The Fawley Challenge Cup – Windsor Boys’ School ‘A’ v Hinksey Sculling School
The final of the Fawley Challenge Cup started promptly at 11:40 with valiant efforts from both Windsor Boys’ School and Hinksey Sculling School, the latter even edging out over Windsor in the opening stages. This charge continued until the End of the Island, where ratings peaked 37 strokes per minute yet, inevitably, Windsor began their leading campaign with a length’s advantage by the Barrier. It appeared Hinksey’s energetic start had taken a toll as their rhythm fell to 35 while Windsor held their rate of 37, increasing the gap to two lengths by Fawley. Hinksey equally appeared to straddle the booms, a tactic of little reward but comparatively high risk. By Remenham, even Windsor had started to relax into the welcoming tailwind, with a three-length advantage marking their drop to 35. From then on, Windsor’s own lead only grew, with a final verdict of four-and-a-half lengths, archiving their name on the Fawley trophy once again. Though many would have predicted the result, it is worth affording substantial credit to Hinksey’s attacking spirit at the start of the race, though ultimately in vain. To go from a local community club to multiple finals of Henley Royal Regatta in mere years is an incredible achievement, even more so given their markedly unpredictable season, which ranged from podiums to a B final. Nonetheless, with three wins in the last five years, Windsor’s name might as well be kept as a permanent engraving. The titans of schoolboy sculling retain their position as renowned Fawley Challenge Cup champions.
The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy – Shiplake College v Headington School
Held on the start due to the previous delayed race, tensions were high between Shiplake and Headington. The top two all season: Headington at Schools’ Head, Shiplake at National Schools’ and back to Headington at Henley Women’s Regatta, but all eyes turned to Henley Royal Regatta for the final winner. One final showdown. Shiplake had the quicker start, punching through to find their feet faster, gaining the slightest of advantages through the Island stage. From there It was bowball to bowball until Headington found their stride around the Quarter Mile marker. They sat on a strong rhythm, rating 37, to draw out and start to lead, claiming two thirds of a length by Fawley, but not for long. Shiplake stepped it up at Remenham Club, determined to overthrow Headington after a difficult HWR campaign, staying long and loose in each stroke they clawed back into the race and reduced the gap to just a quarter of a length at the Three-quarter Mile. The response from Headington? Up one on the rate and keep moving. However, the Shiplake surge was strong; the lead was reduced to just three feet and less as both crews were roared through the Enclosures. It was stroke for stroke, approaching an almost photo finish. But the race wasn’t finished yet. A final gear, a last resort, absolutely everything left out on the course, and it was Headington’s race again. A final verdict saw Headington take the victory by just a quarter of a length, a truly representative end to the exciting season we have seen this year in junior women’s sweep. The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy returns to Headington School.
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup – Radley College v Shiplake College
Under prime conditions (a tailwind and virtually no stream) the matchup that had the boat tents in uproar clapping out both Radley and Shiplake took off after a short delay, as Radley appeared to be blown about on the stakeboats. Heading into the race, predictions couldn’t be certain as the crews were so closely matched in the run up to this, with Shiplake College winning the National Schools Regatta this year and Radley College following in their wake. Off the Island, both crews peaked at rate 43, evidence of an immense burst of adrenalin off the starting blocks. Radley ‘settled’ down to 36 and Shiplake 37, though Radley had begun to slip away from Shiplake, down by a quarter of a length by the End of the Island. Shiplake’s lead only stretched to two-thirds of a length at Fawley, and a further boost ‘shipped’ them to three-quarters of a length advantage. Radley clearly made a move at Remenham, as their lost ground was reduced, and they clawed back to just half a length down. Nonetheless, even the deafening cries of the supporters along the riverbanks couldn’t halt the storm of the honeybees. With their own supporters’ exuberating style requiring a message from the officials to ‘walk not run’ back to the landing stages after a race, Shiplake held their own against Radley across the line, securing Shiplake’s first ever win in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge cup in the process. A fantastic final to conclude the schoolboy rowing events of Henley Royal Regatta 2025.
Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup- Wycliffe College ‘A’ V Marlow Rowing Club ‘A’
Just two weeks ago, Wycliffe faced Marlow rowing club in the final of the the junior coxless quads at Henley Women’s regatta producing a spectacularly close race separated by no more than three quarters of a length at any point. The same could be said for the National Schools’ final where the final verdict separated these crews by just two seconds for silver and bronze. After Wycliffe took national champions Tideway Scullers out yesterday, all eyes turned to the Diamond Jubilee final for one last run. A decidedly strong start from Marlow saw them sneak out to no more than a bowball advantage through the first few strokes, a slight crosswind saw them drift and wobble slightly on the steering allowing for Wycliffe to draw level again before the end of the Island. Pushing their canvas up, Wycliffe held a three-quarter length lead by the quarter mile mark, the exact gap by which they won Henley Women’s Regatta. Marlow did not let go of that canvas overlap, holding the gap right through to the barrier before dropping slightly back to one length by Fawley. As soon as clear water was claimed, Wycliffe went from strength to strength, creeping away inch by inch in their more comfortable stroke rhythm. Finishing two lengths up and smashing the course record in the process, Wycliffe drew the season to close on a high, defending their title of Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup holders.
