MUBC at Henley

MUBC at Henley Royal Regatta 2026 

Melbourne University Boat Club made its return to the world-renowned Henley Royal Regatta in 2026, with two crews travelling to Henley-on-Thames to compete against some of the best university and club crews from around the world.

MUBC was represented by a Men’s Coxed Four in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup and a Women’s Eight in the Bridge Challenge Plate, with both crews gaining invaluable experience racing on one of rowing’s most iconic stages.

Men’s Coxed Four — Prince Albert Challenge Cup

Our Men’s Coxed Four lined up in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, taking on crews from some of the world’s leading universities.

In their opening heat on Wednesday, MUBC faced the University of London, producing a strong performance to cross the finish line in 7:08, winning by 1¼ lengths.

The crew returned to the water the following day for the next round, where they faced Harvard University from the United States. MUBC again put together a competitive performance, recording a time of 7:07 and finishing just two lengths behind Harvard.

The experience of racing through the Henley draw, against international opposition and on the unique Henley course, provided an excellent opportunity for the crew to test themselves at one of the world's most prestigious regattas.

Women’s Eight - The Bridge Challenge Plate

Our Women’s Eight also travelled to Henley with their sights set on competing at the highest level. With a tough decision to enter the Intermediate Eights due to the restrictions around being a University crew the girls worked hard to close the gap. 

The crew narrowly missed out on qualifying for the regatta by thesmallest of margins, falling just short of securing a place in the final field.

While disappointing, the result demonstrated just how competitive the standard was, with the crew putting themselves within touching distance of racing at Henley Royal Regatta.

A special experience for MUBC

With two crews representing Melbourne University Boat Club, the 2026 Henley Royal Regatta was a fantastic opportunity for our athletes to experience the tradition, history and intensity of international university rowing.

From the Men’s Four securing a win over the University of London and progressing to race Harvard, to the Women’s Eight narrowly missing qualification, both crews represented MUBC with pride on one of rowing's biggest stages.

Congratulations to all of our athletes, coaches and supporters who made the journey to Henley possible.

We are incredibly proud to see MUBC crews competing on the Henley course and continuing to build the Club’s presence on the international rowing stage. 💙🤍