Holders: E. M. Cornelis & J. P. Cornut-Danjou, Club France, France
Entries: 9
The Hambleden Challenge Cup has only a small number of crews entered this year. Nine total is down from 16 in 2024, perhaps to be expected the year after an Olympic Games and in a Premier event. By virtue of a smaller entry #, no crews will have to go to qualifiers, an excellent result for domestic crews from Cambridge and Upper Thames, guaranteeing them a run down the track in a knockout race.
Defending champions Cornelis and Cornut-Danjou are not returning this year, and none of the athletes entered in this event have won it previously. New winners are set to be crowned, and exciting racing is about to unfold.
E.C. Witt and J.M.Perry (Leander Club)
Leading the British contingent are current senior team members Lizzie Witt and Juliette Perry, who will compete for Leander Club. A crew that is already tried and tested this season, placing third at February trials, they have been busy on the international scene in recent weeks. Perry has raced in the women’s eight, which is undefeated this season, winning the European Rowing Championships and World Rowing Cup 1. Witt has supported the team as a spare, alongside racing the four with Perry in Varese, placing sixth. Both have raced in The Hambleden Challenge Cup previously; Perry made it to the semifinals in 2023, and Witt just lost in the final with Emilly Lindberg the same year. They will undoubtedly want to avenge previous losses, and 2025 could be the year to do it.
B. R. E. Cox & G. E. Patten (University of Western Australia and West Australian Rowing Club, Australia)
Australian pair Bronwyn Cox and Giorgia Patten are just one of a large contingent of Australian crews flocking to Henley Royal Regatta this year. Both have raced in the eight over the past few seasons, culminating in fourth place at the Olympic Games last summer. Cox and Patten have previously been paired together at U23 level, placing fifth at the U23 World Rowing Championships in 2023 and sixth at World Rowing Cup II that same year. Reunited seven years later, it will be exciting to see what they can do this time around.
I. Jurkovic & J. Jurkovic (Croatian Rowing Federation, Croatia)
Twins Ivana and Josipa have raced this pair together since 2021, finally making the trip to Henley Royal Regatta for their debut between the booms. A mixed season came in 2024, when they placed third at the European Rowing Championships before heartbreak at the Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta, missing the Olympic Games by one place. Second in the B-final at Varese two weeks ago, they hope to improve on that this weekend in Lucerne and head straight to Henley Royal Regatta with boosted confidence and speed.
J. Kirstein & L. Osterkamp (Hannoverscher Ruder-Club von 1880 e.V. and Deutscher Ruder-Club von 1884 e.V. Hannover, Germany)
Racing for Hannoverscher Ruder-Club von 1880 e.V. and Deutscher Ruder-Club von 1884 e.V. Hannover, Germany, this pairing of Janka Kirstein and Lena Osterkamp unite for the first time at Henley Royal Regatta. Osterkamp was a stalwart of the German women’s eight over the last few seasons, missing out on the Olympic Games after placing fourth at the Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta. She last raced the pair in 2022 with a fourth place in the B-final at the European Rowing Championships. Kirstein has been off the international scene for several years, racing in the German four during the Tokyo Olympiad. A veteran of the pair, she placed sixth at the U19 World Rowing Championships in 2014. Both Kirstein and Osterkamp are experienced internationally, but racing at Henley Royal Regatta provides a whole new challenge.
G. Rakauskaite & F. E. Allen (Worcester Rowing Club and Oxford Brookes University)
Few Paralympic crews have ever entered Henley Royal Regatta, so it is a boost for the sport to see Paralympic champions Geidre Rakauskaite and Frankie Allen enter this event under Worcester Rowing Club and Oxford Brookes University. Triumphant in the PR3 coxed four in Paris, they last raced the pair together at the 2022 World Rowing Championships, emerging victorious. This is their one race outing in the smaller boat, although they had hoped to repeat similar feats this season before injury scuppered their chances. Racing at Henley Royal Regatta will be a completely new experience for both of them and should show the rowing world the importance of providing more opportunities for para-athletes at the top regattas.
M. J. Wanamaker & C. M. Collins (New York Athletic Club, U.S.A.)
Madeline Wanamaker and Claire Collins represent the USA in The Hambleden Challenge Cup in 2025. Racing for the New York Athletic Club, both competed in the women’s eight that placed fifth at the Olympic Games last year. Wanamaker and Collins are currently on a break from international rowing; Collins was part of the triumphant Cambridge Blue Boat earlier this season, whilst Wanamaker has been coaching at the University of Washington. A pair that has already achieved international success, a bronze medal at the 2022 World Rowing Championships, having this experience together will no doubt be invaluable. Both are unlikely to be the fittest they have ever been, but will want to show their calibre next week regardless.
Prediction
Strong domestic and international crew pairings set The Hambleden Challenge Cup up for some close races. The opportunity for Witt and Perry is right in front of them; there is no reason they cannot defeat the other international boats, especially given their fitness and recent racing experience. Both know the Henley course well and can use this to their advantage, reaching the final should be a minimum, and from there they will be well poised to take the victory.
