From the Temple to the bridge
The Henley Royal Regatta encompasses 26 events, each named for the trophy cup claimed by the winner. Most race formats overlap with the Olympic rowing competitions, and the most celebrated is the Grand Challenge Cup, which dates back to the event’s founding.
Races are categorized by the number of participants, whether or not there is a coxswain, age and gender. But they all follow the same course, which runs “about one mile and 550 yards” upstream from Temple Island to Henley Bridge.
Contestants come from all over the world, but predominantly represent English, Eastern European and American schools and clubs. Some of the top American competitors are the teams from Ivy League schools such as Princeton, Columbia and Harvard.
Famously documented by Jack Carlson in the book Rowing Blazers, which spawned the clothing label of the same name, rowing culture has a fashion ethos dating back to the sport’s Victorian-era roots. The Henley, as it is known, doubles as a showcase for team regalia.
