Henley Royal Regatta 1939

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In any sport there are particularly significant events and venues which have great importance. For tennis junkies the venue is Wimbledon and the event the Lawn Tennis Association Championships. For National Hunt racing fans it is Aintree and the Grand National, whilst for Flat racing enthusiasts it is Epsom and The Derby. However, for rowing there are two events, the University Boat Race and the Royal Regatta, yet in the beginning just one important venue, Henley-on-Thames.
The inaugural University Boat race took place in 1829 at Henley-on-Thames. It was the brainchild of a Cambridge student, Charles Merivale who, at the time, was a student at St Johns College. His great friend Charles Wordsworth was a student at Christ Church College, Oxford and it was to be the dark blues of Oxford who easily defeated their light blue rivals. Today the race takes place between Putney and Mortlake and, to date, Cambridge have recorded more wins than Oxford.
The first Henley Regatta was held in 1839 when amateur rowers contested races on one afternoon. The day was so successful that in 1840 the event was extended to two days, and by 1851 it was so popular that Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, attended so enabling the annual event to be called Henley Royal Regatta for the first time. The event has grown in popularity ever since, and this site records the results of the main races since its inception.
STEWARDS CHALLENGE CUP GRAND CHALLENGE CUP QUEEN MOTHER CHALLENGE CUP
Zurich Rowing Club, Switz. Harvard University,USA This race was instituted in 1981.

Oriel College, Oxford

8 mins 9 secs

4 Lengths

Argonaut Club, Toronto

7 mins 40 secs

3 lengths

 The race is for Quadruple Scullers.
DOUBLE SCULLS CHALLENGE CUP DIAMOND CHALLENGE SCULLS SILVER GOBLET & NICKALLS´
J Beresford/L F Southwood J W Burk, Pennsylvania C B Sanford/H Parker

Scherli/Brischi Dead-Heat

8 mins 35 secs Finish

R Verey, Zwiazek, Poland

9 mins 13 secs 1 1/4 lengths

Trinity Hall, Cambridge

9 min 5 secs 2 1/2 lengths
LADIES´ CHALLENGE PLATE VISITORS CHALLENGE CUP PRINCE OF WALES CHALLENGE CUP
Clare College, Cambridge Trinity Hall, Cambridge In 2007 the trophy was donated by V G Saunders

Corpus Christi, Cambridge

8 mins 13 secs Easily

New College, Oxford

8 mins 9 secs 2 lengths

 The race is for Men´s Quadruple Sculls.
THAMES CHALLENGE CUP WYFOLD CHALLENGE CUP BRITANNIA CHALLENGE CUP
Tabor Academy, USA Maidenhead Rowing Club This race was instituted in 1968.

Kent School, USA

7 mins 53 secs 1 1/4 length

Tigre BC, Argentina

9 mins 10 secs 1 lengths

 First contested as the Henley Prize, in 1969 it became the Britannia Cup.
This was the Centenary year of the Regatta and was marked with the introduction of the Double Sculls Challenge Cup.
PRINCESS ELIZABETH CHALLENGE CUP

The District Goblets for Pairs took place between 1858 and 1867.
This race was instituted in 1946.

The Presentation Cup for Coxless Fours took place between 1869 and 1872.
In the first year the race took place over a mile.

The Town Challenge Cup ran from 1839 to 1883.
The full course was used in 1947 and by 1964 Foreign schools were allowed entry.  
 
TEMPLE CHALLENGE CUP FAWLEY CHALLENGE CUP PRINCE ALBERT CHALLENGE CUP
This event was first contested in 1990. This event first took place in 1992. This event was first staged in 2004.
The race is for male eights. The race is for junior boys quads. The race is for Mens coxed fours.
REMENHAM CHALLENGE CUP PRINCESS ROYAL CHALLENGE CUP PRINCESS GRACE CHALLENGE CUP
This event was first staged in 2003. This event was first staged in 1992. This race was first instituted in 2003.
The race is for Womens eights. The race is for Women´s singles. The event is named after Princess Grace of Monaco.
If you have photos, racecards, badges, or newspaper cuttings about Henley Royal Regatta this year which could enhance this page then email johnslusar@fsmail.net