before powering home to a dominant three-length victory.

The Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy Winner: Headington School

Shiplake College v Headington School

Billed as one of school rowing’s fiercest rivalries, Shiplake College took on Headington School, previous winners of Henley Royal Regatta in 2021, 2024 and 2025. The holders from Headington knocked out two American boats in RowAmerica Rye and Deerfield Academy, as well as local’s Henley Royal Club, all by more than two lengths, on their way to the final. Shiplake presented themselves strongly too, dispatching Chicago Rowing Foundation, USA, St Edward’s School and St Paul’s Girls School.

Out of the blocks, Headington, rating 41 to Shiplake’s 40, took a canvas lead by the Island’s end. Shiplake had no answer to Headington’s relentless rhythm, trailing ¾ of a length at the ¼ Mile as both transitioned into their race pace. Headington moved a length clear by the Barrier, in a record-equalling time of 2 minutes 2 seconds, stretching to 1 ⅓ lengths at Remenham Farm. By Fawley, they again equalled the record time of 3 minutes 26 seconds and the lead had grown to 1 ¾ lengths, extending to 2 ½ at Remenham Club and 2 ¾ at the Mile. A record-breaking, high-calibre crew, Heddington were victorious, crossing the line in 7 minutes 5 seconds; four seconds faster than the previous record.

The Results from the Henley Royal Regatta Finals Part II will be published tomorrow.