Eight crews. Five nations. One hull. The 2026 Henley Royal Regatta produced one of the most remarkable days in recent memory for Team Filippi, with victories across eight events spanning the full breadth of the draw.
The international character of the results was immediately striking. Italy’s Team Italia won not one but two events on the Henley reach, taking the Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup and the Queen Mother Challenge Cup, a pair of prestigious titles that underline the Italian programme’s depth and the confidence they place in the Filippi hull across both sweep and sculling disciplines. Serbia’s Martin Mačković and Nikolaj Pimeno claimed The Double Sculls Challenge Cup, bringing another European nation onto the Filippi winners’ list at one of the world’s most iconic regattas. The Netherlands, represented by Hollandia Roeiclub, won The Town Challenge Cup, and New Zealand’s Waiariki Rowing Club (comprising Olympic champions Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis) took The Stonor Challenge Trophy, meaning athletes from four different European and southern hemisphere programmes carried the Filippi hull to victory on the same afternoon on the Thames.
The British results were no less significant. Lauren Henry won The Princess Royal Challenge Cup, the Premier women’s single sculls event at Henley Royal Regatta, and one of the most prestigious individual titles in the global rowing calendar. She also becomes only the third woman to successfully defend her title in this competition. Marlow Rowing Club won The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, continuing what has been an outstanding season for a club that has consistently performed at the front of the domestic and international club racing scene in Filippi equipment. Reading University Boat Club rounded out the British contingent with victory in The Princess of Wales Challenge Cup, the new Trophy for Intermediate women’s quad sculls. This means it’s three British wins in three different events for Filippi on the same day.
The range of events in which these victories came (single sculls, pairs, doubles, fours, eights, national programme boats, junior athletes, students) demonstrates Fillipi’s exceptional presence across the rowing community. Eight wins at Henley Royal Regatta from five nations is not a footnote and speaks to the confidence that athletes and programmes at the very highest level of the sport continue to place in the Filippi hull. We congratulate every crew on a memorable day on the water.
