Holders: Oxford Brookes University
Entries: 72 (to be reduced to 32 by Qualifying races)
The Temple Challenge Cup is the pinnacle of men’s student racing. To win this event is the ultimate test of endurance, skill and temperament. Champions crowned in this arena invariably go on to greater heights, joining national teams to win international medals and scale the loftiest ceilings our sport can offer. In the recent past, one programme in particular has built a winning dynasty, but 2025 offers us the rare chance to see new victors crowned amongst a throng of pretenders.
Oxford Brookes University
The most successful programme in the history of this event. Ten-time champions. Triple-double. Oxford Brookes University have earned their place at the top of the preview in this event. However, 2025 has not been the easiest year for the men in burgundy. Off-the-water challenges meant a mid-season coaching change was ordered, seeing the departure of duo Henry Bailhache-Webb and Richard Spratley from the day-to-day running of the club. Disruptions were abundant throughout the winter, as they cancelled their fixtures against Oxford and Cambridge.
However, by regatta season, it was all clicking once again for the men in Wallingford under the direction of Sam Sheppard. At the BUCS Regatta, they won their 12th successive championship eights title, before reaching the A-final on Saturday at the Metropolitan Regatta in a strong field of entries from other events. Last weekend’s Marlow Regatta was another good sign as they finished third overall, three seconds clear of the next best Temple Challenge Cup crew. If there has been a hiccup in Wallingford, a win at the most crucial event of the year would reiterate its temporary nature.
Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus, Netherlands
The last non-Brookes crew to win this event, A.S.R. Nereus will make its annual trip across the North Sea to showdown on the Henley course. Despite their own fair share of off-water controversy, on the water, this storied club have continued to eat at the top table of Dutch rowing. They make the trip to the UK as domestic kings, winning their national championships event by 0.6 seconds at the Northwave Regatta in late May.
However, they have not had it all their own way on their home water, missing out on top honours at several major regattas. For instance, at Rotterdam’s Westelijke Regatta on the 15th of June, the Amsterdam-based programme finished third, behind Laga and Aegir. Mixed domestic results are not a death nail as Simon Diederik’s programme has been known to peak at the right time. If everything goes well, the lengthy name could make its third appearance on The Temple Challenge Cup on the first Sunday in July.
Harvard University, U.S.A.
After sweeping the Eastern Sprints, Head Coach Billy Boyce said he wanted the Harvard University lightweight men to become a dynasty. Over the last two seasons, the Crimson have gone some way to achieving that. Last year, they travelled across the pond after an undefeated season on the lightweight circuit, falling to Oxford Brookes in the semifinal of this Trophy. Since that loss on Saturday, 6th July 2024, neither the first nor the second varsity eights have been defeated. Returning seven of their eight from 12 months ago, they swept the United States lightweight rowing scene, securing confident national championship victories in both crews.
This year, they once again make the trip to the Henley stretch, bringing both their first and second crews. The Crimson will aim to be the first lightweight crew since 2009 to win the title. The typical headwind on the Henley straight means that lightweights tend to miss out compared to their heavier opposition. This crew is no ordinary group of lightweights, though; if they could break the 16-year drought, that would secure the dynastic title.
Cambridge University
In a year that played host to some of the most talented Blue Boat crews of all time, Cambridge University reigned supreme. One contributing factor to this was the depth of the Light Blue squad, as they boasted possibly the strongest reserve crew of all time. Running out as comfortable winners in the Goldie-Isis race on the Thames, the crew has largely stayed together through the season as they look to continue their success against the wider domestic field.
At the Head of the River Race, a Goldie-adjacent crew won the University pennant, finishing seventh overall a few weeks before their Boat Race clash. On the regatta scene, they continue to excel, finishing as the best Temple-eligible crew on the Saturday of the Metropolitan Regatta. This Henley Royal Regatta campaign contains much of that crew, including the two former Blues: Matt Edge and Brett Taylor. With talent on board and outstanding results to rely on, this crew could be a formidable challenge for the win, the first for a Cambridge eight in any category at Henley Royal Regatta since 2005.
Delftsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Laga, Netherlands
With their hand-cut red vests, D.S.R. Laga does not fit the sleek look of many modern rowing clubs. But they certainly have the speed to match. Last year, they entered Henley Royal Regatta as the in-form Dutch crew, before falling to Oxford Brookes on Friday by just over two lengths. This year, they again enter with significant speed, having won at the Raceroi and Westelijke Regattas, but finishing third at the national championship. This year, they hope to improve on last year and with a more favourable draw and an effective peak, they could go deep into the weekend.
Groninger Studenten Roeivereniging Aegir, Netherlands
After two decades away from The Temple Challenge Cup, G.S.R. Aegir is back just 12 months after their last campaign. On that occasion, a win over St. Paul’s second eight was followed by a comfortable defeat to their domestic rivals, Nereus, but this year, they have the speed to be more competitive. Their second place at the Westelijke Regatta included a victory over Nereus, while the national championships ended with Aegir 7.8 seconds behind their Amsterdam-based rivals. This shows some variability in the speed of these two crews, but the men from Groningen stand a chance against almost anyone, which could spiral into a solid campaign.
Algemene Leidse Studenten Roeivereniging Asopos de Vliet, Netherlands
The fourth of the Dutch clubs entering, Asopos de Vliet make their first trip to Henley Royal Regatta for some time. The Leiden-based association can reasonably be seen as the junior member of this travelling group, but will seek to make a splash on the Henley stretch. A sixth place at the Varsity in the old four accentuated their season, along with some strong performances in the eight across the domestic regatta season. The men from South Holland will be looking to keep their boat in the tents throughout the week.
Temple University, U.S.A.
After a 2024 where they failed to qualify their first eight into the national championship, this season was a significant turnaround for Temple University. It did not start as hoped as they finished eighth in the secondary category at the Head of the Charles, but the spring season treated them well, winning numerous events with their only losses coming against Princeton and Boston University. The Owls would open the postseason by winning their 23rd Dad Vail title in the Varsity eight. Injuries would compromise their national championships, but with the season extending, they can end a historic season on a high note at Henley Royal Regatta.
College of the Holy Cross, U.S.A.
From Worcester, the College of the Holy Cross is a small liberal arts college in central Massachusetts. Their rowing programme, often strong, is hamstrung by racing in the Eastern Sprints league, against those with greater resources and talent pool. Despite this disadvantage, Holy Cross excelled this year, qualifying for the national championships with head-to-head victories over many of those they were pitted against for the final at-large spot in Pennsauken. By making the trip across to the UK, they extend the stay of their strong senior class, and a deep run at Henley Royal Regatta would be a historic experience for the men in purple.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, U.S.A.
Another of the less established US varsity programmes making the trip to Henley Royal Regatta this year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will almost certainly be called the smartest boat in the competition by a commentator. The academic powerhouse competes in Division III in most sports but rises to the Division I level in rowing for both men and women. This season, the men at MIT have had a mixed year, finishing 22nd at the national championships after qualifying at the National Invitational Rowing Championships, finishing behind four Division III crews. Despite this, racing between the booms is a massive vote of confidence in the squad from the school and the alumni, so do not be surprised if they win a few rounds.
Durham University
Whisper it quietly, but the men in Palatinate are building some real speed. A silver medal at BUCS could easily be dismissed as the typical BUCS points-chasing programme. However, through the summer season, they have continued to perform among the very best of British student rowing. At the Metropolitan Regatta, Durham finished tenth in the time trial on Saturday and Sunday, growing to a sixth-place finish in the finals at Marlow Regatta, third among those racing in The Temple Challenge Cup. Under Will Fletcher, the club has grown in stature, reaching the semifinals for both the men’s and the women’s eights in recent years. Based on their results this year, this could be a crew capable of matching it – and possibly even beating it.
Newcastle University
Their closest rivals in the northeast, Newcastle University, have taken a different approach this summer, focusing their efforts on their coxed four in search of The Prince Albert Challenge Cup. As such, the eight in this event are a mixture of their top two boats throughout the season. As always, the Blue Star has phenomenal depth: their first eight won bronze in the championship event, while the second eight finished fourth in the intermediate category. As a crew, they raced on both days at the Metropolitan Regatta, with a vast improvement between the days, racing in the D-final on Saturday before winning the B-final on Sunday. Having skipped Marlow, they will give a good representation of themselves on the Henley stretch if they can continue their improvements.
Edinburgh University
The biggest rowing programme north of the border, Edinburgh University, will also focus their attention on The Prince Albert Challenge Cup. A mixture of their first and second eights will compete in this event. This season, the Baby Blue army radically reorganised their squad, instituting a cap on numbers, aiming for Dale Flockhart’s men’s squad to be a smaller, more streamlined group. This resulted in several strong results through the season, finishing 15th at the Head of the River Race and fourth in the championship eight at BUCS Regatta – matching their best-ever performance in the event. Last year, they focused on The Prince Albert Challenge Cup and the eight was eliminated on Tuesday; this year, they will be looking to last a little longer.
University of London
For much of the last few years, the University of London has played the role of best of the rest behind Oxford Brookes. However, the 2025 season has not lived up to that billing. The year started well with an 11th overall finish on home water at the Head of the River Race, but that was the limit of their success. At BUCS Regatta, they lost their repechage and were forced into the B-final, their worst championship eight result in recent memory. This was followed up at Marlow and Metropolitan Regatta by results outside the top 20 at both events. Like their two rivals mentioned above, UL are prioritising the coxed four, an event in which they stand a real chance of winning. We all know that a strong Henley Royal Regatta campaign can erase a bad season, and there is more than enough talent in their Chiswick boathouse to have a great week.
University of Bristol
The newest face at British collegiate rowing’s top table, the University of Bristol, has now been a top-tier institution for a generation of students. This continued success affords them a level of support in recruiting athletes, thus increasing the speed of the top boats. This season, most of the eggs have been placed in the coxed four basket, but a strong eight remains. At the recent Marlow Regatta, a 12th overall finish with a crew theoretically made up of athletes ranked five to 12 showed promise. A strong run in a lower-ranked crew would go some way to demonstrating their status as a new top power on the university scene.
Nottingham University
63rd at the Head of the River Race whilst not racing an eight at BUCS Regatta, one would not expect much from the green and gold of Nottingham University heading into the summer. At Marlow Regatta, though, they dramatically shifted the narrative. Coming out of the time trial, they were the sixth-ranked university crew and snuck into the B-final overall, a coup for a programme that raced in the E-final at last year’s event. This strong result upended the narrative, earning them pre-qualification and making them contenders to have a fairly deep run. If Marlow was not a flash in the pan, and they are this quick, a fortunate draw could see them race on Friday for the first time since 2000.
Bath University
A true intermediate programme, Bath University have been one of the summer’s greatest revelations. After an eighth place in the intermediate eights at BUCS – the best performing boat that was not a championship second crew – they have continued to build through the summer season, ultimately culminating in a qualifying performance at Marlow, where they raced in the C-final. This strong performance may be attributed to the associated Performance Development Academy that Dan Harris previously managed, but with several club athletes in this crew, it is a testament to the entire programme under the new leadership of Charlie Newbould, who took on the Head of Rowing role in August 2024.
University of Exeter
Another programme with a strong build throughout the summer is the University of Exeter. After finishing as the slowest of the championship eights at BUCS Regatta, the southernmost major rowing university in the country stayed with the eights project, building through the year. A 26th place in the Marlow Regatta time trial was a step forward, earning their spot in the draw, but their last-place finish in the D-final will not have been what they hoped for. They could win a round or two between the booms if they can get their side-by-side pace to match their base speed.
University of Virginia, U.S.A.
While many (including this website) focus on the Varsity racing in the United States, the collegiate scene is also blessed with many very competitive club crews. While they may not receive the same level of institutional support, they are no slouches, as seen with this University of Virginia crew. After an undefeated season against club opposition, the ACRA national champions have booked their flights with the expectation of competing at the highest level, potentially matching their semifinals campaign in 2011. With the breadth of entries rising across the sport, I would be surprised if they matched that result, but almost no one should expect an easy race if they draw the Cavaliers.
Purdue University, U.S.A.
With a second ACRA entry in this event (plus one more just in The Prince Albert Challenge Cup), there is a strong compliment from the club rowing scene in the United States, and national silver medallists, Purdue University, will be another formidable crew. Finishing 2.6 seconds behind Virginia in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the Boilermakers will have been working in the intervening month to overtake that gap. With a secondary goal of showing that US club rowing can match up to that in the UK, there are plenty of reasons for the men from Indiana to be riled up. First-year head coach Jack Kellmanson has taken a big swing with a trip across the pond, but I would not be surprised if he connects.
King’s College, Queensland, Australia
While the Oxford and Cambridge colleges are sent to qualifiers, the Stewards have opted to pre-qualify King’s College of the University of Queensland, the only southern-hemisphere entry in the event. While strong on the intercollegiate scene in Brisbane, they struggled on the national stage, finishing eighth at the Australian Rowing Championships in the eight. On the first leg of their British tour, they raced at Marlow Regatta, finishing first in the J-final. While not enough to lose their pre-qualification, this result suggests they will need to make serious improvements if they want a second race on the Henley stretch.
Prediction
With Oxford Brookes’ crew from last year forced to move to different events by virtue of their victory, the eye is initially drawn to the Harvard and Nereus crews stacked with returners. However, my pick for the victory this year goes elsewhere, as if Rob Baker can coach the maximum out of this Cambridge University crew, they will be almost unstoppable by anyone in this category.
