- Home
- /
- Proof Only
- /
- Ready to Race:...
Ready to Race: Henley Royal Regatta
Kiwis Set to Shine on the Thames
Each summer, Henley-on-Thames in England becomes the stage for one of the world’s most prestigious rowing events: the Henley Royal Regatta. This year’s regatta will be held from 1- 6 July, hosting nearly 800 entries from over 25 different countries.
Founded in 1839, Henley has grown from a local rowing competition into a global sporting spectacle and huge social event. Unlike the standard multi-lane, 2,000-metre Olympic format, Henley’s racing is a head-to-head knockout racing over a unique 2,112-metre course. Only the winner advances, making for intense racing.
The course begins at Temple Island, running upstream past landmarks like The Barrier and Fawley, and concludes near the Leander Club after passing the iconic Stewards’ Enclosure. There are a lot of tactics involved. Crews must not only try and race fast but steer precisely, as the course is lined by unforgiving wooden booms and handle distraction as enthusiastic spectators line the riverbank down the whole course.
The distance from the start-line to Remenham Barrier is 2,089 feet, to Fawley 3,435 feet and to the winning post 6,930 feet, which is 1 mile 550 yards. The length of the second part of the Course - from Fawley to the winning post - remains sixty feet longer that the first part - from the Start to Fawley.
But Henley is more than a rowing competition. It’s a cultural event, often compared to Wimbledon, renowned for its formal traditions and social atmosphere. Since 1885, the regatta has been governed by the Stewards, a self-electing body of individuals with deep ties to rowing. Recent additions to this stewards group include New Zealand Olympic champions Grace Prendergast and Emma Twigg.
Henley attracts a remarkable calibre of rowers from Olympians, international squads, top university crews, and prestigious rowing clubs. Among this year’s competitors are several New Zealanders competing for UK based clubs and past and current Rowing New Zealand Elite team members.
NZ Elite Crews Racing at Henley
Women’s Double – Stonor Challenge Trophy
• Stella Clayton-Greene
• Kathryn Glen
Men’s Double – Double Sculls Challenge Cup
• Ben Mason
• Finn Hamill
Men’s Singles – Diamond Challenge Sculls
• Logan Ullrich
• Finn Hamill
Both the men’s and women’s double sculls crews head to Henley with great momentum, having both earned bronze medals at the recent World Cup in Varese, Italy. With their strong international results and solid performances, they’ll be serious contenders through the week.
This year, Finn Hamill will take on a double challenge, racing in both the men’s double with Mason and the single scull. Hamill has an outstanding domestic season, where he won both the North Island and New Zealand National Championships and capped off 2024 with a win in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.
Finn Hamill after his win in the men's singles sculls at the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.
Fellow single sculler Logan Ullrich will also compete in the Diamond Challenge Sculls. Logan made his international single scull debut in Varese, finishing 1st in the B Final (7th overall). A Tokyo Olympic silver medallist in the Men’s Four, Logan will bring both international racing experience and confidence to the single scull field.
Logan Ullrich finished 1st in the B Final (7th overall) in his international debut in the men's single sculls at 2025 World Rowing Cup - Varese.
New Zealand has a rich legacy at Henley, particularly in the Diamond Challenge Sculls, one of the sport’s most prestigious single sculling events. Mahé Drysdale is the most decorated Kiwi in this category, with six wins to his name, while Matthew Dunham also claimed victory in 2017. New Zealand has seen additional success in the Women’s Double Sculls, with Brooke Franis (née Donaghue) and Olivia Loe winning the Stonor Challenge Trophy in both 2017 and 2019. In the Men’s Double Sculls, previous winners were Nathan Cohen and Matthew Trott (2009), Michael Arms and Robbie Manson (2013), and John Storey and Chris Harris (2017).
Logan Ullrich Q&A
Have you raced at Henley before? If so, what lessons or experiences did you take away from it?
Yes, I raced for the University of Washington in the men’s intermediate four in 2022. It was such a cool regatta, and it has so many unique challenges. The biggest learnings from our racing that year was you have to race your opposition and not just treat it as a time trial. It was also pretty weird racing at 7pm when all these people were having a massive party on the banks, made for a pretty distracting environment.
How does it feel to represent New Zealand for the first time in the Men’s Single Scull—and to do so on such a prestigious stage as the Henley Royal Regatta?
It’s such a dream to represent the fern at any regatta, so to get to do it at Henley and in the single scull makes it just that bit more special. Mahé Drysdale and Emma Twigg have shown what Kiwi scullers are capable of at Henley, so the spectators expect a lot when they see a New Zealand entry. There is pressure that comes with those expectations, but I am just excited to see how I stack up against the best scullers in the world.
Logan Ullrich racing in the University of Washington men’s intermediate four at the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta.
New Zealand Individuals racing for UK Clubs:
A number of New Zealand rowers ranging from club level to individual former New Zealand elite athletes will be competing at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta
Jamie Hindle-Daniels will race for Leander Club in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (Men’s Premier Quad). A New Zealand rowing representative, Jamie has competed at World Cups and World Championships and was the men’s reserve single for the Olympic Qualification Regatta. He has had a standout UK domestic season, recently winning the Championship Men’s Quad at the MET Regatta on Dorney Lake, putting his crew in strong form ahead of Henley.
Also returning to Henley is Emma Twigg, Olympic gold and silver medallist and now a newly appointed Henley Steward. Twigg will compete in the Stonor Challenge Trophy alongside Grace Sypher, the 2024 U23 Lightweight Single Sculls World Champion from Sydney Rowing Club.
Katie Lush, racing for Molesey Boat Club in the Wargrave Challenge Cup (Women’s Club Eight), brings impressive credentials from New Zealand, where she represents Waikato Rowing Club. At the 2025 New Zealand National Championships, she won the women’s premier eight and took silver in the premier pair. Katie also represented New Zealand in the U23 Women’s Quad at the 2019 World Championships, finishing fifth.
Katie Lush in two seat with her Molesey Boat Club women's eight crew.
Kate Haines (author of this piece) will compete in the Bridges Challenge Plate, a new 2025 event for women’s intermediate eights. This category includes athletes who have competed at the Olympics or medalled at U23 level but are not currently racing in international crews. Earlier this season, Katie and Kate won the Women’s Championship Eight at Wallingford Regatta (Dorney Lake) and will be aiming to repeat that success at Henley Women’s and Henley Royal.
Earlier this season, Katie Lush (right) and Kate Haines (left) won the Women’s Championship Eight at Wallingford Regatta (Dorney Lake). They will be aiming to repeat that success at Henley Women’s and Henley Royal.
Eva Hofmans, also rowing for Molesey Boat Club, will race in the Town Challenge Cup (Women’s Club Four). Eva previously rowed for Yale in the NCAA and won gold in the Women’s Quad at the 2019 Junior World Championships. She’s previously been part of the New Zealand U21 programme.
Lucy Burrell and Alice Fahey will be competing in the Town Challenge Cup representing Thames Rowing Club. The duo raced together in the Women’s Four at the 2023 U23 World Championships in Canada, earning a silver medal. With strong NCAA seasons behind them, they will be serious contenders at Henley.
Silver medalists in the U23 Women's four of Lucy Burrell, Beckie Leigh, Madeleine Parker and Alice Fahey at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships.
Josh Gordon is another former U23 medallist to watch. He won silver in the Men’s Four at last year’s U23 World Championships and will race in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup with Harvard University. Fresh off a win at the IRAs in the Four, Josh and his crew are among the top contenders for this event.
Henley Royal Regatta selection and qualification are still ongoing for many individuals, but a large group of Kiwi athletes are expected to compete for various UK clubs:
Jack McDonald, London Rowing Club
David Knight, London Rowing Club
Saskia Klinkenberg, London Rowing Club
Elizabth Rine, London Rowing Club
Eva Hofmans, Molesey Boat Club
Katie Lush, Molesey Boat Club
Kate Haines, Molesey Boat Club
Callan Ogivile, Leander Rowing Club
Alex Logan, Leander Rowing Club
Nathan Luff, Leander Rowing Club
Jamie Hindle-Daniels, Leander Rowing Club
Ethan Blight, Leander Rowing Club
Micah Fitton-Higgins, Oxford Brooks
Dominiko Arnerich, Oxford Brooks
Marine Arnerich, Oxford Brooks
Tom Bone, Thames Rowing Club
Lucy Burrell, Thames Rowing Club
Alice Fahey, Thames Rowing Club
Harry Wilkinson, Tideway Scullers
Josh Gordan, Harvard University
Brahm Erdmann, Harvard University
Sam Woodgate, Harvard University
What do you enjoy most about the Club Rowing in the UK ?
Jamie Hindle Daniels: Top crews in Uk clubs are performing at a level just below the standard of international crews. This makes for exciting and satisfying racing. The variety of competition is also fun, with events taking place throughout the year.
Katie Lush: The opportunities I've had — racing at some of the biggest UK events like the Women’s Head of the River, MET Regatta, Women’s Henley, and Henley Royal Regatta, as well as in Europe at the Heineken Roeivierkamp in Amsterdam — have been incredible. I also had the chance to go on a training camp in Sabaudia, Italy (a slightly different experience from Mangakino!).
Rowing is such a big sport over here, especially for those who have aged out of age-group teams. Molesey Boat Club is well set up to support athletes who are working but still want to train at a high-performance level and have ambitions to trial. That’s been a huge asset for me — training and competing alongside like-minded athletes.
It’s also been very special to train with people I once competed against at the U23 World Championships, and with athletes who studied in the US alongside other Kiwis. It really shows how connected the rowing world is.
How have you found the lead-up to Henley? What are you most looking forward to?
Jamie Hindle Daniels: It's been intense but good. We have done a few rounds of seat racing to determine the fastest combination of our crew, along with some competitive racing in Ghent and at Met regatta. We have just finished our big training camp in Banyoles, Spain, where we covered 500km in two weeks!. I am looking forward to seeing what the Henley scene is all about. I've never experienced the regatta but I have heard it's amazing. Having lived in Henley now for the last year, I am interested to see how it takes shape in the build up to the regatta too.
Katie Lush: It’s been very exciting — this is such a big event here in the UK, especially for my club, Molesey Boat Club. The commitment and energy from everyone involved makes it an incredible experience. What I’m most looking forward to is the side-by-side racing down the famous Henley stretch of river, with the roar of the crowd just meters away as you race. It’s a truly special opportunity that every rower should get to experience. I’m also excited to see all the Kiwis competing — it’s awesome to see more and more of them coming over to race in the UK.
Jamie Hindle Daniels, a former elite NZ rower, graduated from Canterbury University in August 2023Â and is now studying at XXXX, working towards a career in international relations and rowing for Leander Rowing Club.
Several Kiwi coaches will also be coaching at Henley Royal Regatta this year. Sean Durkin, who has an impressive coaching background including roles as selector for the U18 North Island team in 2020 and 2021, and the New Zealand U21 Trans-Tasman team in 2022, will be lending his expertise at Thames Rowing Club. He’ll be joined there by Nick Pusinelli, a former standout rower for West End, Auckland Rowing Club, and the Auckland Regional Performance Centre. Meanwhile, Anna Delong, who coached the New Zealand U19 team in both 2023 and 2024, will be applying her skills with Tideway Scullers.
The New Zealand elite team crews, alongside Kiwi rowers competing for UK clubs, will be aiming high at Henley Royal Regatta - each with the goal of claiming the prestigious “red box.” This iconic trophy is much more than just a prize; it is a cherished symbol of victory and tradition within the UK rowing community. Presented to event winners, the red box holds the coveted winner’s medal and serves as a lasting emblem of excellence on one of rowing’s most prestigious stages.
Having raced at Henley before and spent time in the UK during the regatta build-up, I can truly say it’s a monumental event, carrying deep meaning for numerous people. Simply being part of Henley is a huge privilege, especially knowing how many crews dedicate an entire season’s effort only to narrowly miss out on qualification for the regatta.
Good luck to all the kiwis competing at the upcoming Henley Royal Regatta – we can’t wait to watch all the action!
Kate Haines
Kate Haines has been part of the New Zealand Rowing Team and is studying Accounting at Massey University. She is NZ Olympian #1567, who competed in the Paris Olympics.Â
Share Story
- Home
- /
- Proof Only
- /
- Ready to Race:...
Ready to Race: Henley Royal Regatta
Kiwis Set to Shine on the Thames
Each summer, Henley-on-Thames in England becomes the stage for one of the world’s most prestigious rowing events: the Henley Royal Regatta. This year’s regatta will be held from 1- 6 July, hosting nearly 800 entries from over 25 different countries.
Founded in 1839, Henley has grown from a local rowing competition into a global sporting spectacle and huge social event. Unlike the standard multi-lane, 2,000-metre Olympic format, Henley’s racing is a head-to-head knockout racing over a unique 2,112-metre course. Only the winner advances, making for intense racing.
The course begins at Temple Island, running upstream past landmarks like The Barrier and Fawley, and concludes near the Leander Club after passing the iconic Stewards’ Enclosure. There are a lot of tactics involved. Crews must not only try and race fast but steer precisely, as the course is lined by unforgiving wooden booms and handle distraction as enthusiastic spectators line the riverbank down the whole course.
The distance from the start-line to Remenham Barrier is 2,089 feet, to Fawley 3,435 feet and to the winning post 6,930 feet, which is 1 mile 550 yards. The length of the second part of the Course - from Fawley to the winning post - remains sixty feet longer that the first part - from the Start to Fawley.
But Henley is more than a rowing competition. It’s a cultural event, often compared to Wimbledon, renowned for its formal traditions and social atmosphere. Since 1885, the regatta has been governed by the Stewards, a self-electing body of individuals with deep ties to rowing. Recent additions to this stewards group include New Zealand Olympic champions Grace Prendergast and Emma Twigg.
Henley attracts a remarkable calibre of rowers from Olympians, international squads, top university crews, and prestigious rowing clubs. Among this year’s competitors are several New Zealanders competing for UK based clubs and past and current Rowing New Zealand Elite team members.
NZ Elite Crews Racing at Henley
Women’s Double – Stonor Challenge Trophy
• Stella Clayton-Greene
• Kathryn Glen
Men’s Double – Double Sculls Challenge Cup
• Ben Mason
• Finn Hamill
Men’s Singles – Diamond Challenge Sculls
• Logan Ullrich
• Finn Hamill
Both the men’s and women’s double sculls crews head to Henley with great momentum, having both earned bronze medals at the recent World Cup in Varese, Italy. With their strong international results and solid performances, they’ll be serious contenders through the week.
This year, Finn Hamill will take on a double challenge, racing in both the men’s double with Mason and the single scull. Hamill has an outstanding domestic season, where he won both the North Island and New Zealand National Championships and capped off 2024 with a win in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.
Finn Hamill after his win in the men's singles sculls at the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.
Fellow single sculler Logan Ullrich will also compete in the Diamond Challenge Sculls. Logan made his international single scull debut in Varese, finishing 1st in the B Final (7th overall). A Tokyo Olympic silver medallist in the Men’s Four, Logan will bring both international racing experience and confidence to the single scull field.
Logan Ullrich finished 1st in the B Final (7th overall) in his international debut in the men's single sculls at 2025 World Rowing Cup - Varese.
New Zealand has a rich legacy at Henley, particularly in the Diamond Challenge Sculls, one of the sport’s most prestigious single sculling events. Mahé Drysdale is the most decorated Kiwi in this category, with six wins to his name, while Matthew Dunham also claimed victory in 2017. New Zealand has seen additional success in the Women’s Double Sculls, with Brooke Franis (née Donaghue) and Olivia Loe winning the Stonor Challenge Trophy in both 2017 and 2019. In the Men’s Double Sculls, previous winners were Nathan Cohen and Matthew Trott (2009), Michael Arms and Robbie Manson (2013), and John Storey and Chris Harris (2017).
Logan Ullrich Q&A
Have you raced at Henley before? If so, what lessons or experiences did you take away from it?
Yes, I raced for the University of Washington in the men’s intermediate four in 2022. It was such a cool regatta, and it has so many unique challenges. The biggest learnings from our racing that year was you have to race your opposition and not just treat it as a time trial. It was also pretty weird racing at 7pm when all these people were having a massive party on the banks, made for a pretty distracting environment.
How does it feel to represent New Zealand for the first time in the Men’s Single Scull—and to do so on such a prestigious stage as the Henley Royal Regatta?
It’s such a dream to represent the fern at any regatta, so to get to do it at Henley and in the single scull makes it just that bit more special. Mahé Drysdale and Emma Twigg have shown what Kiwi scullers are capable of at Henley, so the spectators expect a lot when they see a New Zealand entry. There is pressure that comes with those expectations, but I am just excited to see how I stack up against the best scullers in the world.
Logan Ullrich racing in the University of Washington men’s intermediate four at the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta.
New Zealand Individuals racing for UK Clubs:
A number of New Zealand rowers ranging from club level to individual former New Zealand elite athletes will be competing at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta
Jamie Hindle-Daniels will race for Leander Club in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (Men’s Premier Quad). A New Zealand rowing representative, Jamie has competed at World Cups and World Championships and was the men’s reserve single for the Olympic Qualification Regatta. He has had a standout UK domestic season, recently winning the Championship Men’s Quad at the MET Regatta on Dorney Lake, putting his crew in strong form ahead of Henley.
Also returning to Henley is Emma Twigg, Olympic gold and silver medallist and now a newly appointed Henley Steward. Twigg will compete in the Stonor Challenge Trophy alongside Grace Sypher, the 2024 U23 Lightweight Single Sculls World Champion from Sydney Rowing Club.
Katie Lush, racing for Molesey Boat Club in the Wargrave Challenge Cup (Women’s Club Eight), brings impressive credentials from New Zealand, where she represents Waikato Rowing Club. At the 2025 New Zealand National Championships, she won the women’s premier eight and took silver in the premier pair. Katie also represented New Zealand in the U23 Women’s Quad at the 2019 World Championships, finishing fifth.
Katie Lush in two seat with her Molesey Boat Club women's eight crew.
Kate Haines (author of this piece) will compete in the Bridges Challenge Plate, a new 2025 event for women’s intermediate eights. This category includes athletes who have competed at the Olympics or medalled at U23 level but are not currently racing in international crews. Earlier this season, Katie and Kate won the Women’s Championship Eight at Wallingford Regatta (Dorney Lake) and will be aiming to repeat that success at Henley Women’s and Henley Royal.
Earlier this season, Katie Lush (right) and Kate Haines (left) won the Women’s Championship Eight at Wallingford Regatta (Dorney Lake). They will be aiming to repeat that success at Henley Women’s and Henley Royal.
Eva Hofmans, also rowing for Molesey Boat Club, will race in the Town Challenge Cup (Women’s Club Four). Eva previously rowed for Yale in the NCAA and won gold in the Women’s Quad at the 2019 Junior World Championships. She’s previously been part of the New Zealand U21 programme.
Lucy Burrell and Alice Fahey will be competing in the Town Challenge Cup representing Thames Rowing Club. The duo raced together in the Women’s Four at the 2023 U23 World Championships in Canada, earning a silver medal. With strong NCAA seasons behind them, they will be serious contenders at Henley.
Silver medalists in the U23 Women's four of Lucy Burrell, Beckie Leigh, Madeleine Parker and Alice Fahey at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships.
Josh Gordon is another former U23 medallist to watch. He won silver in the Men’s Four at last year’s U23 World Championships and will race in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup with Harvard University. Fresh off a win at the IRAs in the Four, Josh and his crew are among the top contenders for this event.
Henley Royal Regatta selection and qualification are still ongoing for many individuals, but a large group of Kiwi athletes are expected to compete for various UK clubs:
Jack McDonald, London Rowing Club
David Knight, London Rowing Club
Saskia Klinkenberg, London Rowing Club
Elizabth Rine, London Rowing Club
Eva Hofmans, Molesey Boat Club
Katie Lush, Molesey Boat Club
Kate Haines, Molesey Boat Club
Callan Ogivile, Leander Rowing Club
Alex Logan, Leander Rowing Club
Nathan Luff, Leander Rowing Club
Jamie Hindle-Daniels, Leander Rowing Club
Ethan Blight, Leander Rowing Club
Micah Fitton-Higgins, Oxford Brooks
Dominiko Arnerich, Oxford Brooks
Marine Arnerich, Oxford Brooks
Tom Bone, Thames Rowing Club
Lucy Burrell, Thames Rowing Club
Alice Fahey, Thames Rowing Club
Harry Wilkinson, Tideway Scullers
Josh Gordan, Harvard University
Brahm Erdmann, Harvard University
Sam Woodgate, Harvard University
What do you enjoy most about the Club Rowing in the UK ?
Jamie Hindle Daniels: Top crews in Uk clubs are performing at a level just below the standard of international crews. This makes for exciting and satisfying racing. The variety of competition is also fun, with events taking place throughout the year.
Katie Lush: The opportunities I've had — racing at some of the biggest UK events like the Women’s Head of the River, MET Regatta, Women’s Henley, and Henley Royal Regatta, as well as in Europe at the Heineken Roeivierkamp in Amsterdam — have been incredible. I also had the chance to go on a training camp in Sabaudia, Italy (a slightly different experience from Mangakino!).
Rowing is such a big sport over here, especially for those who have aged out of age-group teams. Molesey Boat Club is well set up to support athletes who are working but still want to train at a high-performance level and have ambitions to trial. That’s been a huge asset for me — training and competing alongside like-minded athletes.
It’s also been very special to train with people I once competed against at the U23 World Championships, and with athletes who studied in the US alongside other Kiwis. It really shows how connected the rowing world is.
How have you found the lead-up to Henley? What are you most looking forward to?
Jamie Hindle Daniels: It's been intense but good. We have done a few rounds of seat racing to determine the fastest combination of our crew, along with some competitive racing in Ghent and at Met regatta. We have just finished our big training camp in Banyoles, Spain, where we covered 500km in two weeks!. I am looking forward to seeing what the Henley scene is all about. I've never experienced the regatta but I have heard it's amazing. Having lived in Henley now for the last year, I am interested to see how it takes shape in the build up to the regatta too.
Katie Lush: It’s been very exciting — this is such a big event here in the UK, especially for my club, Molesey Boat Club. The commitment and energy from everyone involved makes it an incredible experience. What I’m most looking forward to is the side-by-side racing down the famous Henley stretch of river, with the roar of the crowd just meters away as you race. It’s a truly special opportunity that every rower should get to experience. I’m also excited to see all the Kiwis competing — it’s awesome to see more and more of them coming over to race in the UK.
Jamie Hindle Daniels, a former elite NZ rower, graduated from Canterbury University in August 2023Â and is now studying at XXXX, working towards a career in international relations and rowing for Leander Rowing Club.
Several Kiwi coaches will also be coaching at Henley Royal Regatta this year. Sean Durkin, who has an impressive coaching background including roles as selector for the U18 North Island team in 2020 and 2021, and the New Zealand U21 Trans-Tasman team in 2022, will be lending his expertise at Thames Rowing Club. He’ll be joined there by Nick Pusinelli, a former standout rower for West End, Auckland Rowing Club, and the Auckland Regional Performance Centre. Meanwhile, Anna Delong, who coached the New Zealand U19 team in both 2023 and 2024, will be applying her skills with Tideway Scullers.
The New Zealand elite team crews, alongside Kiwi rowers competing for UK clubs, will be aiming high at Henley Royal Regatta - each with the goal of claiming the prestigious “red box.” This iconic trophy is much more than just a prize; it is a cherished symbol of victory and tradition within the UK rowing community. Presented to event winners, the red box holds the coveted winner’s medal and serves as a lasting emblem of excellence on one of rowing’s most prestigious stages.
Having raced at Henley before and spent time in the UK during the regatta build-up, I can truly say it’s a monumental event, carrying deep meaning for numerous people. Simply being part of Henley is a huge privilege, especially knowing how many crews dedicate an entire season’s effort only to narrowly miss out on qualification for the regatta.
Good luck to all the kiwis competing at the upcoming Henley Royal Regatta – we can’t wait to watch all the action!
Kate Haines
Kate Haines has been part of the New Zealand Rowing Team and is studying Accounting at Massey University. She is NZ Olympian #1567, who competed in the Paris Olympics.Â
