The Ladies' Challenge Plate is one of the events at

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a Rowing (sport), rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It diffe ...

on the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, s ...

Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames ( ) is a town status in the United Kingdom, town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish on the River Thames, in the South Oxfordshire district, in Oxfordshire, England, northeast of Reading, Berkshire, Reading, west of M ...

in England. Crews of men's eight-oared boats below the standard of the

Grand Challenge Cup The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing (sport), rowing competition for men's eight (rowing), 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 cr ...

can enter, although

international standard An international standard is a technical standard developed by one or more international standards organizations. International standards are available for consideration and use worldwide. The most prominent such organization is the International O ...

heavyweight crews are not permitted to row in the Ladies' Plate. The Ladies' Plate was first competed for in 1845, initially as the ''New Challenge Cup''. The following year, it became the ''Ladies' Challenge Plate'', and it has been competed for every year since, except for years which were affected by the two World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. Until 1966, the Ladies' Plate was originally for academic institutions in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, and

Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Unive ...

, but in 1967, the entry requirements were relaxed to allow entries from academic institutions throughout the world. Further changes in 1985 allowed entries from any club, and certain restrictions were placed on entries of the Thames Challenge Cup to ensure that crews of the required standard entered the more senior Ladies' Plate.

Past winners

References

Henley Royal Regatta trophies
{{HRRevents 1845 establishments in England Events at Henley Royal Regatta Rowing trophies and awards