Oxford Brookes with biggest trophy haul for one club in the history of Henley Royal Regatta

Oxford Brookes University secured the biggest ever trophy haul of any rowing club in a single Henley Royal Regatta at the annual rowing competition last week (26 June - 2 July).

Of the seven contests that Oxford Brookes rowers competed in on Finals Day on Sunday 2 July, they were victorious in all seven, taking home the silverware. Oxford Brookes rowers also competed as part of a winning Great Britain crew. 

Richard Spratley, Director of Rowing at Oxford Brookes University, said: “The coaching team at Oxford Brookes are hugely proud of the team’s successful results at Henley last weekend. It was the most successful in our club's history, and certainly more successful than any other university club in the history of Henley Royal Regatta since 1860. 

“An enormous amount of work and preparation led to these successes and the athletes involved deserve every credit.”

Oxford Brookes assert their dominance

Oxford Brookes rowers started off Finals Day of the 184th Regatta by asserting their dominance over their rivals from the United States. The Student Men’s Four beat the University of Washington in The Prince Albert Challenge Cup. 

Shortly afterwards, a victory in the Men’s Coxless Four over Thames Rowing Club ‘A’  in The Stewards’ Challenge Cup was sandwiched between two victories over Leander Club, that saw Oxford Brookes overcome their Oxfordshire rivals in the Men’s Eights in The Ladies Challenge Plate and the Men’s Coxless Fours in The Visitors’ Challenge Cup.

Furthering their dominance over their North American rivals, Oxford Brookes overcame Syracuse University in the Student Men’s Eights - The Temple Challenge Cup - before the Student Women’s Eight edged the University of Pennsylvania ‘A’ to take home The Island Challenge Cup in a closely contested final. 

Later in the day, Oxford Brookes rowers joined forces with Leander Club in The Grand Challenge Cup to compete as a Great Britain Men’s Eights crew that defeated Canada, in what is the oldest title at Henley Regatta.

Richard added: “The season moves forward now with many Oxford Brookes athletes involved in the upcoming Great Britain teams for several upcoming competitions next weekend in Lucerne, Switzerland. After that the World U23 Championships take place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from 19 to 23 July, and then the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, from 3 to 10 September.”