For five days each July, the normally sedate English town of Henley-on-Thames overflows with crowds of rowers and socialites living it up at the Royal Regatta.
'Three cheers for Cambridge: hip, hip, hooray!'
'Three cheers for Princeton: hip, hip, hooray!'
At the end of a gruelling race, the rowers of competing teams congratulate their opponents, demonstrating what the Henley Royal Regatta is all about - being a good sport. For more than a century, the event has played a vital part in the English summer for members of high society. They take in horse racing at Ascot, tennis at Wimbledon and head for the riverbanks by this picturesque town in the Thames Valley, west of London.
For most of its length, the River Thames twists and turns but at Henley there is a straight section for nearly 2km, making it ideal for rowing. In 1839, the town's mayor and local dignitaries decided to hold an amateur regatta and fair, which they hoped would be 'a source of amusement and gratification to the neighbourhood and the public in general'. Little could they have imagined that within 150 years Henley would be a famous sporting venue.
Spectators line the river from start to finish, one of many differences between Henley and other international regatta courses, where crowds are usually kept at a distance. Also, unlike on specially constructed rowing courses, where the water is still and six crews compete at the same time, Henley rowers must contend with the river's current and only one other crew in a knockout heat.
Since spectators cannot watch all stages of a race, a commentary is broadcast to keep everyone up to speed: 'At the Remenham Club, Augusta on the Buckinghamshire station are striking at 38 and Oostende on the Berkshire station are striking at 36. Augusta lead by a length and a half.'
