Shiplake College Boat Club enjoyed one of its most successful Henley Royal Regattas to date in 2025, with four crews competing in the main draw and a historic victory in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup (PE) for the Boys’ Eight. The strength, depth, and determination shown across all crews confirmed the College’s standing as one of the leading co-educational rowing programmes in the country.
Two crews – the boys’ and girls’ eights – had pre-qualified for their respective cups and trophies but four other crews – two girls’ quads and two boys’ quads – took part in the HRR qualifying races on Friday 27 June, with both A quads qualifiying.
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
Shiplake’s 1st VIII delivered an unforgettable performance in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, the premier event for schoolboy eights. The crew – consisting of Ed Galer, Oliver Nash, Finlay Rhys Jones, William Harper, Luca Hunt-Davis, Henry Day Clark, Joshua Barnes, Isaac Dean, and Ben Loggie (cox) – rowed with precision and power throughout the week, culminating in a thrilling victory over Radley College in the final, having defeated St George’s College, Norcal Crew USA, Bedford School, and St Paul’s School in the previous rounds. It was an extra sweet moment for most of these boys as they managed to get revenge over the latter school for last year’s final defeat in the same competition.
In the final, the boys executed their race plan with maturity beyond their years, breaking clear after the halfway mark and holding off a strong Radley surge. It was a row that perfectly summarised the Eight’s performance at the Regatta this year where they were never behind at the Barrier, Fawley, or finish line in any of their races, and they were one second off record-times at each of these stages in their final race.
The landmark win also marks Shiplake College’s first Princess Elizabeth title in Boat Club history, a remarkable achievement and testament to the dedication of both the pupils and the coaches. It also caps off a spectacular season for the crew having previously won National Schools’ Regatta in June, and placing 2nd in Schools’ Head of the River in March.
Prince Philip Challenge Trophy
Shiplake’s Girls’ 1st VIII also produced a sensational campaign, reaching the final of the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy, the top-tier event for junior women’s eights. This was another historic moment for the Boat Club as it was the first time that a Shiplake girls’ Eight had made the final of The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta and the College are proud of the girls Ava Lowe, Freya Smith, Alice Knight, Annunciata Ings, Katie Proudlove, Eva Rootkin-Gray, Amelia Westbrook, Alice Dargue, and Charlotte Hodgkinson (cox) – for what they have achieved.
After strong performances through the rounds where the girls saw off Mercantile Rowing Club Australia, Saugatuck Rowing Club USA, and Kinross Wolaroi School Australia, they faced Headington School in the final. The final itself was a nail-biting affair, and both crews were closely matched throughout. With less than 200m remaining, Shiplake’s girls threw everything and amongst the cheers and screams of the crowd, it looked as though they would complete the comeback. Alas, it would be heartbreak for them as Headington crossed the line first.
Despite finishing runners-up, their tenacity and composure throughout the Regatta was deeply impressive and it has nonetheless been a hugely successful season for the girls where they won National Schools’ Regatta in June. This, and their presence in the final, highlights the continued rise of the girls’ rowing programme at the College and provides a strong foundation for future success on this stage.
The Fawley Challenge Cup
After succeeding in being one of the fastest crews in the qualifiers, the A Quad consisting of Tomos Weighell, Aston Phillips, Rupert Evans, and Otto Berg de Kerangal got off to a strong start on day 1, defeating Leeds Rowing Club by 2 ¼ lengths. They followed this up with another strong performance against Kinross Wolaroi School to set up a quarter-final race with Tideway Scullers’ School. This was where the quad’s journey ended at Henley Regatta this year as they lost to the eventual runner up crew by 3 ¾ lengths.
The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup
Like the boys’ quad, the girls’ A Quad consisting of Abby Hutton, Tilly Foreman, Felicity Hudson, and Florence Dallas made it through qualifiers and into the main draw. Unfortunately, the girls came up against a very strong crew in Marlow Rowing Club on the first day who won by 2 ¼ lengths.
Speaking after the Regatta, Director of Rowing Mr Currie said:
‘This has been a truly historic moment for Shiplake College rowing. To win the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup for the first time is an incredible achievement and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our athletes and coaching team. I’m immensely proud of the boys’ crew — they raced with heart, maturity, and belief. Equally, our girls’ eight reaching the final of the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy and coming so close to victory shows just how far the programme has come. These results reflect years of commitment, and we’re excited for what lies ahead.’
The Headmaster, Mr Howe, adds:
‘HRR 2025 was an amazing occasion for the whole Shiplake College community. We are immensely proud and grateful to those who have worked so hard to create life-long memories for so many – not just our rowers, but also their coaches, teachers, parents, and those who have offered support on this journey. On a personal note, it was extraordinary to witness the grit that our boys and girls showed. Character lies at the heart of a Shiplake education, and it was moving to watch it all week and in the finals. Sunday was a truly momentous day in the history of Shiplake, and we are already looking forward to 2026.’
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