SOUL OF SPORT: As the Henley Royal Regatta records its second highest number of entries in history… ANDY HOOPER captures the atmosphere at a highlight of both the sporting and social calendars
- The 2023 Henley Royal Regatta featured 732 entries, the second highest turnout in its 184-year history
- Double Olympic champion Helen Glover led the GB women’s four to victory in the Town Challenge Cup
- Andy Hooper travelled to Henley-on-Thames to capture one of the sporting calendar’s oldest fixtures
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Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. For our latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER travelled to the Henley Royal Regatta to witness the famous rowing festival.
The 2023 addition attracted the second highest number of entries in Henley’s 184-year history, with 732 entries across six days.
Double Olympic champion Helen Glover was in action with the rest of the team GB women’s four, as they won the Town Challenge Cup as part of their preparation for next year’s Olympics.
Part of Henley’s charm comes from it’s bizarre traditions, with Dutch rowers such as those from the Theta club in Eindhoven often seen in well-worn blazers due to a tradition that sees them passed down from student to student through a drinking game.
Our man captured the feel of the festival as a highlight of both the sporting and social calendars – and it was done using a Nikon Z9 with 400mm, 17-200mm and 24-70mm lenses.
Rain descends on the course at Henley Royal Regatta, with one rowing crew not deterred by the weather conditions
A scoreboard operator (pictured) inspects his work on the traditional hand-changed scoreboard at the Henley finish line
Members of Chester Rowing Club are cheered on by members of the public as they carry their boat to the river for a race
Bristol embrace in a pre-race huddle before heading down to the river for the start of the competition
Fans enjoy a Pimms by the river at an event that is as much a part of the social calendar as it is the sporting one
Dutch rowers observe a tradition that sees blazers passed down from student to student through a drinking game
The blazers, worn here by members of Eindhoven’s student rowing club Theta, are often battered from years of wear and tear
Henley is one of the few sports events where spectators can moor their boats right next to the course and watch for free
One spectator jumps into the river to keep himself cool while watching the races on a hot day at Henley
A female race worker signals the one and a half mile marker as she operates the sign by hand during the race
Two Cambridge rowers look dejected after losing to Princeton. In total, 17 nations were represented at the Festival
The Dutch rowers’ blazers have their named sewn into them as they are passed down over time
A spectator with his collection of old Henley Regatta badges, wearing them proudly on display pinned to the front of his shirt
Racegoers enjoy a picnic by the side of the river as rowers continue to compete alongside them at Henley
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