The History Of Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held annually in Henley-on-Thames on the River Thames. Sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, although there are also other regattas which take place on the same course; including Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Veterans Regatta and Henley Town & Visitors Regatta. Henley Royal Regatta last for five days, between Wednesday and Sunday of the first weekend in July. The course is one mile and 550 yards long, and the races are head-to-head knock-out competitions. It usually features international rowing crews, especially in the Grand Challenge Cup for Men's Eights, which has taken place ever since the very first regatta in 1939. The regatta is recognised by British Rowing, the governing body of rowing in England and Wales, and the International Federation of Rowing Associations, but it is organised by a self-electing body of Stewards, mostly former rowers. Henley Regatta is a key date in the English social season, and certain areas of it have strictly enforced dress codes. If you are considering attending the Royal Regatta then choose your outfit carefully. It was in 1839 that Captain Edmund Gardiner first proposed the boat race in Henley town hall, due to the increasing interest in boat races and the crowds they had attracted. This was the first year of the Henley Regatta as a one-day festival, but over the years it expanded; from two days in 1840 to three days in 1886, from four days in 1906 to five in 1986. Prince Albert became the first royal patron of the event, and it became Henley Royal Regatta. Since Prince Albert, every reigning monarch has agreed to be the patron of the event. Originally Henley Regatta was intended as a race for amateur oarsmen, but over time an increasing number of the oarsmen who are involved are professionals. For most of the competition's history it has been a male-only competition. In 1975 women coxswains of male rowing crews were permitted, and in 1979 the organising committee announced there would be an exhibition event for women in 1981, with entries by invitation. Later in 1979 the Stewards announced that they were considering adding women's events to the annual Regatta programme. When the international rowing race distance was changed to 2000m and the fifth day was introduced, the Committee of Management introduced an open Women's Single Sculls event. Other women's events were created including an invitation event for women's eights in 1998, later replaced by an open women's eight event. Today Henley Royal Regatta is as much about female rowing teams as it is about the men.