Henley Royal Regatta 1981

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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
London/Thames Tradesmens RC Oxford Univ/Thames Tradesmens RC RV Ingleheim/Ulm RC Donau, Germany

Vesper Boat Club, USA

7 mins 48 secs

Easily

Leander Club/Tyrian BC

7 mins 15 secs

1/2 length

Maidenhead/Marlow RC

7 mins 23 secs Easily
DOUBLE SCULLS CHALLENGE CUP DIAMOND CHALLENGE SCULLS SILVER GOBLET & NICKALLS´
E R Sims/S G Redgrave, Maidenhead/Marlow C L Baillieu, Leander T F F Mossop/C J Jones, Kingston RC

A M Riddle/B A May, Dart Amateur/Staines RC

8 mins 16 secs Easily

S C Howell, London Univ.

9 mins 38 secs Easily

J MacLeod/N Christie, London RC

8 min 46 secs 1 length
LADIES´ CHALLENGE PLATE VISITORS CHALLENGE CUP PRINCE PHILIP CHALLENGE CUP
Washington University, USA University of London Kingston Rowing Club

Yale University, USA

7 mins 18 secs 1/2 length

Durham University

Disqualified

Garda Siochana BC, Ireland

7 mins 45 secs 3 1/4 lengths
THAMES CHALLENGE CUP WYFOLD CHALLENGE CUP BRITANNIA CHALLENGE CUP
Charles River RA, USA Hanlan Boat Club, Canada Vesta Rowing Club

London Rowing Club

7 mins 6 secs 2 1/3 lengths

Leander Club

7 mins 54 secs 1 length

Saxon Boat Club

8 mins 13 secs 1 1/2 lengths
This year saw the Grand Challenge Cup remain on home soil in the hands of the combined 8 from Oxford University and Thames Tradesmens Club. It was also the inaugural running of the Queen Mother Challenge Cup.
PRINCESS ELIZABETH CHALLENGE CUP

The District Goblets for Pairs took place between 1858 and 1867.
Holy Spirit High School, USA

The Presentation Cup for Coxless Fours took place between 1869 and 1872.
Emanuel School

The Town Challenge Cup ran from 1839 to 1883.
7 mins 35 secs 1 1/3 lengths  
 
TEMPLE CHALLENGE CUP FAWLEY CHALLENGE CUP SPECIAL RACE FOR SCHOOLS (Trophy not as shown)
This event was first contested in 1990. This event first took place in 1992. Shrewsbury School
The race is for male eights. The race is for junior boys quads.

St Edwards School

5 mins 13 secs 2 lengths
WOMENS INVITATION COXED FOURS (Trophy not as shown) PRINCESS ROYAL CHALLENGE CUP WOMENS INVITATION DOUBLE SCULLS (Trophy not as shown)
1980 Rowing Club, USA This event was first staged in 1992. L Roy/J Mason, Adanac BC, Canada

Adanac Boat Club, Canada

5 mins 44 secs Easily

 The race is for Women´s singles. J Geer/C Geer, Dartmouth RC
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