Henley Royal Regatta 1953

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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
Leander Club Leander Club This race was instituted in 1981.

Trinity First and Third Cambridge

7 mins 25 secs

3/4 Length

USM des Transports, France

6 mins 59 secs

3/4 length

 The race is for Quadruple Scullers.
DOUBLE SCULLS CHALLENGE CUP DIAMOND CHALLENGE SCULLS SILVER GOBLET & NICKALLS´
E Schriever/P Stebler, Seeclub Zurich T A Fox, London RC R Baetens/M Knuysen, Antwerp SC

C E Poynter/W T J Baker, Bedford RC

7 mins 37 secs Easily

R George, Belgium

8 mins 12 secs 4 lengths

H Kesel/K Hahn, Saarbrucken

8 min 10 secs 4 lengths
LADIES´ CHALLENGE PLATE VISITORS CHALLENGE CUP PRINCE OF WALES CHALLENGE CUP
Jesus College, Cambridge Magdalen College, Oxford In 2007 the trophy was donated by V G Saunders

Radley College

7 mins 0 secs 3/4 length

Kings College,Cambridge

7 mins 29 secs 3 1/2 lengths

 The race is for Men´s Quadruple Sculls.
THAMES CHALLENGE CUP WYFOLD CHALLENGE CUP BRITANNIA CHALLENGE CUP
Royal Air Force Royal Air Force This race was instituted in 1968.

Imperial College BC, London

6 mins 59 secs 1/2 length

Molesey Boat Club

7 mins 38 secs 4 lengths

 First contested as the Henley Prize, in 1969 it became the Britannia Cup.
This year saw Leander retain their Grand Challenge Cup to complete the double.
PRINCESS ELIZABETH CHALLENGE CUP

The District Goblets for Pairs took place between 1858 and 1867.
St Pauls School

The Presentation Cup for Coxless Fours took place between 1869 and 1872.
The Kings School, Canterbury

The Town Challenge Cup ran from 1839 to 1883.
7 mins 6 secs 1/2 length  
 
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