Senior Girls Impress at Henley Women’s Regatta

The senior girls squad descended on Henley-on-Thames this weekend to compete in Henley Women’s Regatta, the premier rowing event for women in the UK.

Among over 2,000 athletes from junior to international levels, competitors raced on the iconic River Thames, representing clubs and institutions from across the UK and around the world.

As a squad, we entered two crews: the Bea Langridge Trophy for Junior Quad Sculls (G1st 4x) and the Peabody Cup for Junior Eights (G1st VIII). Both events were fiercely contested this year, with 41 entries in the Bea Langridge and 27 in the Peabody Cup. Only 16 crews in each category could qualify for side-by-side racing through a time trial held on Saturday morning.

Thanks to solid performances from both crews, we successfully progressed to the side-by-side racing later that afternoon. The G1st 4x was drawn against Mercantile Rowing Club (AUS), while the G1st VIII faced Headington School.

Our G1st 4x showed real promise in their heat. Both boats started strong, with Mercantile edging ahead by half a length at the ¼ mile mark. We maintained contact throughout and finished just a length behind—a commendable effort against seasoned international opposition and a strong foundation as we look ahead to Henley Royal Regatta (HRR).

In the Peabody Cup, our G1st VIII faced a tough challenge against Headington School. Despite being a newly formed combination, the crew performed admirably but were ultimately beaten by the eventual winners of the event.

Henley Women’s Regatta marks the final stage of our preparations for Henley Royal Regatta 2025. The G1st 4x has successfully prequalified, while the G1st VIII will aim to secure their place through the qualifying time trial on Friday, 28th June.

Findlay Ralley

Rowing Coach