A Canvas from Glory: Remembering Henley’s Epic 1976 Thames Cup Final

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a past club member to ask if anyone from the 1976 Thames Cup crew were still involved with the club.  Tony Richardson was reminiscing about the club’s almost win of the Thames Challenge cup at HRR in 1976 having found the race televised and on YouTube.  Happily, I was able to put him in contact with club Vice President Ian Pankhurst.  I then arranged to meet up with Ian to learn more about the race and the build up to it.

Build up to 1976

Ian had been a member of the club for several years and in the early 70s was mainly sculling, taking 8^th place in the Sculler’s Head in 1973.  There was a gradual influx of new members with some success in fours.  Then in November 1974 Bob Winckless agreed to come on board to coach an elite squad with the aim of winning at Henley.  Bob’s guidance made the winter training a great success and showed results with the club coming 12^th at the Head of River the following year.  After interspersing some small boat rowing and sculling with rowing in the eight, the eight started to go really fast and they reached the semi final of the Thames Cup in 1975 before going out to the eventual winners Garda Siochana, Ireland. Two other members of the HRC squad, Paul Marsden and Adrian Glenn reached the semi-final of the Silver Goblets in the same year.  After HRR, the squad won a total of 13 trophies that summer including winning the top two events at Staines Regatta and Henley T & V.

This was also the year that showed an increase in women’s rowing at the club, which we celebrated last year.  Also, at about this time, a young Chris Boothroyd was starting out in the sport; eventually becoming one of the most successful coaches of juniors the Club has known.

Ian Pankhurst and Chris Boothroyd 29 years later celebrating the club finally winning the Thames Cup in 2005.

With the success of the previous year, the squad again trained hard during the winter season.  Going into the Head of River in March 1976 the eight was going really well.  The crew came a fantastic 6^th place behind the ARA National Squad (winners), Tideway Scullers, Leander, University of London and only 9 seconds behind London RC (the National Lightweight Squad).  This is still the best club result for the HoRR and even more remarkable as Ian’s blade (at 4) was taped together as an umpires launch had backed into the crew on marshalling.  Ian was aware of the end of the blade flapping on the recovery, but fortunately it held together in the water.  It was around this time that the HRR crew was settled as A. Maffre (bow), C. Bushnell, D. Smith, P. Allen, P. Marsden, I. Pankhurst, A. Glenn and A. Richardson (str) with R. Woodford as cox.

Thames Cup 1976

Nowadays the Thames Cup is only for club eights but back in 1976 university eights could compete if they were not of sufficient standard to row in the Ladies Challenge Plate.  In 1976, two crews from the USA, Harvard and University of Pennsylvania, were selected in the Thames Cup draw.  Henley had an easy win in their first round by 4l against Saxon Boat Club in a record time (6 mins 32) with the crew just ‘paddling’ towards the finish leaving Ian wondering what time they could have achieved if they had really ‘gone for it’!

In the second round Henley raced Vesta winning by a length in another fast time.  On Saturday (quarter finals) they raced Rollins College, USA who led for the first part of the race with Henley coming through to win by 1 and 2/3  lengths in a time of 6 mins 33 seconds.

In the semi-final on Sunday morning against the University of Pennsylvania the crew had an unfortunate mishap when an oar came out of a gate after only 18 strokes!  They managed to recover well and picked up to be only half a length behind at the quarter mile signal, rating 40 to the American’s 38.  Spurred on by the mishap they gained the lead and won by 1½ lengths.  With the final a few hours later in the afternoon, Ian changed his vest and hung out his kit to dry.  Annoyingly when he came back to get ready to race the final someone had taken his vest as a souvenir leaving Ian to wear an old one from his kit bag and his vest not looking quite as white as the rest of the crew. 

The late afternoon final between Harvard University and Henley was one of the best races of the regatta and very exciting as you will see from the video below.  

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/478bd3_3ca7f3fae4864da2a49251bb4a131bfc/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Henley on the Berkshire station started at rate 42 and had a canvas lead by the quarter mile signal.  They then edged out stroke by stroke to be a third of a length ahead at Fawley.  Unfortunately, Henley could not get away from Harvard who battled with them all the way up to the finish line and, taking the rate up, eventually crossed the line first but only by a canvas. 

Many may remember 1976 as a very hot summer with droughts, but by the time of the final of the Thames Cup the rain came down hard, the wind changed direction and the winning time was slower than Henley’s record time on Thursday.

Although this was extremely disappointing for the crew it was a very proud moment for the club and set the standard for the future.  The 1976 result remained the closest the club came to winning the Thames Cup for nearly 30 years before we finally won the event in 2005. This was celebrated hugely, particularly as many of those in the crew had been junior members of the club.

Ian finally getting his hands on the Thames Cup in 2005.

Ian congratulating current committee member Nick Friend.

Ian back in his 6 seat, rowing the 8 back to the club in the aftermath of the 2005 win.

The club later moves to new premises

Back in 1976 the club was based in the town in a boat house along Thameside.  This was too small as the club grew and it was difficult to launch boats as traffic had to be stopped in order to carry boats across the road to the river bank where there was a pontoon.  In 1979 Henley Town Council leased a portion of the old swimming baths site to the club and building work started.  This took several years with the official opening taking place in 1986. 

Ian, an architect, was one of many members who were key in the development of the premises we have today.  Over the years Ian has been a coach to juniors and seniors.  He still meets up with some of the crew every year at Henley and our annual club dinner.  He’s not rowing any more but enjoying watching his grandson row and following the wins of Henley crews.

Margaret Hall

June 2026