The Henley Boat Races

This year’s Henley Boat Races against Oxford University take place on Sunday 23rd March on Henley Reach.

History of The Henley Boat Races

The Henley Boat Races were founded in 1975 by Richard Bates, an undergraduate at St John’s College, Cambridge, when he arranged the first Lightweight Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge over Henley Reach. This echoed the first Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, which took place at Henley in 1829.

Although the Women’s Boat Race was first raced in 1927, in the form of a time and style contest, it was also undergoing a revival in the 1970s and the event joined the men at Henley in 1977. The Blondie-Osiris race followed, and with the inauguration of the women’s lightweight race in 1984 a successful 4-race formula ran for more than 15 years. The increased standard of men’s lightweight rowing in recent years has resulted in the formation of another race for the reserve crews, Nephthys and Granta, who have led the afternoon’s programme since 2000.

As Race Day became more popular so the duties required to run the organisation became too demanding for the unfortunate crew president on whom they fell. In 1989 a committee was set up, comprising the club presidents under the chairmanship of Mark Blandford-Baker, to agree the umpire, the date and other race details for the benefit of all. The chairman co-ordinated event development and helped maintain the excellent working relationship with Henley Royal Regatta, Leander Club, Remenham Club and the myriad of contractors and organisations that are now essential for the smooth running of the event. In the early days Mike Sweeney was frequently race umpire and used his rowing skills to help draft the initial version of the Race Agreement under which all subsequent races have been run. This goodwill continues with the Henley Boat Races still relying heavily on the support of HRR.

In 1995 Patrick Gillespie (CULRC 1989/90, OULRC 1992) who holds a unique title as the only man ever to have won Boat Races representing both universities, joined the committee as chairman’s assistant, in the knowledge that Mark Blandford-Baker could not stay indefinitely, and took over the lead role in 1999 until he handed over the reins to Robert Treharne Jones after the 2003 event.

It has only been in the last few years that the Henley Boat Races have been able to rely on the support of sponsors. It was in 1998 that a Sponsorship Committee was set up by Rebecca Caroe (Blondie 1986) with the purpose of increasing the exposure of the clubs and Race Day to potential corporate sponsors. The following year Chase Manhattan Bank signed a three year deal to support the races and crews from 2000 to 2002, and this successful relationship has continued with JPMorgan continuing their support for the 2003 to 2005 races. Alongside this support for the event itself other sponsors are supporting the crews in a variety of different ways. A long-term plan is for the Henley Boat Races to achieve a sound capital base that may in future feed back to the clubs themselves.

http://www.henleyboatraces.com/

The Course

How to Get There

FROM THE M4: Leave at Junction 8/9, follow signs along the A404(M) motorway spur for approx 2 miles taking the third exit which is the A4130 to Henley (approx 6 miles). You will come down Remenham Hill; as you level out you will see Henley Bridge ahead of you. Take the last turning to the right before the Bridge. The Car Park is on your right.

THE M40: Leave at Junction 4 onto A404, the Marlow By-Pass; after 3.5 miles go straight over the first roundabout on the A404; take slip road for A4130 to Henley, turning right at roundabout; go 5 miles and, as you come down Remenham Hill, follow as above.

FROM OXFORD: Take the A4130 into Henley town centre, and as you come into Henley you will have to turn left at a one-way street, which brings you down to and along the riverside. At the traffic lights turn left over the Bridge; take the first turning left into the drive; turn right into the Car Park and make you way to the Clubhouse.

FROM READING: Take the A4155 into Henley and at the traffic lights in the town centre turn right to follow the sign for Maidenhead. Directly after crossing the Bridge, turn left and then right into the Car Park.