HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England — The Harvard men's lightweight varsity eight has advanced to the
Temple Challenge Cup Final at the Henley Royal Regatta after a commanding semi-final victory over Nereus on Saturday, July 5. The Crimson remain undefeated at the regatta, notching their fourth consecutive win. They will face Oxford Brookes in the final on Sunday, July 6, at
6:20 a.m. ET / 11:20 a.m. BST.
Semi-Final Recap: Harvard vs. Nereus
In a rematch of last year's Henley contest, Harvard faced a familiar opponent in Amsterdam's Nereus. The race began tightly matched, with both crews level through the first 250 meters. Nereus then edged ahead, building a four-seat lead with 1500 meters to go.
Harvard, however, stayed composed. At the halfway mark, the Crimson unleashed a decisive power move, surging ahead in just 15 seconds to take a full boat-length lead. From there, Harvard continued to stretch the margin, opening water between themselves and Nereus. They maintained control through the finish to punch their ticket to the final—improving on last year's semi-final exit.
Looking Ahead: Final vs. Oxford Brookes
Harvard lightweights will now meet perennial powerhouse
Oxford Brookes in the final. A win would mark the Crimson's first-ever Temple Challenge Cup title. While Harvard has previously claimed two Ladies' Challenge Plates (2010, 2012) and five Thames Challenge Cups (1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1971), the Temple remains elusive.
The varsity eight has been dominant throughout 2025, securing titles at both
Eastern Sprints and the
IRA National Championships for the second consecutive year. The crew now aims to cap their perfect season with a historic victory at Henley.
Harvard Varsity Eight Lineup
