Stewards' Challenge Cup Explained

Stewards' Challenge Cup
Location:	Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Dates:	1841 – present
Venue:	Henley Royal Regatta, River Thames

The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.

The event was established in 1841.^{[1] [2]} It was originally for coxed four crews. In 1868 Walter Bradford Woodgate arranged for his Brasenose cox to jump overboard at the start of the race to lighten his boat. While the unwanted cox narrowly escaped strangulation by the water lilies, Woodgate and his home-made steering device triumphed by 100 yards and were promptly disqualified.^[3] Whatever passing fame the hapless cox gained on the Henley reach in 1868 was eventually eclipsed by his accomplishments in later life when he, Frederic Edward Weatherly, wrote and published the Irish ballad "Danny Boy".

A special prize for four-oared crews without coxswains was offered at the regatta in 1869 when it was won by the Oxford Radleian Club. When Stewards' became a coxless race in 1873, Woodgate "won his moral victory", the Rowing Almanack later recalled. "Nothing but defeating a railway in an action at law could have given him so much pleasure."^[4]

Past winners

1841–1872

Stewards' Challenge Cup – Coxed four
width=50	Year	width=250	Winner	width=500	Crew	width=50	Time	width=50	Dist	width=250	Runner-up	width=20	ref
1841	The Midge, Oxford Club,		10min+	1l	Cambridge Subscription Rooms,
1842	The Midge, Oxford Club,		9:16	E	Dreadnought Club, Henley
1843	St George's Club,		10:15	2l	The Midge, Oxford Club,
1844			9:16	l	St George's Club,
1845			8:25	Aw	St George's Club,
1846			ntt	E	Guy's Club,
1847					Worcester College (withdrew)
1848				ro	Row over
1849			ntt	E	Second Trinity Boat Club, Cambridge
1850				ro	Row over
1851			8:54	4l	Brasenose College, Oxford
1852			ntt	2-3l	Argonaut Club, London
1853			8:57	3-4l	Argonaut Club, London
1854			9:38		Lady Margaret Boat Club, Cm
1855				E	Lady Margaret Boat Club, Cm
1856				ro	Royal Chester (withdrew)	^[5]
1857			8:25	4l	Lady Margaret Boat Club, Cm
1858				ro	Row over	^[6]
1859			8:25	2ft	London Rowing Club
1860			9:26	E	London Rowing Club
1861			9:35	2l	London Rowing Club
1862			8:40	2l	Third Trinity, Cambridge
1863			8:24	1l	Brasenose College, Oxford
1864			8:45	l	University College, Oxford
1865			8:13	l	London Rowing Club
1866			9:28	4l	Kingston Rowing Club
1867			8:45	1l	Oxford Radleian
1868			8:22	4l	University College, Oxford
1869			8:36	2l	Oxford Radleian
1870			8:05	l	London Rowing Club
1871			9:09	1l	Kingston Rowing Club
1872			9:21	sevl	Kingston Rowing Club

1873–1899

Stewards' Challenge Cup – Coxless four
width=50	Year	width=250	Winner	width=400	Crew	width=50	Time	width=50	Dist	width=250	Runner-up	width=20	ref
1873			8:23	3l	Kingston Rowing Club
1874			9:00	3l	Thames Rowing Club
1875			7:56	l	Leander Club
1876			8:27	sev l	Thames Rowing Club
1877			9:7	2-3l	Thames Rowing Club
1878			8:37	p	Monroe, Shoe-wae-cae-mette BC, USA
1879			9:37	2l	Lady Margaret Boat Club, Cambridge
1880			7:58	3l	Molesey Boat Club
1881			8:15	p	Thames Rowing Club
1882				E	Thames Rowing Club
1883					London Rowing Club
1884				disq	Twickenham Rowing Club
1885			7:53	p	Jesus College, Cambridge
1886			7:39	1l	Trinity Hall, Cambridge
1887			7:53	E	Leander Club
1888			8:25	St	Brasenose College, Oxford
1889			7:53	E	Third Trinity, Cambridge
1890			7:37	l	Thames Rowing Club
1891			7:45	l	Trinity Hall, Cambridge	^[7]
1892			8:38	l	Thames Rowing Club
1893			7:45	l	Thames Rowing Club
1894			8:20	l	New College, Oxford
1895			7:43	l	Thames Rowing Club	^[8]
1896			8:42	1l	Thames Rowing Club
1897			7:30	2l	New College, Oxford
1898			7:42	l	New College, Oxford
1899			7:51	5l	Favorite Hammonia RC, Hamburg, GER

1900–1939

width=50	Year	width=250	Winner	width=400	Crew	width=50	Time	width=50	Dist	width=250	Runner-up	width=20	ref
1900			7:55	l	Trinity College, Cambridge
1901			7:54	E	Leander Club
1902			7:45	E	Leander Club
1903			8:5	l	Royal Netherlands R&SC
1904			7:30	l	Winnipeg Rowing Club
1905			8:26	P	Third Trinity, Cambridge
1906			7:36	2ft	Third Trinity, Cambridge
1907			8:42	3l	Leander Club
1908			7:40	l	London Rowing Club
1909			7:38	l	Magdalen College, Oxford
1910			7:52	E	Mainzer Ruder-Verein, Germany
1911			7:35	l	Trinity Hall, Cambridge
1912			7:36	l	Thames Rowing Club
1913			n/a	disq	Mainzer Ruder-Verein, GER
1914			7:52	St	Mainzer Ruder-Verien, GER	^[9]
No races 1915–1919 (WWI)
1920			8:03	E	Thames Rowing Club
1921			7:32	3l	Leander Club
1922			8:25	E	Grasshopper Club Zürich, SWI
1923			7:30	E	Magdalen College, Oxford
1924	Third Trinity, Cm		8:37	3l	Leander Club
1925	Third Trinity, Cm		7:27	2l	Leander Club
1926			7:34	E	Leander Club	^[10]
1927	Thames Rowing Club		8:01	2l	Leander Club	^[11]
1928	Thames Rowing Club		7:43	2ft	London Rowing Club	^[12]
1929			7:32	1l	London Rowing Club	^[13]
1930			7:34	l	Leander Club	^[14]
1931	London Rowing Club		8:45	3l	SCV Da Feltre Di Piacenza	^[15]
1932			8:09	2l	Berliner Ruder Club, GER	^[16]
1933			8:16	l	London Rowing Club	^[17]
1934	Pembroke College, Cm		7:24	ac	London Rowing Club	^[18]
1935	Zurich Rowing Club, SWI		7:14	3l	London Rowing Club	^[19]
1936	Zurich Rowing Club, SWI		7:50	2l	Leander Club	^[20]
1937		P.H. Gaskell, J.M. Couchman, J.C. Cherry, J.D. Sturrock (stroke)	8:32	1l	Thames Rowing Club	^[21]
1938	Leander Club		7:33	E	Trinity College, Oxford	^[22]
1939	Zurich Rowing Club, Switzerland	H. Betschart, E. Rufli, W. Schweizer, K. Schmid (stroke)	8:09	4l	Oriel College, Oxford	^[23]
No races 1940–1945 (WWII)

1946–2000

width=50	Year	width=250	Winner	width=400	Crew	width=50	Time	width=50	Dist	width=250	Runner-up	width=20	ref
1946			7:48	l	Oriel College, Oxford	^[24]
1947			8:04	E	London Rowing Club	^[25] ^[26]
1948	Thames Rowing Club		7:48	4l	Isis and Granta Clubs	^[27]
1949			7:13	3l	London Rowing Club	^[28]
1950	Hellerup Roklubb, DEN		8:03	4l	Leander Club	^[29]
1951			7:53	l	Leander Club	^[30]
1952	Thames Rowing Club		7:24	2l	London Rowing Club	^[31]
1953			7:25	l	First & Third Trinity BC, Cm	^[32]
1954	Club Krylia Sovetov, USSR		8:26	l	Royal Air Force	^[33]
1955	Club Krylia Sovetov, USSR		7:40	3l	Leander Club	^[34]
1956			8:06	l	London Rowing Club	^[35]
1957	Club Krylia Sovetov, USSR		7:35	E	London Rowing Club	^[36]
1958	Barn Cottage Boat Club		7:16	l	National Provincial Bank RC	^[37]
1959			7:39	E	GS Moto Guzzi, ITA	^[38]
1960	Barn Cottage Boat Club		7:10	4l	St Edmund Hall Boat Club Lincoln College, Oxford	^[39]
1961	Trud Club, Leningrad, USSR		7:23	2l	Thames Rowing Club	^[40]
1962	Trud Club, Leningrad, USSR		7:23	l	Nereus Rowing Club	^[41]
1963			7:16	l	Thames Rowing Club	^[42]	-	1964			7:11	E	Leander Club	^[43]
1965			6:55	E	Nautilus Rowing Club	^[44]
1966	Roforeningen Kvik, DEN		7:17	1l	Derby Rowing Club	^[45]
1967	SG Dynamo, Potsdam, GDR		7:31	2l	Nereus Rowing Club	^[46]
1968	Nautilus Rowing Club (Midlands)		8:53	4l	London Rowing Club	^[47]
1969			7:06	E	Nottingham & Union Boat Club	^[48]
1970	SG Dynamo, Potsdam, GDR		7:22	3l		^[49]
1971			7:12	1l	Cambridge Univ BC	^[50]
1972	Spartak, Moscow, USSR		n/a	disq	Univ of British Columbia, CAN	^[51]
1973			7:03	l	Potomac Boat Club, USA	^[52]
1974	Dynamo Club, USSR		7:12	E	Leander Club Tideway Scullers School	^[53]
1975	Potomac Boat Club, USA		6:50	2+1/3l	Lady Margaret BC, Cm	^[54]
1976	Univ of British Columbia, CAN		7:10s	l	Thames Tradesmen's RC	^[55]
1977			7:24	n/a	row over	^[56]
1978	Trakia Club, Bulgaria		n/a	ro	London Rowing Club withdrew	^[57]
1979	London Rowing Club		7:19	E	Oxford Univ BC
1980	Charles River RA Dartmouth College, USA		7:04	2l	Avon Rowing Club Petone Rowing Club, NZL	^[58]
1981			7:48	E	Vesper Boat Club, USA	^[59]
1982	RC Schaffhausen RC Thalwill, Switzerland		7:10	l	Tyrian Boat Club	^[60]
1983	RC Schaffhauser RC Thalwil, Switzerland		7:02	E	Cambridge University
1984			6:57	cv	University of London Tyrian Boat Club
1985			7:08	3l	Bagsvaerd Roklub, Denmark
1986	Ridley Boat Club, Canada		6:41	l	Tyrian Boat Club
1987	Dinamo Moscow, USSR		6:40	1l	Tyrian Boat Club
1988			6:44	E	Pennsylvania AC, USA
1989			6:28	l	Nautilus Rowing Club	^[61]
1990	Star Club Leander Club 'A'		7:16	l	Star Club Leander Club	'B'
1991			6:55	2l
1992			6:36	1l	Malmo Ruddklubb Brudpiga Ruddklubb, Sweden
1993			6:44	l	RC Hansa Dortmund, Germany	^[62]
1994	EN Boulogne AUN Lyon, France		6:44	l
1995	Cambridge University CARC "Mladost"		6:31	l	College Boat Club, Philadelphia, USA
1996			6:44	4l	Goldie Boat Club	^[63]
1997			6:47	l	NCRA
1998			6:41	l	Danmarks Rocenter, Denmark	^[64]
1999			6:51	1l	Danmarks Rocenter, Denmark

2000 onwards

width=50	Year	width=250	Winner	width=400	Crew	width=50	Time	width=50	Dist	width=250	Runner-up	width=20	ref
2000			6:50	l	Univ. Technology, Sydney, Haberfield RC, Australia
2001			6:50	4l	George Rowing Center, Canada
2002	Danmarks Rocenter, Denmark		7:01	l	Gorge Rowing Center, Canada
2003	Victoria City Rowing Club, Canada		6:33	l	Gorge Rowing Center, Canada
2004			6:46	3ls	Melbourne University University of Queensland
2005			6:57	E	Victoria City Rowing Club, Canada
2006	Hollandia Roeiclub, Holland		6:43	row over	row over
2007			7:14	l	Brentwood College Shawnigan Lake, Canada
2008			7:09	l	O.E.A. & N.A.V, Volos N.C. Thessaloniki, Greece
2009			7:05	l	Waiariki R.C. New Zealand
2010	Princeton Training Center, USA		7:09	l	Club France, France
2011			6:19	l	Chula Vista Training Center, U.S.A.
2012	National Rowing Centre of Excellence 'A', Australia		7:15	l	Waiariki Rowing Club, New Zealand
2013			6:27	l	Tuks Rowing Club, South Africa
2014			6:41	l	Club France 'B', France
2015			6:49	2l	Nautical Club of Ioannina Nautical Club of Kastoria, Greece
2016			6:53	l	Erster Wiener Ruderclub 'LIA' Ruderverein Villach, Austria
2017			6:24	l	Team Italia, Italy
2018			6:24	l
2019			6:38	l	Leander Club
2020	No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic	^[65]
2021			6:43	l	Hollandia Roeiclub	^[66]
2022	Rowing Australia		6:26	1ft	Oxford Brookes & Leander	^[67]
2023			7:07	E		^[68]
2024	Oxford Brookes University		6:50	2l	Leander

Key

• ntt - no time taken
• l - Length/lengths
• e - easily
• + - a few sconds over 10 minutes
• sev - several
• ro -Row over
• Aw - Awarded
• p - paddled
• st - stopped
• ac - Alone (crab)
• cv = Canvas

Notes and References

1. http://www.rowinghistory.net/HRR%20US/hrr_1839-1939.htm Henley Royal Regatta Results of Final Races 1839–1939
2. http://www.rowinghistory.net/HRR%20US/hrr_1946-2000.htm Henley Royal Regatta Results of Final Races 1946–2009
3. H.T. Steward Henley Royal Regatta, 1903, pp. 133-34
4. The Rowing Almanack, 1921, pp. 148-49
5. News: Heney Royal Regatta . Reading Mercury . 14 June 1856 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 3 August 2024.
6. News: Heney Royal Regatta . The Field . 26 June 1858 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 3 August 2024.
7. News: 'Henley Royal Regatta' (1895) . 10 July 1891 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 12 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
8. News: 'Henley Royal Regatta' (1895) . 10 July 1895 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 13 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
9. News: 'Leander's Success At Henley' (1914) . 6 July 1914 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 16 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
10. News: Henley Royal Regatta' (1926) . 5 July 1926 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 8 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
11. News: (FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT.) (1927) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 4 July 1927 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
12. News: (FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT.) (1928) . 9 July 1928 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
13. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT. (1929) . 8 July 1929 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
14. News: (FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT) (1930) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 7 July 1930 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
15. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1931) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 6 July 1931 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 5 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
16. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1932) 'Rowing . 4 July 1932 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
17. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1933) 'Henley Royal Regatta . 10 July 1933 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
18. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1934) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 9 July 1934 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 5 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
19. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1935) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 8 July 1935 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
20. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1936) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 6 July 1936 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
21. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1937) 'Henley Royal Regatta', . 5 July 1937 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 5 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
22. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1938) 'Rowing' . 4 July 1938 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 8 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
23. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1939) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 10 July 1939 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
24. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1946) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 8 July 1946 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 2 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
25. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1947) 'Henley Royal Regatta . 7 July 1947 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 2 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
26. News: Heney Royal Regatta . Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News . 18 July 1947 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 4 August 2024.
27. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1948) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 5 July 1948 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 2 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
28. News: FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (1949) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 4 July 1944 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
29. News: FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (1950) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 10 July 1950 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
30. News: FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (1951) 'Henley Royal Regatta' . 9 July 1951 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
31. Web site: Item 1952 - Journal of the Thames Rowing Club 1952 . Thames Rowing Club . 9 August 2024.
32. News: FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1953) 'A Great Henley' . 6 July 1953 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 10 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
33. 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 .
34. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1955) 'Henley Royal Regatta Finals . 4 July 1955 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
35. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent (1956) 'French Army Crew Worthy Winners At Henley' . 9 July 1956 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
36. 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 .
37. News: Superb Racing On Final Day Of Henley . 7 July 1958 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
38. 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 .
39. News: Fastest English Eights Well Matched . 4 July 1960 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 15 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
40. News: 'Mackenzie Takes Pride Of Place At Henley' . 10 July 1961 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
41. News: Golden Henley Spoiled By Dull Finals . 9 July 1962 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 3 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
42. News: London University Outrow Cornell In Grand . 8 July 1963 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 3 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
43. News: Russians Prove Invincible In Grand . 6 July 1964 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 4 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
44. News: From Our Rowing Correspondent. "Henley Rowing Produces Records Galore." . 5 July 1965 . The Times . 3 August 2024 . 3 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
45. News: Germans Dominate in Five Events . 4 July 1966 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
46. News: British rowing improving, but Germans win trophies . 3 July 1967 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 12 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
47. News: Much Of Henley Meaningless . 15 July 1968 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 13 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
48. News: CALDER,, D. (1969) 'Perfect Day's Racing At Henley . 7 July 1969 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
49. News: RAILTON, J. (1970) 'Foreign Supremacy Again At Henley' . 6 July 1970 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 12 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
50. News: Why Lucerne is more important to Britain than Henley . 5 July 1971 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 9 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
51. 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 .
52. News: Railton, J. (1973) 'Rowing' . 9 July 1973 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
53. News: Russians pull back British lead . 8 July 1974 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 9 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
54. News: A Grand triumph for British eight . 7 July 1975 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 7 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
55. News: Railton, J. (1976) Three major successes for Britain' . 5 July 1976 . The Times . 2 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
56. News: Rowing . 4 July 1977 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
57. 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 .
58. News: Railton, J. (1980) 'Rowing' . 7 July 1980 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 10 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
59. News: Powerful Oxford find a winning formula . 6 July 1981 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 6 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
60. News: National eight keep afloat for testing Amsterdam event . 5 July 1981 . The Times . 9 August 2024 . 15 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
61. 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 .
62. News: 'Results from Henley' . 5 July 1993 . The Times . 5 August 2024 . 24 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
63. News: 'Results from Henley Royal Regatta' (1996) . 8 July 1996 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 33 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
64. News: Results from Henley Royal Regatta' (1998) . 6 July 1998 . The Times . 4 August 2024 . 34 . The Times Digital Archive. subscription .
65. Web site: 2020 REGATTA CANCELLATION - STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19). Henley Royal Regatta. 2 July 2023 .
66. Web site: Results 2021. Henley Royal Regatta. 21 October 2021.
67. Web site: Results 2022. Henley Royal Regatta. 10 July 2022.
68. Web site: Leander, Oxford Brookes and Thames dominate at Henley Royal Regatta . British Rowing . 3 July 2023 . 4 July 2023.