Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Explained

Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
Location:Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Dates:1946 – present
Venue:Henley Royal Regatta, River Thames

The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs.[1]

History

The event was instituted in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom. It was opened to entries from overseas in 1964, and that year Washington-Lee High School (United States) became the first overseas crew to win the event, beating Groton School, USA, in an all-American final.

The inauguration of this race coincided with future queen Princess Elizabeth's first visit to the regatta, and so permission was given to name the trophy "The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup".

The PE (as it is usually abbreviated) is one of only a few races in the regatta which does not allow composite crews to be entered, and as such each race is a straight competition between one club and another. As the most prestigious race of the school rowing year, the event attracts strong competition both from the UK and abroad. For British crews, winning the PE can be the final victory needed to win “the triple", a prestigious achievement which comprises winning the Schools' Head of the River Race, The National Schools Regatta and finally the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, all in the same year. The "triple" was first achieved in 1978 by Eton College who have subsequently achieved it a further six times (1990, 1991, 1995, 2005, 2009 and 2010). Other winners of the triple are St. Edward's School in 1984, Hampton School in 1985, 1986 and 1988, Abingdon School in 2002 and 2012, and St Paul's School (London) in 2018 and 2024. Both St Pauls and Eton have also achieved a so-called "quadruple" by additionally winning the Youth Eights at the Head of the Charles Regatta; Eton in both 2008/09 and 2009/10 and St Paul's in 2017/18 and 2023/24.[2]

Of British entries, Eton College have won the PE a total of 15 times, St Paul's School (London) 8 times, St. Edward's School 5 times, and Abingdon School, Bedford School, Hampton School, Pangbourne College and Shrewsbury School have each won the event 4 times.

Radley College are the most frequent losing finalists having done so on 7 occasions, followed by Eton College and St Paul's School on 6 occasions. Hampton School and St. Edward's School have been the losing finalists on 4 occasions. Westminster School, The King's School Canterbury and Oundle School share the record for the most losses (4) in finals without having ever won the event.

The PE was opened to international crews in 1964, since when American crews have won the event 14 times (and been losing finalists 19 times), Canadian crews 7 times (losing finalists 3 times), and Australian crews 3 times (losing finalists twice).[3] Ridley College (Canada) remain the most successful North American school in the event having won the PE 5 times in the 1970's. Holy Spirit High School, USA and St.Paul's School, Concord, USA have both won the event 3 times, St.Paul's School, Concord, USA also having been losing finalists on 4 occasions. The Australian school to have won the event most recently was Scotch College, Melbourne in 2017.

At the 2023 regatta, the rules for the PE were changed to allow junior crews from clubs as well as schools to enter the event.[4]

Past winners

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1946Radley College[5]
1947Bedford SchoolShrewsbury School[6] [7]
1948Bedford SchoolRadley College[8]
1949Winchester CollegeWestminster School[9]
1950St Paul's School (London)Bedford School[10]
1951Bedford SchoolRadley College[11]
1952Radley CollegeMonkton Combe School
1953 St Paul's School (London)The King's School Canterbury[12] [13]
1954Winchester CollegeOundle School[14]
1955Shrewsbury SchoolOundle School[15]
1956St Paul's School (London)[16]
1957St Paul's School (London)Shrewsbury School[17]
1958St. Edward's SchoolOundle School[18]
1959St. Edward's SchoolOundle School[19]
1960 Shrewsbury SchoolThe King's School Canterbury[20]
1961Shrewsbury SchoolThe King's School Canterbury[21]
1962 Radley CollegeNautical College, Pangbourne[22]
1963 Nautical College, PangbourneSt Paul's School (London)[23]
1964 Washington-Lee High School, USAGroton School, USA[24]
1965 Tabor Academy, USA Phillips Exeter Academy, USA[25]
1966Emanuel SchoolHalcyon Boat Club, St.Paul's School, USA[26]
1967Tabor Academy, USA[27]
1968 JEB Stuart High School, USAEton College[28]
1969Washington-Lee High School, USAEmanuel School[29]
1970Ridley College, CanadaHampton Grammar School[30]
1971Pangbourne CollegeSt. Andrew's School, USA[31]
1972Kent School, USABrentwood College School, CAN[32]
1973Ridley College, CanadaSt. Paul's School, USA [33]
1974Holy Spirit High School, Absecon, New Jersey, USAKingston Grammar School[34]
1975Ridley College, CanadaSt. Paul's School, USA[35]
1976Holy Spirit High School, USAEmanuel School[36]
1977Ridley College, CanadaHampton School[37]
1978Brentwood College School, CAN[38]
1979Ridley College, CanadaEton College
1980St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USASt. Joseph's Preparatory School, USA[39]
1981Holy Spirit High School, USAEmanuel School[40]
1982Holy Spirit High School. USA[41]
1983St. Andrew's School, USA
1984St. Edward's SchoolSt. Joseph's Preparatory School, USA
1985Hampton SchoolSt. Paul's School, USA
1986Hampton SchoolBelmont Hill School, USA
1987Belmont Hill School, USAHampton School
1988Hampton SchoolEton College
1989Hampton SchoolShiplake College[42]
1990Westminster School
1991The King's School Canterbury
1992Pangbourne CollegeWestminster School
1993Brisbane Boys' College, AUSEton College[43]
1994St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USAAtlantic City High School, USA
1995Hampton School
1996Brentwood College School, CANSt. Edward's School[44]
1997Canford School
1998Radley CollegeSt. Mary's Preparatory School, USA[45]
1999St. Edward's SchoolSt. Peter's College, AUS
2000Saint Joseph's Preparatory, USAGroton School, USA
2001The King's School, Parramatta, AustraliaRadley College
2002Abingdon SchoolSt Paul's School (London)
2003Pangbourne CollegeSt. Edward's School
2004St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USAAbingdon School
2005Saint Joseph's Preparatory, USA
2006St. Ignatius College Preparatory, USAThe King's School Chester
2007Shrewsbury SchoolBrentwood College School, CAN
2008Shawnigan Lake School, Canada
2009Abingdon School
2010Kent School, USA
2011Abingdon SchoolSt. Andrew's School, Delaware, USA
2012Abingdon SchoolRadley College
2013Abingdon SchoolSt. Edward's School
2014St. Edward's School
2015St Paul's School (London)Westminster School
2016St Paul's School (London)
2017Scotch College, Melbourne, AustraliaRadley College
2018St Paul's School (London)Eton College
2019Scotch College, Melbourne, AUS
2020No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic[46]
2021St Paul's School (London)[47]
2022St Paul's School (London)Radley College[48]
2023St Edward's SchoolSt Paul's School (London)
2024St Paul's School (London) Shiplake College[49]

Record times

The record holder for the event is St Paul's School (London), having finished the course in 6 minutes 06 seconds in the final against Eton College in 2018. They beat the previous record for the event by 11 seconds, held by Abingdon School.

The course record times for the event are:

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup . Henley Royal Regatta . 3 November 2020.
  2. Web site: Champions.
  3. Web site: Results of Final Races - 1946-2003 . 2007-07-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716161931/http://www.rowinghistory.net/HRR%20US/hrr_1946-2000.htm . 2011-07-16 . dead .
  4. Web site: Henley Royal Regatta Junior Events.
  5. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1946) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 8 July 1946 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 2 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  6. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1947) 'Henley Royal Regatta . 7 July 1947 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 2 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  7. News: Henley Royal Regatta . Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News . 18 July 1947 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 4 August 2024.
  8. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1948) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 5 July 1948 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 2 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  9. News: FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (1949) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 4 July 1949 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  10. News: Henley Royal Regatta . 10 July 1950 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  11. News: Henley Royal Regatta' . 9 July 1951 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  12. Web site: 1953 Henley Royal Regatta programme . media bufvc . 6 August 2024.
  13. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1953) 'A Great Henley' . 6 July 1953 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 10 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  14. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1954) 'Foreign Competitors Win Six Trophies At Henley' . 5 July 1954 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 5 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  15. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1955) 'Henley Royal Regatta Finals . 4 July 1955 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  16. News: French Army Crew Worthy Winners At Henley . 9 July 1956 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  17. News: "Cornell Beat Yale In Remarkable Yet Dull Grand Challenge Cup." . 8 July 1957 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 12 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  18. News: Superb Racing On Final Day Of Henley . 7 July 1958 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  19. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1959) 'Grand And Thames For Harvard' . 6 July 1959 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 3 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  20. News: Fastest English Eights Well Matched . 4 July 1960 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 15 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  21. News: 'Mackenzie Takes Pride Of Place At Henley' . 10 July 1961 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  22. News: Golden Henley Spoiled By Dull Finals . 9 July 1962 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 3 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  23. News: London University Outrow Cornell In Grand . 8 July 1963 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 3 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  24. News: Russians Prove Invincible In Grand . 6 July 1964 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  25. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent. "Henley Rowing Produces Records Galore." . 5 July 1965 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 3 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  26. News: Germans Dominate in Five Events . 4 July 1966 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  27. News: British rowing improving, but Germans win trophies . 3 July 1967 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 12 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  28. News: Much Of Henley Meaningless . 15 July 1968 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 13 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  29. News: CALDER,, D. (1969) 'Perfect Day's Racing At Henley . 7 July 1969 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  30. News: RAILTON, J. (1970) 'Foreign Supremacy Again At Henley' . 6 July 1970 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 12 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  31. News: Why Lucerne is more important to Britain than Henley . 5 July 1971 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 9 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  32. News: Railton, J. (1972) 'One week when you drift back to the Edwardian era . 3 July 1972 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 10 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  33. News: Railton, J. (1973) 'Rowing' . 9 July 1973 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  34. News: Russians pull back British lead . 8 July 1974 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 9 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  35. News: A Grand triumph for British eight . 7 July 1975 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  36. News: Railton, J. (1976) Three major successes for Britain' . 5 July 1976 . The Times . 2 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  37. News: Rowing . 4 July 1977 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  38. News: Crooks runs away with Diamonds to prove he is Britain's top sculler . 3 July 1978 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 10 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  39. News: Railton, J. (1980) 'Rowing' . 7 July 1980 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 10 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  40. News: Powerful Oxford find a winning formula . 6 July 1981 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  41. News: National eight keep afloat for testing Amsterdam event . 5 July 1982 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 15 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  42. News: Railton, J. (1989) 'Redgrave takes Goblets with Ms new partner', . 3 July 1989 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 39 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  43. News: 'Results from Henley' . 5 July 1993 . The Times . 5 August 2024 . 24 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  44. News: 'Results from Henley Royal Regatta' (1996) . 8 July 1996 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 33 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  45. News: Results from Henley Royal Regatta' (1998) . 6 July 1998 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 34 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
  46. Web site: 2020 REGATTA CANCELLATION - STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19). Henley Royal Regatta. 12 December 2023 .
  47. Web site: Results 2021. Henley Royal Regatta. 21 October 2021.
  48. Web site: Results 2022. Henley Royal Regatta. 3 July 2022.
  49. Web site: HRR 2024 Review . Shiplake College . 1 August 2024.

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