Photo by: Grace Mackinlay
Huskies Finish As Runners-Up In Island Challenge Cup At Henley
July 05, 2026 | Women's Rowing
HENLEY-ON-THAMES, U.K. – The Washington women took it down to the wire, but fell to a crew from Brown in the final of The Island Challenge Cup Sunday at Henley Royal Regatta.
The runner-up finish was the second-best ever for a UW women's crew at Henley, behind only a win in The Remenham Challenge Cup (known as the Henley Prize at the time) in 2000.
"Henley gave us a gritty, fantastic week of racing on the sport's most iconic course," said UW head coach Yasmin Farooq. "Our athletes saw tight, side-by-side racing every single day.
"Most of this group will return next year or continue on to national team ambitions, and Henley's knockout format teaches lessons you can't get anywhere else," Farooq continued. "The experience was invaluable. For those hanging up their oars, it was a fitting and meaningful way to close out their careers."
The Washington crew that rowed in The Island final Sunday was one of five that traveled to Henley this summer. The Huskies also had a second entry that was eliminated in The Island earlier. The UW four that competed in The Town Challenge Cup (women's coxless fours) reached the semifinals, while the Huskies also brought a pair (Hambleden Pairs) and single (Princess Royal).
Sunday, the Husky eight, made up of women who rowed in the UW's varsity and second varsity eights this past spring, led for much of the 2,112-meter course. But the crew from Brown was able to overtake the Huskies down the stretch and held off the UW to win the race by 1/2 of a length.
"The Island Cup final against Brown was an epic race — a battle from the first stroke to the last," Farooq said. "Congratulations to Brown on a tremendous sprint to secure the win. Every woman in our Island Challenge Cup boat will be back next year carrying a deep well of internal motivation.
"Henley always delivers," she concluded, "and I'm grateful to all of our supporters who made this trip possible."
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.)
The runner-up finish was the second-best ever for a UW women's crew at Henley, behind only a win in The Remenham Challenge Cup (known as the Henley Prize at the time) in 2000.
"Henley gave us a gritty, fantastic week of racing on the sport's most iconic course," said UW head coach Yasmin Farooq. "Our athletes saw tight, side-by-side racing every single day.
"Most of this group will return next year or continue on to national team ambitions, and Henley's knockout format teaches lessons you can't get anywhere else," Farooq continued. "The experience was invaluable. For those hanging up their oars, it was a fitting and meaningful way to close out their careers."
The Washington crew that rowed in The Island final Sunday was one of five that traveled to Henley this summer. The Huskies also had a second entry that was eliminated in The Island earlier. The UW four that competed in The Town Challenge Cup (women's coxless fours) reached the semifinals, while the Huskies also brought a pair (Hambleden Pairs) and single (Princess Royal).
Sunday, the Husky eight, made up of women who rowed in the UW's varsity and second varsity eights this past spring, led for much of the 2,112-meter course. But the crew from Brown was able to overtake the Huskies down the stretch and held off the UW to win the race by 1/2 of a length.
"The Island Cup final against Brown was an epic race — a battle from the first stroke to the last," Farooq said. "Congratulations to Brown on a tremendous sprint to secure the win. Every woman in our Island Challenge Cup boat will be back next year carrying a deep well of internal motivation.
"Henley always delivers," she concluded, "and I'm grateful to all of our supporters who made this trip possible."
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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