This summer’s Henley Royal Regatta sees a record number 771 Entries, eclipsing the 2022 record of 739. Entries closed on Monday, 17 June with a total of 27 nations registered overall, the highest ever in the event’s 185-year history. The Entry list features 554 domestic and 217 overseas Entries breaking the 200 barrier for the first time. The list includes a record Entry from Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and the USA, and our first-ever representation for Algeria, with their men’s Olympic single sculler.
This year will see the most races ever at Henley Royal Regatta of 409, up by 15 on last year.
Sir Steve Redgrave, Chair of the Committee of Management for Henley Royal Regatta, said: “What a summer of rowing we have in store. I am delighted to see record Entry numbers at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, which is set to have a real blend of youth and experience amongst the crews. Establishing pathways from junior levels to the elite squads and keeping our athletes in the sport is always something I have been passionate about, which is why I’m so pleased to see such a breadth of Entries this year.
“We will see five male single scullers going head-to-head ahead of the Paris Olympics, and this year is also a fantastic opportunity for Under-23 teams to continue their development and test themselves against top-quality competition from around the world. I look forward to seeing those leading development crews targeting the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles in action out on the water, including a strong British eight in The Grand Challenge Cup.”
Fantastic Four for Zeidler?
Oliver Zeidler, the reigning World and European Champion, is returning to seek a fourth Diamond Challenge Sculls title before going for Olympic gold in Paris. Following a record-breaking 2023, which saw the 27-year-old single scull specialist named World Rowing Men’s Crew of the Year, Zeidler will arrive at Henley this year as the one to beat.
A Swiss Treasure
Just missing out on Olympic qualification in the Swiss women’s double scull, Jeannine Gmelin, who is a past world champion in the single, enters the Regatta in a strong Princess Grace quadruple crew, possibly for the last time in a very illustrious career. Her doubles partner is also racing in another Swiss Entry in the same event.
Rematch of Estonia vs USA
Only a few weeks ago Estonia took the last qualifying place in Lucerne in the men’s quads for the Paris Olympics, with the USA missing out by 0.13 of a second. They have both entered the Regatta in The Queen Mother Challenge Cup, with the USA crew having something to prove. But both crews won’t have it all their own way as the depth of talent in this event is outstanding.
Los Angeles Olympic Hopefuls
Canadian, American, Dutch, German and British development teams are entering our open events, with many of the athletes just missing out on Olympic qualification this year.
Oxford Brookes going for three in a row
Oxford Brookes will be attempting to make it a hat-trick of wins in The Temple Challenge Cup for men’s student eights. Last year, the University secured the largest trophy haul ever by any rowing club in a single Henley Royal Regatta, winning all seven of the contests it competed in on Finals Day. The crews representing Oxford Brookes at Henley this summer will be hoping for similar fortunes.
Top international junior eights going head-to-head
The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy for junior women’s eights is set to feature the first, second and third ranked crews from the USA, plus the Australian national champions. Hinksey Sculling School, after a solid win at the National Schools’, will also be a strong contender. Meanwhile, The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup for junior men’s eights will feature New Zealand’s national champions, Australia’s second ranked crew as well as USA’s fifth ranked crew. St Paul’s School, having won the National Schools’ Regatta, leads the British challenge.
Watch out for Wycliffe
One school crew determined to better their 2023 performance – which saw them leave as beaten finalists – will be Wycliffe College, who are returning in The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup this summer with a crew that is currently unbeaten on the domestic circuit. They won championship quads against a selection of senior and junior crews at the Metropolitan Regatta and have several junior internationals on board. It is arguably one of the strongest junior women’s quads this year.
The full list of 2024 Entries can be found here.
For events where more Entries have been received than the number of crews permitted, Qualifying Races will be held on the Henley Reach on the afternoon and evening of Friday, 28 June.
The 2024 Draw then takes place at 12 noon on Saturday, 29 June in Henley Town Hall.
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