Henley Rowing Club

Founded 1839

T & V Poster
T & V Draw
T & V History
Results Index
Notices

Henley Town & Visitors' Regatta

HISTORY

The earliest records show that the Henley Town and Visitors’ Regatta was originally known as the Henley Rowing Club Boat Races. Its name changed to The Town Regatta during the latter part of the 19th century and the word Visitor was added when it was decided to extend invitations to other oarsmen and clubs.

The Regatta experienced financial difficulties when it tried to re-establish itself after the Great War, and wasn’t able to start again until 1922. However it quickly restored its popularity and by 1928 had become so successful that it was found necessary to divide the Regatta into skiffing and rowing sections, each having its own Regatta held on different days on the Henley Reach.

Initially the Skiff Regatta was the more popular of the two but, by the mid 1930s interest had fallen off and in 1938 skiffing was discontinued.

After the Second World War the Regatta started again and, following the success of multi lane racing on the Henley Reach at the 1948 Olympic Games, expanded and offered three abreast racing in all events.

When the Government changed the August Bank Holiday from the beginning to the end of August in 1965, the Regatta traditionally at that time the last Thames regatta of the season had to move to a Saturday and is now established as the fourth Saturday after the Royal Regatta.

The Committee has always prided itself on being able to produce a Programme recording the names of all oarsmen and women competing at the Regatta and is now one of the few one day Regattas which has managed to continue this custom.

The Regatta offers around 30 trophies for competition the most famous being the Town Cup which was one of the two trophies competed for at the first Henley "Royal" Regatta in 1839. However, although the Regatta always has its trophies on display each year and presents them to individual winners at the Regatta  it  like most other regattas, does not allow them to be taken away by the winning crews.

The Regatta has always had a President and, since 1928. has adopted the policy of electing its President for a one year term only.

The Regatta’s other main events are the Annual General Meeting usually held in March each year the President’s Cocktail Party in June and the Annual Dinner in November. All subscribers and sponsors are invited to attend these functions.

MCNJ.