As Henley Women’s Regatta draws near, club eights from across the country have been sharpening their blade work for what is once again shaping up to be one of the event’s most hotly contested categories – The Copas Cup for aspirational club eights. 18 crews from 15 clubs will attempt to go head-to-head in what promises to be a showdown of both established names and hungry challengers. Although historically, Thames Rowing Club remains the dominant force, the playing field feels more open this year. The absence of several top-ten finishers from last year’s time trial, including Cantabrigian RC, Agecroft RC, Nottingham RC, and Lea RC, leaves the rankings more fluid than usual. With a growing number of clubs targeting The Wargrave Challenge Cup later in the season, The Copas Cup is more than just a race; it is a springboard for even greater ambitions.
Thames Rowing Club
Having dominated this event in 2022, 2023, and 2024, Thames RC enters once again as the clear frontrunners. Their supremacy last year was emphatic, winning the time trial by over ten seconds and maintaining that margin in the final against London RC. Their consistency through the head and regatta seasons underscores a relentless standard. They placed second and sixth at the Women’s Head of the River Race in their ‘A’ and ‘B’ crews respectively, and had a commanding presence at The Metropolitan Regatta, where their ‘A’ and ‘C’ crews won championship and club eights. A focused training camp in Ely, coupled with the decision to field just one eight in this category, suggests that they have zeroed in on defending their title with precision and intent.
London Rowing Club
London RC have been solid across the board this year. Their accolades include fourth and fifth at Wallingford and seventh in the championship eights A-final at the Metropolitan Regatta. While these performances have not necessarily been headline-grabbing, their narrow semifinal win over Vesta and eventual loss to Thames in this event last year show that they do have the potential to go deep into the draw when it matters most. While their form in the eight has not yet matched their 2024 win in the aspirational club coxless four at Henley Women’s Regatta, they hope to extend it to the larger boat class this year. London ‘B’ will also be returning after falling short to Cantabrigian in the quarterfinals last year and will be hoping to benefit from a slightly more open field this time around. Whilst they will undoubtedly need a step-up in performance to break into the later stages, without Cantabrigian as an obstacle, this may well be possible.
Vesta Rowing Club
Vesta RC are no strangers to the business end of this event, having been runners-up to Thames in both 2022 and 2023. Their rivalry with London continues to simmer, with only 0.1 seconds separating them in last year’s time trial, with London then taking their previously held and ultimately precious place in the final against Thames. This year, their club eights were absent from Wallingford finals, but they found better success in fours, perhaps signalling a shift in focus. Still, with three eights in the category this year, I refuse to believe Vesta is short on speed or depth. The key question is whether they can recapture some big-race form to mount a serious challenge.
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow RC have quietly been climbing the ranks. From finishing 16th at the Women’s Head of the River Race to trailing just one second behind London at Wallingford, their trajectory remains upward. In particular, an ‘A’ final appearance at Wallingford in the women’s club eight shows exciting promise coming into this event. Although they placed 12th in the time trial last year, expect a faster showing this time, with a top-six finish well within reach if they peak at the right time.
Upper Thames Rowing Club
Upper Thames RC may not always take home the silverware, but they consistently put themselves in contention. Back-to-back silvers in club eights at Wallingford reinforces this reputation, especially amid summer racing. Their additional podium spot at the Metropolitan Regatta positions them as strong dark horses in The Copas Cup and confirms their ability to mix with the best. Though not always taking the gold, they maintain a reputation for reliability and resilience that makes them capable of upsetting the order.
Royal Chester Rowing Club
Royal Chester RC have made significant strides in the past year. Their Women’s Head of the River Race result, in which they gained 67 places and came second in the Medium Club pennant, was a standout. Further, a narrow miss on a Wallingford final by just over a second suggests they are not far off the mark. Sixth in last year’s time trial, they will be eager to crack the top four in 2025.
Tyne Amateur Rowing Club
Tyne ARC brings serious intent this year, increasingly visible as a club with high national ambitions. After a strong head season – second at Tyne Head, a sixth-place finish at Head of the Trent, and fifth in the Provincial Club category at the Women’s Head of the River Race – they are largely on form. Their second place in the time trial at The Metropolitan Regatta was a massive statement of intent come Henley Women’s Regatta, although a ten-second gap behind Thames shows the scale of the challenge they may face in the side-by-side racing.
Prediction
The Copas Cup looks poised to deliver another classic. Thames may enter as the immovable favourites, but the chasing pack are closing in. Tyne’s explosive Metropolitan Regatta performance makes them a serious threat, while both Vesta and London have come close in recent years but are still seeking that final breakthrough. With time trials often throwing up surprises and knockout margins razor-thin, nothing is guaranteed, and The Copas Cup is anyone’s game until the final stroke.
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