CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Harvard men's heavyweight rowing team will travel to England to compete in the 2025 Henley Royal Regatta, taking place July 2–6 on the historic waters of the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames. This year, the Crimson will enter two crews: a varsity eight in the Ladies' Challenge Plate and a varsity four in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup.
- The varsity four begins racing on Wednesday, July 2, against Radley College in a 16-crew bracket. The race will begin at 10:45 a.m. ET.
- The varsity eight will take to the course on Friday, July 4, in the opening round of the Ladies' Plate, facing a strong composite crew from Thames Rowing Club & Leander Club in an eight-boat field.
All races will stream live on the Henley Royal Regatta YouTube channel.
Harvard Lineups
Varsity Eight (Ladies' Challenge Plate)
Coxswain: Sree Digumarthi
Joshua Gordon
Sam Woodgate
Tyler Horler
Marcus Chung
Sam Gallaudet
Ryan Link
Tom O'Sullivan
Jack Dorney
Varsity Four (Prince Albert Challenge Cup)
Liam Downing
Charles Richards
Alexander Sanchez-Fretz
Owen Finnerty
Coxswain:
Cate Engles
Henley Royal Regatta: A Historic Overview
Founded in 1839, the Henley Royal Regatta is one of the world's most prestigious rowing events. Held annually, it features one-on-one knockout-style racing over a 2,112-meter course. Steeped in tradition and pageantry, Henley attracts elite crews from around the globe, including national teams, top universities, and renowned rowing clubs.
Harvard's Legacy at Henley
Harvard has a long and decorated history at Henley, with victories in many of the regatta's top-tier events:
Grand Challenge Cup (Premier Open Eights)
- Champions: 1914, 1939, 1950, 1959, 1985
- Notable Wins:
- 1985: Defeated Princeton by 3 2/3 lengths
- 1959: Topped Thames RC in 6:57
- 1914: Edged Union Boat Club by 1¼ lengths
Ladies' Challenge Plate (Intermediate Eights)
- Champions: 1973, 1983, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2012
- Finalists: 1989, 2004
- Historic Races:
- 2012: Beat Leander Club by 1 foot in the final
- 2010: Defeated Oxford Brookes/Oxford by 1/3 length
- 2007: Won over Molesey B.C. & NYAC by 1 length
Temple Challenge Cup (Student Eights)
- Champions: 2001, 2002
- Dramatic Runs:
- 1999, 2004, 2008–2013: Deep bracket runs with many wins over international universities
- 2013: Reached the final, falling to DSR Laga after four wins
Visitor's Challenge Cup (Intermediate Fours)
- Champion: 2013 (Harvard 'A' – Heavyweights)
- 2013 Final: Harvard 'A' defeated Harvard 'B' by 3 lengths, showcasing unmatched depth
Prince Albert Challenge Cup (Student Fours)
- Recent DNPs: 2023, 2012
- Looking Ahead: Harvard aims to return to winning form in 2025
Thames Challenge Cup (Club Eights)
Britannia Challenge Cup (Club Fours)
- Champions: 1993, 2002
- 2002 Notable Moment: Harvard University 'B' defeated Harvard 'A' in the final
Recent Years at a Glance: Harvard Henley Highlights
- 2012 (Ladies' Plate):
- Defeated: Leander Club by 1 foot in final
- Other Wins: Sport Imperial, Molesey/Oxford Brookes
- 2013 (Visitor's & Temple):
- Visitor's Champion: Harvard A beat Molesey B.C., Star Club, and Harvard B
- Temple Runner-Up: Reached final with five straight victories
- 2023 (Prince Albert & Temple DNP):
- Wins over Nottingham, London C, but fell to Oxford Brookes by ¾ length
