Gutsy Performances mark Henley Royal Regatta 2025; Collins Dominates Hambleden, Coplan Triumphs in the Ladies’
Cambridge athletes delivered at Henley Royal Regatta 2025, with a week marked by bold entries and gripping performances. Their efforts put on a show and demonstrated the depth of talent and commitment within the squad. Congratulations to all who competed.
The Club also extends congratulations to all Cambridge alumni who participated this year and those who celebrated significant milestones and reunions.
Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup
Claire Collins and her former teammate Maddie Wannamaker, representing the New York Athletic Club, delivered a commanding performance in the final of the Hambleden Pairs, defeating Croatia’s Jurkovic twins by a clinical 4 1/2 lengths. The American duo shot out to an early lead and with the Croatian pair struggling with their steering in the latter stages, the outcome was never in doubt. Earlier in the week, the Jurkovic twins eliminated Cambridge pair Arden Berlinger and Mia Freischem, but Collins and Wannamaker ensured a measure of revenge, clinching the Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup ‘easily.’ Congratulations to both Collins and Wannamaker on an outstanding week!
Ladies’ Challenge Plate
Sunday’s final featured Kenny Coplan, the victorious five-man from the 2024 Boat Race, taking the 5 seat for Leander as they faced off against Oxford Brookes. Both crews shot out with fast starts, but it was Leander who edged ahead in the opening quarter. By the halfway mark, they still held the lead and called for a move to break clear, but Brookes responded, denying Leader any clear water. In the final stages of the race, Brookes took the rate up in an attempt to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough to catch Coplan’s crew who absorbed the push, keeping their composure to take the victory by 3/4 length. Congratulations to Kenny and his crew!
Grand Challenge Cup
Cambridge delivered a gutsy performance in the semi-final of the Grand Challenge Cup, taking on Olympic silver medallists Hollandia Roeiclub from the Netherlands. Putting in a monumental effort, they kept contact with the Dutch crew throughout, launching a fierce push in the closing stages of the race. In the end, they were narrowly edged out, with The Netherlands claiming victory by just one-third of a length.
Bridge Challenge Plate
After their thrilling come-from-behind victory over Leander & Hartpury University on Friday, Cambridge entered the semi-finals with momentum. A fast start from Oxford Brookes saw Cambridge initially behind, before they clawed back in the second 500 metres of the race. The two crews then went stroke for stroke, and in the final seconds of the race both crews launched a sprint, producing one of the tightest finishes of the regatta. In the end, Brookes edged ahead by canvas at the line.
Temple Challenge Cup
Cambridge made a strong statement in the opening heats, disrupting Durham’s campaign with back-to-back victories. On Wednesday, they comfortably dispatched Durham ‘B’ with a commanding 3-length win. The momentum carried into Thursday, where they edged out Durham ‘A’ in a tightly contested race, crossing the line just 3/4 of a length ahead.
Friday’s quarter-final brought a match-up against the Dutch crew from Delftsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Laga. Despite a valiant effort, Cambridge narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot, finishing 3/4 of a length behind in a hard-fought race.
Alumni Highlights
Congratulations to all Cambridge alumni who took part this year, and to those who marked significant milestones. Highlights include:
- Henrietta Butler (the first women to cox the Cambridge Men’s Blue Boat), Annamarie Phelps (Club Chair, Blondie 1987), Claire Sweeney (1990 Women’s Lightweight), Karen Wiemer (Blue 1990, 91, 93), Jo Matthews (Blue 2024, Blondie 2020-22), and Theo Weinberger (Men’s Lightweight 2018, Goldie 2020, Blue 2021) celebrated the bicentenary of Lady Margaret Boat Club with a rowpast as part of a crew of legendary Maggie alumni.
- A rowpast celebrated the 25th anniversary of the winning CUBC crew in the 2000 Britannia Challenge Cup.
- Hannah Murphy (Blue 2024), Rosa Millard (Blue 2023, Women’s Lightweight 2022), and Jenna Armstrong (Blondie 2022, Blue 2023, 24) represented Thames Rowing Club in the Wargrave Challenge Cup, making it to the semi-finals.
- Alumnae Imogen Grant (Upper Thames) and Paige Badenhorst (Rowing South Africa) competed in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup.
- George Hawkswell (Goldie 2022, 23) and Orlando Morley (Men’s Lightweight 2022, Goldie 2023, 24) represented Thames in the Wyfold Challenge Cup reaching the semi-finals.