The Avril Vellacott Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta 2025 is shaping up to be a highly competitive event, with some of the best championship coxless fours from the UK and Europe battling it out for the prestigious title. With many top teams coming into the race with strong results this season, it is all to play for. Nine crews are entered, and eight will make it through the time trials, so all will be racing hard to avoid disappointment. Leander has won this event three years in a row, so they will be looking to defend their top spot, but the competition will be intense. Will any other club have what it takes to take the victory?
Leander Club
Leander’s crew, consisting of S. Chumas, E. Sherwood, M. Greene and R. Varney, enters the Avril Vellacott Cup as the defending champions. Last year, Leander ‘A’ defeated Molesey BC to claim the title in this event at Henley Women’s Regatta, and they come into this event as the favourites once again. So far, the crew has had an impressive season, finishing third in the women’s coxless fours at the Metropolitan Regatta, whilst at Wallingford Regatta, crews from Leander placed second, fourth and sixth in the same category. Members of this crew also claimed fourth place in the A-final at Ghent Regatta. Their experience and recent success put them in a strong position to defend their title this year; they will be the crew to beat.
Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club has also had a standout season so far and is one of the top contenders for the Avril Vellacott Cup. Thames’ crew, including C. O’Doherty, I. Lack, F. Lidlow, and S. Jones, has demonstrated impressive results, particularly at the Metropolitan Regatta, where they finished fourth in the women’s coxless fours on Saturday, just two seconds behind Leander. They went on to take second place in the same event on the Sunday, highlighting their strength, resilience and competitive spirit. Thames will be looking to challenge Leander and secure the top spot at Henley Women’s Regatta. With the strong performances they have shown so far, Thames is undoubtedly one of the crews to watch closely.
A.U.S.R Orca (NLD)
Travelling from the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands, we have A.U.S.R. Orca. They have shown exceptional form this season and are among the top international crews heading into the Avril Vellacott Cup. Their crew consists of I. Dignum, V. Versteegh, R. Jansen, and L. Knevel have secured dominant wins at major European regattas, including first in the A-final at both Raceroei Regatta and Hollandia Rowing Competition, with times of 7:50 and 7:28 over two kilometres. They also finished second in the A-final at Northwave Regatta with a time of 6:48. Their impressive performances on the European circuit put them in serious contention for the title at Henley Women’s Regatta. Orca’s speed and consistency make them one of the top challengers for the Avril Vellacott Cup.
Imperial College
Imperial College has been consistently competitive across multiple boat classes this season. The crew, L. Boles, O. Johnson, L. Ellington and J. Kapocs, achieved first in the women’s coxed fours at the Metropolitan Regatta on the Sunday, and finished third in the championship women’s coxed fours at BUCS Regatta. They also claimed fifth in the championship women’s coxless fours at the same event. Their depth and ability to perform under pressure puts them in a strong position to challenge for a top spot at Henley. With their results, Imperial College should not be overlooked, and they could very well challenge for a place in the top three.
Molesey Boat Club
Molesey Boat Club will be looking for redemption after finishing second in last year’s Avril Vellacott Cup, where they were narrowly beaten by Leander ‘A’. This year, Molesey enters Henley Women’s Regatta with strong momentum, having won the women’s challenge eights at Wallingford Regatta. With a crew consisting of E. Hofmans, S. Kearney, L. Pember, and A. Watson, Molesey BC will be eager to go one step further. Their form and determination make them one of the top crews to watch, and they will aim to challenge Leander and Thames for the top spots.
Tideway Scullers
Tideway Scullers have a talented crew including A. Vicars, G. Allen, A. Beinhocker, and T. Peake. While they are still building their form in the championship coxless fours, their performances in the junior coxless quad last year, where A. Vicars and G. Allen finished as semifinalists in the Bea Langridge Trophy, demonstrates their potential. This crew’s experience and determination should not be underestimated as they look to make their mark in 2025.
Prediction
The Avril Vellacott Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta 2025 is set to be an exciting contest, with Leander, Thames, and A.U.S.R. Orca leading the competition for the championship coxless fours title. Leander comes into the race as the defending champions after their victory over Molesey BC last year, and they will be aiming to retain their title. Thames will push hard for the top spot after their strong performances this season, while A.U.S.R. Orca’s impressive European form puts them in the mix as a serious contender. Whilst Leander will be a tough club to beat, expect some close racing as these top crews battle it out for gold at Henley Women’s Regatta 2025.
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