Sir Steve Redgrave's Regatta: Henley

The world’s oldest and greatest regatta was in full flow in the Oxfordshire town with the former Olympic rower at the helm

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(Image credit: jamesfinlay.com)

It's that time of year again, when the market town of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire is returning to normality after being taken over by international rowing crews and eye-wateringly colourful blazers. The annual regatta has been running since 1839 and in the intervening 178 years – taking a break only during the two world wars – has become the global home of rowing. But why is this stretch of the River Thames, running through a quaint town nestled in the English countryside, the epicentre of world rowing?

According to Sir Steve Redgrave, Britain's five-time Olympic gold medallist – and almost more importantly, 22-time winner at Henley – it's the atmosphere. He says Olympic racing by comparison is eerily quiet out on the lake without a spectator in sight or within earshot. At the Olympics you don't get a crowd until the end of the race. Henley has the Thames' banks jostling with revellers all along the course, creating a wall of noise that Redgrave describes as the closest thing in the sport to stadium racing. For the rowers it's very special indeed and the place they want to win most. And, of course, there is the rich history and tradition.

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