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Following the regatta’s annual general meeting in December, Henley Royal Regatta announced the addition of three new women’s events for quadruple sculls on the student, club, and intermediate levels. Combined with the expected discontinuation of the Britannia Challenge Cup (for club coxed fours) and Visitors’ Challenge Cup (for intermediate straight fours) for 2027, Henley Royal Regatta will achieve gender equity in terms of number of events offered for the first time in its history, dating to 1839.
Henley trips have become increasingly popular with U.S. women’s crews since the gradual addition of women’s events in the late 20th century. With the existing junior and Olympic-level events, the new events mean there will be a quad event for every level for female scullers.
“My first race at Henley was over 30 years ago in the single sculls at the premier level,” said outgoing Henley Royal Regatta committee member Guin Batten, who won an Olympic silver medal in the women’s quad at the 2000 Games, “back then I could only dream of the idea that a female sculler could experience Henley from school, to university, to club and beyond. Today I’ve seen that dream become reality.”
Henley Women’s Regatta, run two weeks before and established in 1988 before Henley Royal Regatta welcomed female competitors, will also add two women’s quad events in a coordinated move to provide a clear pathway to Henley Royal Regatta, according to a December announcement.
“HWR aims to provide a pathway for both junior women and women at all stages of their rowing career,” said chairman Naomi Ashcroft. “The introduction of club and academic aspirational quads provides an opportunity for even greater competition in women’s sculling, and aligns with the introduction of three new quad sculling events for women at HRR, which we welcome and celebrate the move towards achieving gender parity.”
“Well, I mean, of course Henley fundamentally can do anything it wants to, because we write our own rules,” Henley committee member Matthew Pinsent told Rowing News in May. “It’s one of the best things about Henley is we have our own rule book and so we can do things like the King’s Cup [for men’s and women’s Allies military crews] a few years ago.”
“Achieving gender parity in our competition is an exciting and historic moment.,” said Henley committee chair Richard Phelps. “The journey started just over 30 years ago and was dramatically accelerated under the leadership of Sir Steve Redgrave. This final step has been more challenging as it involves removing some of the Open events, one of which is over 150 years old, but the Stewards have approved these changes, cognizant that our sport and Henley Royal Regatta are continuously evolving.”
The 2026 edition of Henley Royal Regatta will be Tuesday, June 30 through Sunday, July 5, with Henley Women’s Regatta held June 19-21.
