Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup

Last updated

Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
Eight (rowing).svg
Venue Henley Royal Regatta, River Thames
Location Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Dates1946 – present

The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs. [1]

Contents

History

The event was instituted in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom. It was opened to entries from overseas in 1964, and that year Washington-Lee High School (United States) became the first overseas crew to win the event, beating Groton School, USA, in an all-American final.

The inauguration of this race coincided with future queen Princess Elizabeth's first visit to the regatta, and so permission was given to name the trophy "The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup".

The PE (as it is usually abbreviated) is one of only a few races in the regatta which does not allow composite crews to be entered, and as such each race is a straight competition between one club and another. As the most prestigious race of the school rowing year, the event attracts strong competition both from the UK and abroad. For British crews, winning the PE can be the final victory needed to win “the triple", a prestigious achievement which comprises winning the Schools' Head of the River Race, The National Schools Regatta and finally the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, all in the same year. The "triple" was first achieved in 1978 by Eton College who have subsequently achieved it a further six times (1990, 1991, 1995, 2005, 2009 and 2010). Other winners of the triple are St. Edward's School in 1984, Hampton School in 1985, 1986 and 1988, Abingdon School in 2002 and 2012, and St Paul's School (London) in 2018 and 2024. Both St Pauls and Eton have also achieved a so-called "quadruple" by additionally winning the Youth Eights at the Head of the Charles Regatta; Eton in both 2008/09 and 2009/10 and St Paul's in 2017/18 and 2023/24. [2]

Of British entries, Eton College have won the PE a total of 15 times, St Paul's School (London) 8 times, St. Edward's School 5 times, and Abingdon School, Bedford School, Hampton School, Pangbourne College and Shrewsbury School have each won the event 4 times.

Radley College are the most frequent losing finalists having done so on 7 occasions, followed by Eton College and St Paul's School on 6 occasions. Hampton School and St. Edward's School have been the losing finalists on 4 occasions. Westminster School, The King's School Canterbury and Oundle School share the record for the most losses (4) in finals without having ever won the event.

The PE was opened to international crews in 1964, since when American crews have won the event 14 times (and been losing finalists 19 times), Canadian crews 7 times (losing finalists 3 times), and Australian crews 3 times (losing finalists twice). [3] Ridley College (Canada) remain the most successful North American school in the event having won the PE 5 times in the 1970's. Holy Spirit High School, USA and St.Paul's School, Concord, USA have both won the event 3 times, St.Paul's School, Concord, USA also having been losing finalists on 4 occasions. The Australian school to have won the event most recently was Scotch College, Melbourne in 2017.

At the 2023 regatta, the rules for the PE were changed to allow junior crews from clubs as well as schools to enter the event. [4]

Past winners

YearWinnerRunner-Upref
1946 Bedford School Radley College [5]
1947 Bedford School Shrewsbury School [6] [7]
1948 Bedford School Radley College [8]
1949 Winchester College Westminster School [9]
1950 St Paul's School (London) Bedford School [10]
1951 Bedford School Radley College [11]
1952 Radley College Monkton Combe School
1953 St Paul's School (London) The King's School Canterbury [12] [13]
1954 Winchester College Oundle School [14]
1955 Shrewsbury School Oundle School [15]
1956 Eton College St Paul's School (London) [16]
1957 St Paul's School (London) Shrewsbury School [17]
1958 St. Edward's School Oundle School [18]
1959 St. Edward's School Oundle School [19]
1960 Shrewsbury School The King's School Canterbury [20]
1961 Shrewsbury School The King's School Canterbury [21]
1962 Radley College Nautical College, Pangbourne [22]
1963 Nautical College, Pangbourne St Paul's School (London) [23]
1964Washington-Lee High School, USAGroton School, USA [24]
1965 Tabor Academy, USAPhillips Exeter Academy, USA [25]
1966 Emanuel School Halcyon Boat Club, St.Paul's School, USA [26]
1967 Eton College Tabor Academy, USA [27]
1968JEB Stuart High School, USA Eton College [28]
1969Washington-Lee High School, USA Emanuel School [29]
1970Ridley College, Canada Hampton Grammar School [30]
1971 Pangbourne College St. Andrew's School, USA [31]
1972 Kent School, USA Brentwood College School, CAN [32]
1973Ridley College, CanadaSt. Paul's School, USA [33]
1974 Holy Spirit High School, Absecon, New Jersey, USA Kingston Grammar School [34]
1975Ridley College, CanadaSt. Paul's School, USA [35]
1976Holy Spirit High School, USA Emanuel School [36]
1977Ridley College, Canada Hampton School [37]
1978 Eton College Brentwood College School, CAN [38]
1979Ridley College, Canada Eton College
1980St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USASt. Joseph's Preparatory School, USA [39]
1981Holy Spirit High School, USA Emanuel School [40]
1982 Eton College Holy Spirit High School. USA [41]
1983 Eton College St. Andrew's School, USA
1984 St. Edward's School St. Joseph's Preparatory School, USA
1985 Hampton School St. Paul's School, USA
1986 Hampton School Belmont Hill School, USA
1987 Belmont Hill School, USA Hampton School
1988 Hampton School Eton College
1989 Hampton School Shiplake College [42]
1990 Eton College Westminster School
1991 Eton College The King's School Canterbury
1992 Pangbourne College Westminster School
1993 Brisbane Boys' College, AUS Eton College [43]
1994St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USAAtlantic City High School, USA
1995 Eton College Hampton School
1996 Brentwood College School, CAN St. Edward's School [44]
1997 St Paul's School (London) Canford School
1998 Radley College St. Mary's Preparatory School, USA [45]
1999 St. Edward's School St. Peter's College, AUS
2000 Saint Joseph's Preparatory, USAGroton School, USA
2001 The King's School, Parramatta, Australia Radley College
2002 Abingdon School St Paul's School (London)
2003 Pangbourne College St. Edward's School
2004St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USA Abingdon School
2005 Eton College Saint Joseph's Preparatory, USA
2006 St. Ignatius College Preparatory, USA The King's School Chester
2007 Shrewsbury School Brentwood College School, CAN
2008 Shawnigan Lake School, Canada Eton College
2009 Eton College Abingdon School
2010 Eton College Kent School, USA
2011 Abingdon School St. Andrew's School, Delaware, USA
2012 Abingdon School Radley College
2013 Abingdon School St. Edward's School
2014 Eton College St. Edward's School
2015 St Paul's School (London) Westminster School
2016 Eton College St Paul's School (London)
2017 Scotch College, Melbourne, Australia Radley College
2018 St Paul's School (London) Eton College
2019 Eton College Scotch College, Melbourne, AUS
2020No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic [46]
2021 Eton College St Paul's School (London) [47]
2022 St Paul's School (London) Radley College [48]
2023 St Edward's School St Paul's School (London)
2024 St Paul's School (London) Shiplake College [49]

Record times

The record holder for the event is St Paul's School (London), having finished the course in 6 minutes 06 seconds in the final against Eton College in 2018. They beat the previous record for the event by 11 seconds, held by Abingdon School.

The course record times for the event are:

Sources

Related Research Articles

Timothy John Crooks is a former British rower who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics. He was seven times winner at Henley Royal Regatta and won the Wingfield Sculls three times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Challenge Cup</span> Event at the Henley Royal Regatta

The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and best-known event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Thames Rowing Club</span> British rowing club

Upper Thames Rowing Club is an English rowing club. It has a large clubhouse at Remenham in Berkshire, on the River Thames near the town of Henley-on-Thames and is set back by its lawn frontage from the first half of the course of Henley Royal Regatta. The club was established in 1963.

The Ladies' Challenge Plate is one of the events at Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. Crews of men's eight-oared boats below the standard of the Grand Challenge Cup can enter, although international standard heavyweight crews are not permitted to row in the Ladies' Plate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewards' Challenge Cup</span> Event at the Henley Royal Regatta

The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Mother Challenge Cup</span> Rowing competition

The Queen Mother Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's quadruple sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup</span> Event at the Henley Royal Regatta

The Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless pairs at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Challenge Sculls</span> Rowing event at the Henley Royal Regatta

The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. First run in 1844, it is open to male scullers from all eligible rowing clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double Sculls Challenge Cup</span> Rowing competition

The Double Sculls Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's double sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry.

The Thames Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's eights at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyfold Challenge Cup</span> Rowing competition

The Wyfold Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club. Boat clubs from any university, college or secondary school are not permitted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britannia Challenge Cup</span> Rowing competition

The Britannia Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxed fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visitors' Challenge Cup</span> Event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta

The Visitors Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs and has similar qualifying rules to the Ladies' Challenge Plate. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.

Hugh Patrick Matheson at Ormiston near Hawick, Scotland is a British rower, author and landowner who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics, in the 1976 Summer Olympics, and in the 1980 Summer Olympics.

David Lindsay Maxwell was a British rower who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eton College Boat Club</span> British rowing club

Eton College Boat Club is a rowing club based on the River Thames, at Eton College, Windsor and at the Eton Rowing Centre on Dorney Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Paul's School Boat Club</span> British rowing club

St Paul's School Boat Club is a rowing club based on the River Thames at St Paul's School Boathouse, Barnes, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club</span> British rowing club

Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club (RSSBC) is a rowing club based on the River Severn at Shrewsbury School Boathouse, Kingsland, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, West Midlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Philip Challenge Cup</span>

Prince Philip Challenge Cup was a rowing event for men's coxed fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England.

Henley discontinued events are discontinued rowing events at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England.

References

  1. "Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup". Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  2. "Champions".
  3. "Results of Final Races - 1946-2003". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  4. "Henley Royal Regatta Junior Events".
  5. "FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1946) 'Henley Royal Regatta'" . The Times. 8 July 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  6. "From Our Rowing Correspondent (1947) 'Henley Royal Regatta" . The Times. 7 July 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  7. "Henley Royal Regatta" . Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. 18 July 1947. Retrieved 4 August 2024 via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "From Our Rowing Correspondent (1948) 'Henley Royal Regatta'" . The Times. 5 July 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  9. "FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (1949) 'Henley Royal Regatta'" . The Times. 4 July 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  10. "Henley Royal Regatta" . The Times. 10 July 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  11. "Henley Royal Regatta'" . The Times. 9 July 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  12. "1953 Henley Royal Regatta programme" (PDF). media bufvc. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  13. "FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1953) 'A Great Henley'" . The Times. 6 July 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  14. "FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1954) 'Foreign Competitors Win Six Trophies At Henley'" . The Times. 5 July 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  15. "From Our Rowing Correspondent (1955) 'Henley Royal Regatta Finals" . The Times. 4 July 1955. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  16. "French Army Crew Worthy Winners At Henley" . The Times. 9 July 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  17. ""Cornell Beat Yale In Remarkable Yet Dull Grand Challenge Cup."" . The Times. 8 July 1957. p. 12. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  18. "Superb Racing On Final Day Of Henley" . The Times. 7 July 1958. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  19. "FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1959) 'Grand And Thames For Harvard'" . The Times. 6 July 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 3 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  20. "Fastest English Eights Well Matched" . The Times. 4 July 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  21. "'Mackenzie Takes Pride Of Place At Henley'" . The Times. 10 July 1961. p. 4. Retrieved 3 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  22. "Golden Henley Spoiled By Dull Finals" . The Times. 9 July 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  23. "London University Outrow Cornell In Grand" . The Times. 8 July 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  24. "Russians Prove Invincible In Grand" . The Times. 6 July 1964. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  25. "From Our Rowing Correspondent. "Henley Rowing Produces Records Galore."" . The Times. 5 July 1965. p. 3. Retrieved 3 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  26. "Germans Dominate in Five Events" . The Times. 4 July 1966. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  27. "British rowing improving, but Germans win trophies" . The Times. 3 July 1967. p. 12. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  28. "Much Of Henley Meaningless" . The Times. 15 July 1968. p. 13. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  29. "CALDER,, D. (1969) 'Perfect Day's Racing At Henley" . The Times. 7 July 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  30. "RAILTON, J. (1970) 'Foreign Supremacy Again At Henley'" . The Times. 6 July 1970. p. 12. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  31. "Why Lucerne is more important to Britain than Henley" . The Times. 5 July 1971. p. 9. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  32. "Railton, J. (1972) 'One week when you drift back to the Edwardian era" . The Times. 3 July 1972. p. 10. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  33. "Railton, J. (1973) 'Rowing'" . The Times. 9 July 1973. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  34. "Russians pull back British lead" . The Times. 8 July 1974. p. 9. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  35. "A Grand triumph for British eight" . The Times. 7 July 1975. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  36. "Railton, J. (1976) Three major successes for Britain'" . The Times. 5 July 1976. p. 6. Retrieved 2 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  37. "Rowing" . The Times. 4 July 1977. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  38. "Crooks runs away with Diamonds to prove he is Britain's top sculler" . The Times. 3 July 1978. p. 10. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  39. "Railton, J. (1980) 'Rowing'" . The Times. 7 July 1980. p. 10. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  40. "Powerful Oxford find a winning formula" . The Times. 6 July 1981. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  41. "National eight keep afloat for testing Amsterdam event" . The Times. 5 July 1982. p. 15. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  42. "Railton, J. (1989) 'Redgrave takes Goblets with Ms new partner'," . The Times. 3 July 1989. p. 39. Retrieved 4 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  43. "'Results from Henley'" . The Times. 5 July 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 5 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  44. "'Results from Henley Royal Regatta' (1996)" . The Times. 8 July 1996. p. 33. Retrieved 4 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  45. "Results from Henley Royal Regatta' (1998)" . The Times. 6 July 1998. p. 34. Retrieved 4 August 2024 via The Times Digital Archive.
  46. "2020 REGATTA CANCELLATION - STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)". Henley Royal Regatta. 12 December 2023.
  47. "Results 2021". Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  48. "Results 2022". Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  49. "HRR 2024 Review". Shiplake College. Retrieved 1 August 2024.