Henley Masters 2025

Henley Masters 2025 took place over one of the hottest weekends of the year, with temperatures peaking at 33°C on Friday 11 July before easing to a positively balmy 28°C by Sunday. For the first time since its inception, the regatta featured races for mixed quads and eights.

The PTRC gazebo came into its own, providing much-needed shade for the twelve crews racing across the sun-drenched weekend. The highlight came with victory – and the all-important purple boxes – for the Mx MasB 4x crew of Aba Carboo (B), Heinrich Venzke, James Freeman and Karen Shepherd (S), who beat Kingston RC by two lengths. Their success capped a weekend in which four other PTRC crews reached their category finals: W MasE 4x, W MasF 2-, W MasC 8+ and MasD 2x.

Congratulations also go to the crews who raced in the following events: W MasB 2x, W MasC 2x, W MasD 2x, Op MasF 2-, W MasD 4x, Op MasH 4x, as well as the PTRC members in the Mx MasF 4x Bentham–Putney Town composite. Competition was fierce, with strong opposition from clubs as far afield as Marin County and Endeavor Racing Alliance (USA), as well as home waters rivals Thames, Marlow, UTRC, the wonderfully named Guy Fawkes BC, a smattering of composites and, of course, our neighbours TSS.

A huge thanks to Geoff for trailering the boats to and from Henley, to those who brought the gazebo and ergs, and to Beth for her coaching throughout the season, of which this was a fitting finale. Thanks also to the club members who came down to support – it made a real difference.

The sun shone, the Thames sparkled and the Henley countryside looked at its very best. On weekends like this, it’s easy to agree with Ratty in The Wind in the Willows: ‘There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.’