News

Posted: 26th June 2023

The world’s most famous rowing regatta gets underway on Tuesday with 14 crews from 6 Scottish clubs in action as part of the international field.

The 184th Henley Royal Regatta sees many of the world’s leading international crews compete alongside some of the best talent from clubs, schools and universities.

The field includes some of Scotland’s Olympians - including Karen Bennett, Rowan McKellar and Sholto Carnegie - as well as senior, under 23 and junior GB internationals.

Edinburgh University - Scottish Rowing’s High Performance Partner - has qualified six boats including two crews in each of the men’s and women’s student eights’ events.

Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association make their first ever appearance at Henley Royal Regatta, exactly 50 years since the club was formed, with representation across three crews including their National Schools winning men’s coxed four who compete in the Britannia Challenge Cup.

There is a rare appearance at Henley for Loch Lomond Rowing Club, teaming up in a composite men’s quadruple scull with Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club following a successful domestic campaign that has included a Scottish Championship title.

St Andrew Boat Club have, for the second year in a row, qualified a men’s eight in the Thames Challenge Cup, demonstrating the continued resurgence of the Edinburgh-based community club.

Several supported athletes from Scottish Rowing’s national performance programme compete as part of composite crews including Strathclyde Park Rowing Club’s Perri McCluskey - a recent finalist at the Henley Women’s Regatta - and Catriona Norval, both of whom race in the Stoner Challenge Trophy for women’s double sculls.

Aberdeen University’s Maisie Aspinall teams up in a coxless four with three Scots currently completing their studies at university in the US - Zoe Beeson (Yale), Morven Thomson (Duke) and Isla Wilding (Brown) - racing as Strathclyde Park and Aberdeen Schools in the Town Challenge Cup.

Strathclyde Park’s Josh Matthews, part of the British Rowing Start Programme, competes in a composite men’s quadruple scull with fellow under 23 triallists from Leander Club.

Many Scottish expats will compete at the regatta for other clubs including Cameron Buchan (Monkton Combe School Boat Club) who has qualified for the Diamond Challenge Sculls.

Tuesday’s racing sees crews from Aberdeen Schools, Clydesdale / Loch Lomond, Edinburgh University and Strathclyde Park take to the water on the Henley stretch for their opening fixtures.

Live streaming of all races will be available on the Henley Royal Regatta website.

Henley Royal Regatta 2023

List of Scottish club entries

The Town Challenge Cup (W4-)
⁃ Strathclyde Park RC & Aberdeen Schools RA

The Princess Grace Challenge Cup (W4x)
⁃ Edinburgh University & Newcastle University

The Stoner Challenge Trophy (W2x)
⁃ Norval (SPRC) & Bates
⁃ McCluskey (SPRC) & Lindo

The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (M4x)
⁃ Strathclyde Park RC & Leander Club
⁃ Clydesdale ARC & Loch Lomond RC

The Thames Challenge Cup (M8+)
⁃ St Andrew BC

The Britannia Challenge Cup (M4+)
⁃ Aberdeen Schools RA

The Temple Challenge Cup (M8+)
⁃ Edinburgh University ‘A’
⁃ Edinburgh University ‘B’

The Island Challenge Cup (W8+)
⁃ Edinburgh University ‘A’
⁃ Edinburgh University ‘B’

The Prince Albert Challenge Cup (M4+)
⁃ Edinburgh University

The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy (W8+)
⁃ Aberdeen Schools RA

Tuesday’s Racing Timetable

0905 | SPRC & Leander Club (Prince of Wales)
0920 | EUBC ‘A’ (Temple)
1600 | ASRA (Britannia)
1605 | EUBC ‘B’ (Temple)
1735 | CARC & LLRC (Prince of Wales)