Henley At Home Programme - Flipbook - Page 9
THE THREE INTERMEDIATE EVENTS FOR MEN
Eights
In 1845 a new challenge prize was offered for eight-oared crews which,
in the following year, was named THE LADIES’ CHALLENGE PLATE.
It is believed it is so named because the cup was presented by the wives of
Stewards, or ladies of Henley. Up to the 1966 Regatta, entries for this event
were restricted to boat clubs from colleges, schools and certain other academic
institutions within the United Kingdom together with Trinity College, Dublin.
The rules were then widened to permit entries from any college, school or
academic institution throughout the world.
In 1985 major changes to the rules for the ‘Ladies’ and the ‘Thames’
removed the ‘student’ requirement for the ‘Ladies’, which became an event
open to crews from any club and is now the second most senior event for
men’s eights at the Regatta.
Coxless Fours
THE VISITORS’ CHALLENGE CUP was originally called The
District Fours and awarded for a local four-oared race with coxswains. The
event was renamed in 1847, but in 1874 it became an event for coxless fours.
From 1971 to 2000 the event was open only to boat clubs of any academic
institution throughout the world. At the Stewards’ Meeting in December 2000
it was decided to expand the intermediate level of events by opening up The
Visitors’ Challenge Cup to clubs as well as to the students and by creating a
new event for Men’s Quadruple Sculls. Both these events now have similar
Qualification Rules to those for The Ladies’ Challenge Plate.
Quadruple Sculls
The Men’s Quadruple Sculls event was introduced to the Regatta in 2001,
at the same level as The Ladies’ Challenge Plate and The Visitors’ Challenge
Cup.
In 2007 H.R.H. The Prince of Wales kindly consented to his name being
associated with a new trophy for the Men’s Quadruple Sculls - THE PRINCE
OF WALES CHALLENGE CUP. In 2008 a trophy was donated by Vincent
Saunders, a Member of the Stewards’ Enclosure. The trophy was originally
competed for in the 1931 Aero Club’s King’s Cup Race. The renamed trophy
commemorates a long association with the Regatta. In 1887 the first members
of the British Royal Family to visit the Regatta were the Prince and Princess
of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra). In 1921 the Prince of
Wales, later to reign briefly as King Edward VIII, came to Henley to present
the prizes.
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