History of Results at Henley Royal Regatta

Ladies’ Challenge Plate

The School first entered the Ladies’ Challenge Plate at Henley Royal Regatta in 1912. In 1919 the regatta was named the Henley Peace Regatta and various Cups were loaned to the Regatta to mark the occasion. The Ladies’ Challenge Plate was not available and instead Shrewsbury entered for the Elsenham Cup, which was presented by Sir Walter Gilbey, Bart. The qualification was the similar to the Ladies’ Challenge Plate, being open to schools and universities. As the event is open to both schools and universities it is a great accomplishment for a school to reach the final or win. Other than Eton College Shrewsbury is the only school to have won the event more than once. In the 1931 final, the Shrewsbury School First VIII lost by just one third of a length to Jesus College, Cambridge.   

1919            Elsenham Cup Winner               

1924            Ladies’ Challenge Plate Winner

1931            Ladies’ Challenge Plate Finalist

1932            Ladies’ Challenge Plate Winner

The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup

This was instituted for eights in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom and opened to overseas entries in 1964.

1947            Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Finalist

1955            Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Winner

1957            Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Finalist

1960            Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Winner

1961            Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Winner

2007            Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Winner

Special Race for Schools

This event was introduced in 1974  for school VIIIs and held on the Saturday and Sunday of Henley due to problems with the A level exam timetable. Of the 16 occasions the event was run Shrewsbury won 7 times and lost in the final 4 times.

The Cup was later renamed the Fawley Challenge Cup for Quadruple Sculls.

1974            Finalist

1975            Winner

1976            Winner

1978            Finalist

1980            Winner

1981            Winner

1982            Winner

1983            Finalist

1984            Winner

1985            Winner

1986            Finalist

Since 1919 Shrewsbury has won more events at Henley Royal Regatta than any other school both in the UK and overseas with a total of 14 wins. Since 1987 Shrewsbury has entered the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup - 1988 was the last year for the Special Race for Schools. Since 1987 Shrewsbury has reached the Saturday Semi Final of The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup on four occasions, 1994, 1997, 2006 and 2008. The 2007 Shrewsbury School First VIII won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at HRR becoming the fastest UK and international school VIII (competitors included national schools champions from USA, Canada and Australia). The 1976, 1982 and 2006 First VIIIs were the National Schools Champions of Great Britain, winning the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s Cup at the National Schools Regatta. The 2008 First VIII was also National Schools Champions of Great Britain, winning the Championship Eights event at the Eton Schools Regatta, after the National Schools Regatta was cancelled due to bad weather.