Princess Grace Challenge Cup

The Princess Grace Challenge Cup is a rowing event for women's quadruple sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to female crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.[1]

Princess Grace Challenge Cup
VenueHenley Royal Regatta, River Thames
LocationHenley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Dates2001 – present
Grace Kelly
John Kelly, Sr

The event is named after Princess Grace of Monaco, who was the Academy Award-winning American actress Grace Kelly. Upon marrying Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in 1956, she became Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, but was generally known as Princess Grace of Monaco. Her father John B. Kelly Sr. was an Olympic rowing gold medal winner, and her brother John B. Kelly Jr. won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley in 1947 and 1949. A year before the Princess's death in 1982 she was invited to and presented the prizes of the Royal Regatta.[2]

The event was incepted in 2001[3] and the cup was first presented in 2003 by the president of the Australian Olympic Committee John Coates.[4] In 2004, the son of the Royal guest presenter, Prince Albert of Monaco did likewise, as to all prizes.[5]

Results

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Year Winner Runner-Up Ref
2001Potsdamer Ruder-Gesellschaft e.V., GermanyNautilus Rowing Club
2003TSSKA UkraineAustralian Institute of Sport
2004Leander Club & University of LondonTSSKA Ukraine
2005TSSKA UkraineThames Rowing Club
2006Marlow Rowing Club & University of LondonUniversity of London
2007South Australian Institute of SportHollandia Roeiclub
2008Wallingford Rowing Club & Reading UniversityUpper Thames Rowing Club
2009Leander Club & Westminster SchoolWaiariki Rowing Club, New Zealand
2010Gloucester Rowing Club & Leander ClubWaiariki Rowing Club, New Zealand
2011Princeton Training Center "B", USAAustralian Institute of Sport
2012National Rowing Centre of Excellence, AustraliaHollandia Roeiclub
2013Leander Club & Minerva Bath Rowing ClubCalifornia Rowing Club, U.S.A.
2014Leander Club & Gloucester Rowing ClubGloucester Rowing Club & Northwich Rowing Club
2015Imperial College & Tees Rowing ClubMolesey Boat Club
2016Reading Rowing Club & Leander ClubAZS Warszawa & KW Wisła Grudziądz, Poland
2017Hollandia RoeiclubNottingham Rowing Club & Warrington Rowing Club
2018Cambridge University & Imperial CollegeChristiania RK
2019Chinese National Rowing TeamHollandia Roeiclub
2020No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic[6]
2021Leander ClubThames & Neptune, Ireland[7]
2022Chinese National Rowing TeamRowing Australia[8]
2023Leicester & Leander ClubShawnigan Lake School[9]
2024Shawnigan Lake SchoolLausanne-Sports Aviron, Swi & Shawnigan Lake School, Can
2025Hollandia RoeiclubRC Potsdam e.V & RC Germania Düsseldorf von 1904

References

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  1. "Qualification and Rules" (PDF). Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  2. "History of Henley Regatta". BBC. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  3. "Twelve Open Events". Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  4. "Rare Henley Honour for John Coates". Sydney University Boat Club. 21 July 2003. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  5. Hildes-Heim, Norman (5 July 2004). "ROWING; Europeans Vanquish American Crews at the Henley Regatta". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  6. "2020 REGATTA CANCELLATION - STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)". Henley Royal Regatta. 10 July 2024.
  7. "Results 2021". Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  8. "Results 2022". Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  9. "2023 Princess Grace Challenge Cup". Henley Royal Regatta. Retrieved 5 July 2023.