The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a
rowing event for men's
coxless fours at the annual
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 ...
at
Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible
rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.
The event was established in 1841.
It was originally for
coxed four crews. In 1868
Walter Bradford Woodgate arranged for his
Brasenose cox to jump overboard at the start of the race to lighten his boat. While the unwanted cox narrowly escaped strangulation by the water lilies, Woodgate and his home-made steering device triumphed by 100 yards and were promptly disqualified. Whatever passing fame the hapless cox gained on the Henley reach in 1868 was eventually eclipsed by his accomplishments in later life when he,
Frederic Edward Weatherly, wrote and published the Irish ballad "
Danny Boy".
A special prize for
four-oared crews without coxswains was offered at the regatta in 1869 when it was won by the Oxford Radleian Club. When Stewards' became a coxless race in 1873, Woodgate "won his moral victory", the Rowing Almanack later recalled. "Nothing but defeating a railway in an action at law could have given him so much pleasure."
[The Rowing Almanack, 1921, pp. 148-49]
Past winners
1841–1872
1873–1899
1900–1939
1946–2000
2000 onwards
Key
*ntt - no time taken
* l - Length/lengths
* e - easily
* + - a few sconds over 10 minutes
*sev - several
* ro -Row over
*Aw - Awarded
* p - paddled
* st - stopped
* ac - Alone (crab)
* cv = Canvas
References
{{HRRevents
Events at Henley Royal Regatta
Rowing trophies and awards