Henley Royal Regatta 2025 – Qualifiers for Junior Events Preview

For many, racing at the Qualifying event for Henley Royal Regatta is the pinnacle of their rowing career. The Draw for the Regatta takes place the following day (Saturday 28th June at midday) and many crews will need to navigate the perils of Friday’s timetrial on the Henley course to secure a berth in the Regatta proper. Here, we’re going to take a look at who we think will qualify in the junior events.

The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup

Entries: 42 (To be reduced to 32 by Qualifying races)

Subject to withdrawals, the fastest 15 crews will qualify (60%)

Going off of Marlow Regatta results, it strikes me that there quite a few from this list who should be qualifying with ease in The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.

Norwich School were the fastest crew at Marlow to be asked to attend qualifiers (and they may feel a little aggreived given that crews they beat, including Abingdon, Westminster and KCS were all prequalified). They should navigate this comfortably alongside the Windsor Boys’ School, the King’s School, Chester, Wallingford Rowing Club, Kew House School and St. George’s College, who all made it into the H-finals and upwards.

I expect the two international crews from Boulogne 92 Aviron, France and Green Lake Crew, U.S.A., to make it through to the main Draw, whilst Emanuel School, Canford School and Winchester College all look like solid bets too.

Haberdashers’ Monmouth School finished 19th overall at the National Schools’ Regatta, one place behind Claires Court School, who should also qualify. Bryanston School beat them both at Marlow, so I have included them too, alongside St Peter’s School Boat Club, who were two seconds back in the K-final.

Here are the 15 crews that I believe find themselves most likely to qualify in alphabetical order:

1. Boulogne 92 Aviron, France
2. Bryanston School
3. Canford School
4. Claires Court School
5. Emanuel School
6. Green Lake Crew, U.S.A.
7. Haberdashers’ Monmouth School
8. Kew House School
9. Norwich School
10. St. George’s College
11. St. Peter’s School
12. The King’s School, Chester
13. The Windsor Boys’ School
14. Wallingford Rowing Club
15. Winchester College

The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy

Entries: 32 (To be reduced to 24 by Qualifying races)

Subject to withdrawals, the fastest 12 crews will qualify (60%)

2025 welcomes a fresh cohort of ambitious crews looking to make their mark in The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy. While the event sees the same number of entries as last year (32 in all), the pathway to the regatta week is a touch more forgiving. Instead of just six crews qualifying from the time trial, there’ll be an opportunity for 12 crews, from a group of 20, to race at Henley Royal Regatta.

Notably, six of the crews required to qualify this year also raced at Henley Women’s Regatta — a good sign of some real quality in the mix. Bedford Girls’ School will be the first crew down the track, coming in off a strong Henley Women’s campaign. They qualified well but were unlucky to draw Shiplake College in the first round. It was a tough ask for anyone, but it showed the pace needed to compete at this level. If they can carry that same intent from the Henley Women’s Regatta qualifying into Friday’s race, they stand a solid chance of progressing.

Hot on their heels will be Emanuel School. This season, they’ve already made an impression with a sixth-place finish at the Schools’ Head of the River in the junior category — a clear sign they know how to handle tough, time-based racing. At Henley Women’s Regatta, they too exited in the first round, but their heat time was just 0.7 seconds off Bedford. It’s close margins like that which make the qualifying day so exciting, and this match-up could be one of the tightest to watch.

Shrewsbury School is next from the group of Henley Women’s Regatta qualifiers. After a training camp on the Henley stretch, their familiarity with the course and comfort between the booms helped them navigate the time trial, earning a place in the main draw. Unfortunately, they drew Headington in the first round, who went on to win the event. Shrewsbury has found success recently in their small boats, and if that sharpness can translate to the eight, they’re in with a strong chance of qualifying.

Starting just behind them is Sir William Perkins’s School. In recent years, SWPS has quietly built a reputation for depth and development, with several athletes progressing to G trials and strong performances even at Junior 15 level. At the Metropolitan Regatta, they placed eighth in the time trial and improved to finish sixth overall in the junior eights. With Irvin-Sellers setting the rhythm from the stroke seat, they’ll want to qualify for the second year in a row.

St. Paul’s Girls’ School, another Henley Women’s Regatta qualifier, failed to qualify for this event last year. However, they have changed their approach this time around, having avoided the junior eights at Henley Women’s Regatta last year. The leap from not fielding an eight last season to qualifying for Henley Women’s Regatta in 2025 is impressive and speaks to their programme’s steady progress. Their time trial performance at Henley Women’s Regatta was composed and well-executed, and even though they did not progress deep into the draw, simply earning that qualification shows just how far they have come. This crew features several of the crew that placed third in women’s Junior 16 eights at the National Schools’ Regatta. Those same five athletes also finished second in women’s Junior 16 eights at the Schools’ Head of the River, whilst Natalie Cory-Wright raced at the GB-France Match

Last off in the qualifying list, and the final Henley Women’s Regatta qualifier to mention (though certainly not least), is Wimbledon High School. They come into Henley Royal Regatta on a high, most recently picking up a win at Reading Regatta, which will undoubtedly give them a confidence boost heading into the qualifiers. Interestingly, Wimbledon chose not to race their eight at some of the season’s most significant markers like the National Schools’ Regatta’ or Wallingford, instead focusing on smaller boats. That strategy seemed to pay off with a fourth-place A-final finish at Wallingford. It’s also worth remembering their standout result at the Schools’ Head of the River earlier in the year, where their eight placed second overall, coxed by E. Harrison. They won’t be racing just for experience when they’re on the qualifying course.

A few noteworthy crews decided not to race at Henley Women’s Regatta, and my eyes are immediately drawn to Hinksey. Having spent most of the 2024 season chasing podium finishes in the eights, their absence from Henley Women’s Regatta this year is hard to miss. Just 12 months ago, Hinksey were at the top of the junior eight’s conversation, famously clinching the win in the final at the National Schools’ Regatta. This season, however, they appear to have shifted focus, stepping away from the eight and doubling down on development in smaller boats. While that’s a valid strategy for technical growth, it does leave questions about how ready their eight will be to race. Despite this, I have almost no doubt they’ll be able to at least take a top 12 spot at qualifiers with relative ease.

Mercantile, having fundraised a large chunk of money for the opportunity, will not want to waste their chance to qualify, and I think they will come with all guns blazing. Notably absent from the Australian Rowing Championships, they’re keeping a low profile, although the total squad picked up a very respectable 28 medals across the board, and that gives me an indication that this club strives for high performance. I’d expect the girls to eye a qualifying spot.

Surbiton High School will add their Groton School Challenge Cup-winning crew to this eight in an attempt to make the main Draw at Henley Royal Regatta. Steered by Hannah Jacobs and led by junior international, Emily Shaw, this crew feel like a fair bet at achieving qualification, particularly given the quality available to them.

Kingston Grammar School also feel like a good shout to qualify on Friday. Four of their athletes won the championship girls’ coxed fours at the National Schools’ Regatta and will strengthen a crew that already won the girls’ first eights title at the Schools’ Head of the River.

A handful of crews that did not qualify last year are coming back to take on the challenge once more, such as The King’s School Chester, Great Marlow School, Pangbourne College, and The King’s School Worcester. Even though there are more qualifying spots on offer this year, they’ll need to reflect on what can be improved from last season to put down a competitive time in the time trial.

Here are the 13 crews that I believe find themselves most likely to qualify in alphabetical order:

1. Bedford Girls’ School
2. Emanuel School
3. Hinksey Sculling School
4. Kingston Grammar School
5. Mercantile Rowing Club, Australia
6. Norwich School
7. Pangbourne College
8. Shrewsbury School
9. Sir William Perkins’s School
10. St. Paul’s Girls’ School
11. Surbiton High School
12. The King’s School, Chester
13. Wimbledon High School

The Fawley Challenge Cup

Entries: 73 (To be reduced to 24 by Qualifying races)

Subject to withdrawals, the fastest 10 crews will qualify (16.94%)

In The Fawley Challenge Cup, 59 crews are battling for ten qualification places.

Of these crews, prime favourites to qualify must be Leander Club ‘A’, who, almost unbelievably, have not been prequalified by the Stewards. As the 2023 Fawley Challenge Cup champions, this year they have been one of the top performers all season, finishing second at the Metropolitan Regatta and Schools’ Head of the River. Generally, behind Windsor, they have been the crew to beat.

Of the remaining nine qualification slots, Lea Rowing Club should definitely get a place. They have had a remarkable season for the club, winning at the Junior Sculling Regatta, whilst Thomas Pakulis represented Great Britain at the Munich International Junior Regatta earlier this year. They haven’t made the speed gains throughout the season they hoped for, but they are rapid nonetheless.

George Watson’s College should be fairly safe, being the fastest non-prequalifier at Marlow Regatta. Alongside them should be Star Club, Maidenhead Rowing Club ‘A’, Hereford Cathedral School, and Kingston Rowing Club, who all finished within 1.5 seconds of each other at Marlow Regatta.

Shiplake College ‘A’, who made it to Saturday last year, should also qualify fairly comfortably. Looking at the ‘B’ crews of most of the powerhouse clubs, it would be difficult, though not impossible, for them to qualify, purely due to the widespread presence of competitive contingents across many clubs this season.

Beyond that, clubs that could sneak in could be Tiffin School or Northwich Rowing Club, though both crews will need excellent races. Both were B-finalists at National Schools’ Regatta’ Regatta in the rough conditions, which could help them handle the tumultuous Henley Royal Regatta waters. Of the international entrants, Shanghai New Rowing Boat Club, China look interesting, having come fourth in the U19 quad at the Hong Kong Rowing Championships. However, they are an extremely young crew, with all members aged 16, meaning the odds will be stacked against them. Regardless, if they can qualify, it will be quite the feat.

Here are the 10 crews that I believe find themselves most likely to qualify in alphabetical order:

1. George Watson’s College
2. Hereford Cathedral School
3. Kingston Rowing Club
4. Lea Rowing Club
5. Leander Club ‘A’
6. Maidenhead Rowing Club ‘A’
7. Northwich Rowing Club
8. Shiplake College ‘A’
9. Star Club
10. Tiffin School

The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup

Entries: 61 (To be reduced to 24 by Qualifying races)

Subject to withdrawals, the fastest 12 crews will qualify (24.49%)

12 qualifying spots compared to last year’s seven allows for a more open field for qualification, but one no less competitive. The list of crews required to qualify is a sea of hungry second crews, strong yet snubbed top boats, and clubs looking to either settle a score or progress into Henley Royal Regatta for the first time ever.

Claires Court School has been in a strong position all season, recently winning the B-final at the Metropolitan Regatta, so it surprises me somewhat that they could not nab a pre-qualification slot. After scratching from the final of the National Schools’ Regatta, there were whispers of injury within the crew that seems to have plagued them since – one of the 12 remaining spots is surely theirs if they can overcome the challenges within their crew.

Hartpury College ‘A’ are another surprise to find in the line-up for qualifying races, given how competitive they’ve been with other pre-qualified crews. They placed ninth at the National Schools’ Regatta as a fairly new crew, then followed this up with fourth in the B-final at the Metropolitan Regatta. Catherine Gardner won the junior women’s single at Henley Women’s Regatta last weekend and is arguably the country’s standout female sculler. Alongside Claires Court ‘A’, I’d expect them to take a qualifying spot the old-fashioned way.

Marlow are often praised for the depth of their girls’ squad, and for good reason: their Junior 16 quad enjoyed a season unbeaten until Henley Women’s Regatta, while the second quad consistently beat several top crews throughout the year. There’s no shortage of Henley Royal Regatta experience for these girls either, with several of the older rowers in these crews returning from last year’s Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy eight.

Wycliffe also stands out as an example of a B crew deserving a spot in side-by-side racing – they could make this the third time they have qualified three quads into The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup. An 18-second victory for the second quad at National Schools’ Regatta shows the strength of their outstanding top quad is no matter of luck, but rather a programme rich in talent.

Speaking of talent, Shiplake are aiming for a repeat of last season (or better), when they had a crew reach the Thursday of every junior event, including a Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup quad who had entered through the qualifying races. Sending two crews to qualifiers this year for nearly twice as many spots, Shiplake are a solid bet to qualify, especially given their top quad’s recent progression through to the heats of Henley Women’s, placing in the top 16 of nearly 50 crews.

With all eyes on their unstoppable first eight, Headington’s wider squad set their sights on two qualification spots – their top quad impressively prequalified following a string of successes in recent regattas. Headington B are still well in the mix, placing second in the C-final at the Metropolitan Regatta ahead of Kew House, Shiplake, and Wallingford, to name a few.

The only international crew asked to qualify this Friday, Boulogne 92 of France, represents the secondary school Lycée Simone Veil in both The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup and The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. Their quad is very young, racing as J16s on the French circuit, and with this marking their first ever regatta, I’m not sure how they will compare against the 48 other boats eager to qualify. That’s not to say that this isn’t a strong crew – back in April, they won Coupe LIFA as a coxed four.

They may be an outside shout in such a broad field, but I’m genuinely hopeful Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School can go a step further when it counts. Though the unforgiving conditions in Nottingham exposed a weakness in the crew that landed them in the C-final, they were fastest non-qualifiers at Henley Women’s Regatta, and missed the A-final of Junior Sculling Regatta by less than a second.

Kew House School have revealed similar strength that actually did see them through to the heats of HWR, in a crew bolstered by the talent of GB athletes Charlotte Taylor-Aubrey and Ava Thurnham. They qualified their first eight ever into the Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy last year, and have doubled their chances this year by entering two quads.

Walton Rowing Club have brought forward a quad containing the impressive talents of Bella Hornzee and Holly Weddell, who were beaten finalists in the Rayner Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta. This crew placed tenth in women’s junior quads at the Schools’ Head of the River, Oarsport Junior Sculling Head and Bella + Holly won the Pairs Head back in October.

Molesey Boat Club ‘A’ were first in the B-final of women’s quads on the Sunday of the Metropolitan Regatta and finished sixth in the B-final of championship girls’ quads at the National Schools’ Regatta.

Great Marlow School placed eighth at the Schools’ Head of the River, while Westminster School was the third-fastest non-qualifier for the Bea Langridge Trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta.

Here are the 12 crews that I believe find themselves most likely to qualify in alphabetical order:

1. Boulogne 92 Aviron, France
2. Claires Court School ‘A’
3. Hartpury College ‘A’
4. Headington School ‘B’
5. Marlow Rowing Club ‘B’
6. Molesey Boat Club ‘A’
7. Shiplake College ‘A’
8. Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
9. Trentham Boat Club
10. Walton Rowing Club
11. Westminster School
12. Wycliffe College ‘B’