Henley At Home Programme - Flipbook - Page 6
The base of the Cup was added in 1896 and extended in 1954 and 1986 and
records the names of all winning crews since the inception of the Regatta. The
Book of Honour was added as an integral part of the trophy in 1954. In 1964,
the winning Harvard crew of 1914 presented the Regatta with a new cup,
being identical to the now fragile original of 1839; this new cup continues to
be used as the trophy.
In 2014 a new base was commissioned as spaces for the names of the
winning crews had run out on the old base. A small group of Harvard oarsmen
paid for the new base in memory of the famous Harvard Coach, Harry Parker.
Coxless Fours
Instituted in 1841, THE STEWARDS’ CHALLENGE CUP is second
only to The Grand Challenge Cup in seniority and is subject to the same rules
of entry. In early days the boats carried coxswains.
Such an encumbrance seemed unnecessary to W. B. Woodgate, who, when
competing in the event in the Brasenose four in 1868, instructed the coxswain,
F. E. Weatherley, to jump overboard on the word “Go”. Lightened by the
ejection of this passenger, the Brasenose four went on to win easily — only to
be disqualified. In 1873 The Stewards’ Challenge Cup became a coxless race.
Quadruple Sculls
THE QUEEN MOTHER CHALLENGE CUP was introduced in 1981,
the first time there had been a race in this class of boat at the Regatta. The
Qualification Rules are the same as those for The Grand Challenge Cup.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother graciously consented to
this trophy being named after her to mark the occasion of her 80th birthday in
1980, the year in which it was decided to institute this event.
Pairs
The Pair-Oared Race was instituted in 1845 for presentation prizes of Silver
Wherries. In 1850 these were discontinued and Silver Goblets were given
instead as presentation prizes. In 1895 Tom Nickalls donated a challenge
trophy in the form of a Silver Peg Cup to commemorate the achievements
of his sons, Guy and Vivian, who between them won eleven Goblets in the
1890s. The event became THE SILVER GOBLETS AND NICKALLS’
CHALLENGE CUP. A century later Steve Redgrave won the event in 1995
for a record seventh time, to be joined in 2003 by Matthew Pinsent when he
recorded his seventh victory.
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