Photo by: Grace Mackinlay
Washington Women To Race For The Island Challenge Cup At Henley
July 04, 2026 | Women's Rowing
HENLEY-ON-THAMES, U.K. – The Washington women will race for The Island Challenge Cup Sunday at Henley Royal Regatta as the UW eight won its semifinal vs. Durham University.
Another UW women's crew, a coxless four, fell to Hollandia R.C. in its Town Challenge Cup semifinal.
Washington's eight, made up mostly of athletes who rowed in the Huskies' varsity crew this past season, got a stiff challenge in its Island Challenge Cup semifinal from Durham Univ. (U.K.). The two crews were neck-and-neck off of the start and UW's lead at the first milestone, the Barrier, was slim.
However, the Huskies established a lead in the middle portion of the race and met each challenge from their British competitors, earning the win by, officially, 2/3 of a length.
Washington will face a crew from Brown University, which beat Oxford Brookes University (U.K.) in the final on Sunday. Neither UW nor Brown has ever won The Island Challenge Cup, which was first run just five years ago, in 2021.
In UW Town Challenge Cup semifinal, the Husky four faced the Dutch Under-23 four, rowing as Hollandia Roeiclub. The Dutch took the lead very early in the race and rowed to a win by a length and three-quarters..
Fans can follow all of the competition, including a live (free) video feed, at Henley's website. Later today, when the times for the finals have been posted, the start time for the UW's Island Challenge Cup final will be included here.
WASHINGTON LINEUPS
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "A"
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Izzy Michaelson (Everett, Wash.)
Stroke: Chloe Sheppard (Tewkesbury, England, U.K.)
7: Katie Gardner (Cowbridge, Wales, U.K.)
6: Issy Melville (Hamilton, New Zealand)
5: Kalee Verd (Olympia, Wash.)
4: Violet Holbrow Brooksbank (Monmouth, Wales, U.K.)
3: Amelia Westbrook (Lincoln, England, U.K.)
2: Jayna Palmer (Truckee, Calif.)
Bow: Emily Myers (Oxford, England, U.K.)
The Town Challenge Cup
Shell: Powerhouse
Stroke: Jess Weir (London, England, U.K.)
3: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
2: Zola Kemp (Wellington, New Zealand)
Bow: Cait Whittard (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)
The Princess Royal Challenge Cup
Elena Collier-Hezel (Buffalo, N.Y.)
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "B"
Shell: Jan Harville
Cox: Perry McLoughlin (Port Washington, N.Y.)
Stroke: Carmel Bollag (Seattle, Wash.)
7: Emily Downing (Marlow, England, U.K.)
6: Nienke Overgoor (Bunnik, Netherlands)
5: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash.)
4: Grace Worthington (Grand Haven, Mich.)
3: Caroline Law (Bellingham, Wash.)
2: Sofia Suhinin (Adelaide, Australia)
Bow: Margaret Young (San Anselmo, Calif.)
Another UW women's crew, a coxless four, fell to Hollandia R.C. in its Town Challenge Cup semifinal.
Washington's eight, made up mostly of athletes who rowed in the Huskies' varsity crew this past season, got a stiff challenge in its Island Challenge Cup semifinal from Durham Univ. (U.K.). The two crews were neck-and-neck off of the start and UW's lead at the first milestone, the Barrier, was slim.
However, the Huskies established a lead in the middle portion of the race and met each challenge from their British competitors, earning the win by, officially, 2/3 of a length.
Washington will face a crew from Brown University, which beat Oxford Brookes University (U.K.) in the final on Sunday. Neither UW nor Brown has ever won The Island Challenge Cup, which was first run just five years ago, in 2021.
In UW Town Challenge Cup semifinal, the Husky four faced the Dutch Under-23 four, rowing as Hollandia Roeiclub. The Dutch took the lead very early in the race and rowed to a win by a length and three-quarters..
Fans can follow all of the competition, including a live (free) video feed, at Henley's website. Later today, when the times for the finals have been posted, the start time for the UW's Island Challenge Cup final will be included here.
WASHINGTON LINEUPS
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "A"
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Izzy Michaelson (Everett, Wash.)
Stroke: Chloe Sheppard (Tewkesbury, England, U.K.)
7: Katie Gardner (Cowbridge, Wales, U.K.)
6: Issy Melville (Hamilton, New Zealand)
5: Kalee Verd (Olympia, Wash.)
4: Violet Holbrow Brooksbank (Monmouth, Wales, U.K.)
3: Amelia Westbrook (Lincoln, England, U.K.)
2: Jayna Palmer (Truckee, Calif.)
Bow: Emily Myers (Oxford, England, U.K.)
The Town Challenge Cup
Shell: Powerhouse
Stroke: Jess Weir (London, England, U.K.)
3: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
2: Zola Kemp (Wellington, New Zealand)
Bow: Cait Whittard (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)
The Princess Royal Challenge Cup
Elena Collier-Hezel (Buffalo, N.Y.)
The Island Challenge Cup
Washington "B"
Shell: Jan Harville
Cox: Perry McLoughlin (Port Washington, N.Y.)
Stroke: Carmel Bollag (Seattle, Wash.)
7: Emily Downing (Marlow, England, U.K.)
6: Nienke Overgoor (Bunnik, Netherlands)
5: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash.)
4: Grace Worthington (Grand Haven, Mich.)
3: Caroline Law (Bellingham, Wash.)
2: Sofia Suhinin (Adelaide, Australia)
Bow: Margaret Young (San Anselmo, Calif.)
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