Event at the Henley Royal Regatta
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs .[ 1]
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
Year
Winner
Runner-Up
ref
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]
1964
Washington-Lee High School, USA
Groton 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]
1968
JEB Stuart High School, USA
Eton College [ 28]
1969
Washington-Lee High School, USA
Emanuel School [ 29]
1970
Ridley College, Canada
Hampton Grammar School [ 30]
1971
Pangbourne College St. Andrew's School, USA
[ 31]
1972
Kent School, USA Brentwood College School, CAN
[ 32]
1973
Ridley College, Canada
St. Paul's School, USA
[ 33]
1974
Holy Spirit High School , Absecon, New Jersey , USAKingston Grammar School [ 34]
1975
Ridley College, Canada
St. Paul's School, USA
[ 35]
1976
Holy Spirit High School, USA
Emanuel School [ 36]
1977
Ridley College, Canada
Hampton School [ 37]
1978
Eton College Brentwood College School, CAN
[ 38]
1979
Ridley College, Canada
Eton College
1980
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USA
St. Joseph's Preparatory School, USA
[ 39]
1981
Holy 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 , USAHampton 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 , AUSEton College [ 43]
1994
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USA
Atlantic City High School, USA
1995
Eton College Hampton School
1996
Brentwood College School , CANSt. 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 , AustraliaRadley College
2002
Abingdon School St Paul's School (London)
2003
Pangbourne College St. Edward's School
2004
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire), USA
Abingdon School
2005
Eton College Saint Joseph's Preparatory , USA
2006
St. Ignatius College Preparatory , USAThe King's School Chester
2007
Shrewsbury School Brentwood College School, CAN
2008
Shawnigan Lake School , CanadaEton 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 , AustraliaRadley College
2018
St Paul's School (London) Eton College
2019
Eton College Scotch College, Melbourne , AUS
2020
No 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:
1:46 to the Barrier (St. Paul's School 2018)
2:58 to Fawley (St. Paul's School 2018)
6:06 to the Finish (St. Paul's School 2018)
Sources
References
^ "Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup" . Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 3 November 2020 .^ "Champions" .^ "Results of Final Races - 1946-2003" . Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2007 .^ "Henley Royal Regatta Junior Events" .^ "FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1946) 'Henley Royal Regatta' The Times . 8 July 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "From Our Rowing Correspondent (1947) 'Henley Royal Regatta" The Times . 7 July 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Henley Royal Regatta" Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News . 18 July 1947. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.^ "From Our Rowing Correspondent (1948) 'Henley Royal Regatta' The Times . 5 July 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (1949) 'Henley Royal Regatta' The Times . 4 July 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Henley Royal Regatta" The Times . 10 July 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Henley Royal Regatta' The Times . 9 July 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "1953 Henley Royal Regatta programme" (PDF) . media bufvc . Retrieved 6 August 2024 .^ "FROM OUR ROWING CORRESPONDENT (1953) 'A Great Henley' The Times . 6 July 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "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.^ "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.^ "French Army Crew Worthy Winners At Henley" The Times . 9 July 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ " The Times . 8 July 1957. p. 12. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Superb Racing On Final Day Of Henley" The Times . 7 July 1958. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "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.^ "Fastest English Eights Well Matched" The Times . 4 July 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ " The Times . 10 July 1961. p. 4. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Golden Henley Spoiled By Dull Finals" The Times . 9 July 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "London University Outrow Cornell In Grand" The Times . 8 July 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Russians Prove Invincible In Grand" The Times . 6 July 1964. p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "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.^ "Germans Dominate in Five Events" The Times . 4 July 1966. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "British rowing improving, but Germans win trophies" The Times . 3 July 1967. p. 12. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Much Of Henley Meaningless" The Times . 15 July 1968. p. 13. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "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.^ "RAILTON, J. (1970) 'Foreign Supremacy Again At Henley' The Times . 6 July 1970. p. 12. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "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.^ "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.^ "Railton, J. (1973) 'Rowing' The Times . 9 July 1973. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Russians pull back British lead" The Times . 8 July 1974. p. 9. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "A Grand triumph for British eight" The Times . 7 July 1975. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Railton, J. (1976) Three major successes for Britain' The Times . 5 July 1976. p. 6. Retrieved 2 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Rowing" The Times . 4 July 1977. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "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.^ "Railton, J. (1980) 'Rowing' The Times . 7 July 1980. p. 10. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Powerful Oxford find a winning formula" The Times . 6 July 1981. p. 6. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "National eight keep afloat for testing Amsterdam event" The Times . 5 July 1982. p. 15. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "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.^ " The Times . 5 July 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 5 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ " The Times . 8 July 1996. p. 33. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "Results from Henley Royal Regatta' (1998)" The Times . 6 July 1998. p. 34. Retrieved 4 August 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.^ "2020 REGATTA CANCELLATION - STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)" . Henley Royal Regatta . 12 December 2023.^ "Results 2021" . Henley Royal Regatta . Retrieved 21 October 2021 .^ "Results 2022" . Henley Royal Regatta . Retrieved 3 July 2022 .^ "HRR 2024 Review" . Shiplake College . Retrieved 1 August 2024 .
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