Tuesday, July 2
Henley-on-Thames, U.K.
All Day
University of Washington
vs
Henley Royal Regatta
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
On To Henley: Huskies To Race In Grand Challenge Cup
June 19, 2024 | Men's Rowing
The Washington men's rowing team will return to the Henley Royal Regatta this July, as the Huskies will enter crews in both the Grand Challenge Cup and the Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup.
This year's regatta, held in Henley-on-Thames, U.K., will run from Tuesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 7. Washington will send the same varsity eight lineup that won the National Championship earlier this month at IRAs to compete in the Grand Challenge Cup, with another two oarsmen – Ethan Blight and Ryan Smith – pairing up for the Silver Goblets & Nickalls'.
The Grand Challenge Cup is the oldest and best-known event at Henley, first held in 1839, and is open to all club men's eights. Frequently, national teams compete for the Grand Challenge Cup, though under the auspices of a club or clubs.
Washington's eight includes seven athletes who have raced in a final at Henley in the past: coxswain Nikita Jacobs, and oarsmen Max Heid, Archie Drummond, Jonathan Wang-Norderud, Sam Ford, Cameron Tasker, Harry Fitzpatrick, and Marius Bjørn-Hansen Ahland. Ford was in a crew that won the Thames Challenge Cup in 2022.
Last year, the Huskies reached the final of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup (coxed fours) and the semifinals of the Temple Challenge Cup (eights).
The last time that the UW entered a crew in the Grand Challenge was in 2013, when the Huskies beat the Polish National Team on Saturday before falling to the British, who set a new course record, in the final.
Washington won the Grand Challenge in 1977, beating the British National Team (competing as Leander Club & Thames Tradesmens). The Huskies also finished as runners-up in the event in 1978 and 1984, and again in 2013.
Washington's first-ever trip to the Henley Royal Regatta came in 1958, where coach Al Ulbrickson's crew lost to Leningrad Trud Club (the Soviet National Team) in a quarterfinal race. The Soviets went on to win the Grand Challenge, but a rematch with the Huskies had been arranged for a bit later that summer, in the USSR. In that race, the Huskies scored one of the legendary victories in UW athletics history, beating that same crew, along with five other Soviet shells, on the Khimki Reservoir in Moscow.
In 1973, scheduling conflicts meant that the Huskies would discontinue racing at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championship regatta for the next 21 seasons. Instead, coach Dick Erickson, who rowed in that '58 crew, made the Huskies a relatively regular visitor to Henley, starting in '73.
After the famous win in '77, the Huskies raced in the Grand in '78, '81, and '84. Washington has also sent men's and women's crews to compete in other Henley races numerous additional years since 1958.
Henley Royal Regatta provides an excellent live video stream, at no cost. Use the link at the top of this page to watch. While the UW men's eight has been accepted as one of five crews competing for the Grand Challenge Cup, the pair of Blight and Smith will be required to qualify, as there were 20 entries for the SIlver Goblets and Nickalls' Cup. Eight crews have been granted entry to the field, while the other 12 (including the UW pair) will row in a a qualifer on Fri., July 28, with the top two moving into the main draw. Once the draw takes place on June 29, and schedules are announced, this page will be updated.
Huskies at Henley History
Here is a list of UW victories at the Henley Royal Regatta:
1977 – Grand Challenge Cup (men's eight)
1977 – Visitors' Challenge Cup (men's coxless four)
1981 – Ladies Challenge Plate (men's eight)
2000 – Henley Prize (women's eight)
2003 – Ladies Challenge Plate (men's eight)
2010 – Temple Challenge Cup (men's eight)
2012 – Temple Challenge Cup (men's eight)
2015 – Prince Albert Challenge Cup (men's coxed four)
2018 – Temple Challenge Cup (men's eight)
2022 – Visitors' Challenge Cup (men's coxless four)
Other appearances: 1958, 1973, 1984, 1995, 1997, 2013, 2023
Note: UW alumni have competed and won at Henley on numerous occasions, rowing for clubs other than UW. The above list includes only those crews who won their trophy under the University of Washington name.
This year's regatta, held in Henley-on-Thames, U.K., will run from Tuesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 7. Washington will send the same varsity eight lineup that won the National Championship earlier this month at IRAs to compete in the Grand Challenge Cup, with another two oarsmen – Ethan Blight and Ryan Smith – pairing up for the Silver Goblets & Nickalls'.
The Grand Challenge Cup is the oldest and best-known event at Henley, first held in 1839, and is open to all club men's eights. Frequently, national teams compete for the Grand Challenge Cup, though under the auspices of a club or clubs.
Washington's eight includes seven athletes who have raced in a final at Henley in the past: coxswain Nikita Jacobs, and oarsmen Max Heid, Archie Drummond, Jonathan Wang-Norderud, Sam Ford, Cameron Tasker, Harry Fitzpatrick, and Marius Bjørn-Hansen Ahland. Ford was in a crew that won the Thames Challenge Cup in 2022.
Last year, the Huskies reached the final of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup (coxed fours) and the semifinals of the Temple Challenge Cup (eights).
The last time that the UW entered a crew in the Grand Challenge was in 2013, when the Huskies beat the Polish National Team on Saturday before falling to the British, who set a new course record, in the final.
Washington won the Grand Challenge in 1977, beating the British National Team (competing as Leander Club & Thames Tradesmens). The Huskies also finished as runners-up in the event in 1978 and 1984, and again in 2013.
Washington's first-ever trip to the Henley Royal Regatta came in 1958, where coach Al Ulbrickson's crew lost to Leningrad Trud Club (the Soviet National Team) in a quarterfinal race. The Soviets went on to win the Grand Challenge, but a rematch with the Huskies had been arranged for a bit later that summer, in the USSR. In that race, the Huskies scored one of the legendary victories in UW athletics history, beating that same crew, along with five other Soviet shells, on the Khimki Reservoir in Moscow.
In 1973, scheduling conflicts meant that the Huskies would discontinue racing at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championship regatta for the next 21 seasons. Instead, coach Dick Erickson, who rowed in that '58 crew, made the Huskies a relatively regular visitor to Henley, starting in '73.
After the famous win in '77, the Huskies raced in the Grand in '78, '81, and '84. Washington has also sent men's and women's crews to compete in other Henley races numerous additional years since 1958.
Henley Royal Regatta provides an excellent live video stream, at no cost. Use the link at the top of this page to watch. While the UW men's eight has been accepted as one of five crews competing for the Grand Challenge Cup, the pair of Blight and Smith will be required to qualify, as there were 20 entries for the SIlver Goblets and Nickalls' Cup. Eight crews have been granted entry to the field, while the other 12 (including the UW pair) will row in a a qualifer on Fri., July 28, with the top two moving into the main draw. Once the draw takes place on June 29, and schedules are announced, this page will be updated.
Huskies at Henley History
Here is a list of UW victories at the Henley Royal Regatta:
1977 – Grand Challenge Cup (men's eight)
1977 – Visitors' Challenge Cup (men's coxless four)
1981 – Ladies Challenge Plate (men's eight)
2000 – Henley Prize (women's eight)
2003 – Ladies Challenge Plate (men's eight)
2010 – Temple Challenge Cup (men's eight)
2012 – Temple Challenge Cup (men's eight)
2015 – Prince Albert Challenge Cup (men's coxed four)
2018 – Temple Challenge Cup (men's eight)
2022 – Visitors' Challenge Cup (men's coxless four)
Other appearances: 1958, 1973, 1984, 1995, 1997, 2013, 2023
Note: UW alumni have competed and won at Henley on numerous occasions, rowing for clubs other than UW. The above list includes only those crews who won their trophy under the University of Washington name.
Players Mentioned
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COX
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/ Men's Rowing
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