Following the success of 2017 & 2018, the Henley Classic will again play host to the Schools’ Open Water Swimming Cup.
For the last few years, the Henley Classic has hosted the Varsity Open Water Swimming Championship and in 2017 the inaugural Schools’ Cup took place. Following fierce competition, Churcher’s College Petersfield has come out top in both years.
The rules are simple, the teams can be any size and any sex, but the times of the fastest 4 swimmers from each school will be added together, and the school with the fastest combined time will be declared the winner.
Girls and boys must be aged between 14 and 18 on the day of the race, and ideally be wearing a wetsuit (this will make them more buoyant, faster and safer). They must be a pupil at the school they are representing.
The race is 2.1km swim upstream on the Henley Royal Regatta course. Rowers dream of competing over this course, now it’s the chance for the swimmers.
We are keen to develop this Cup, and make it the must-do event of the school’s swimming calendar. All the Schools that competed in 2018 are planning to return, and we are particular keen to encourage some local schools to compete against those coming from Devon, Somerset and Hampshire.
If you’re interested, please drop an email in the first instance to becky@henleyswim.com so that we can discuss further.
The Henley Classic has been running since 2004, when two ex-rowers swam the course at dawn. Over the years the event has developed, and more and more people get up (when others are still going to bed) to attend the Henley Classic. The event retains its sense of wonder and charm as hundreds of swimmers mill around, are led by a torch bearer to the start, and enter the water just as the sun is rising. It is a truly unique experience.
More information about the event can be found at www.henleyswim.com/henley-classic
“Many thanks for your help facilitating the Henley Classic for my boys and girls, it was thoroughly enjoyable. The event catered both for my more able swimmers and provided challenge for my club swimmers. It also gave me an opportunity to start fast and finish slow. Importantly it taught many of my team expectation management. The build-up, volume of entrants and spectacle of the event caused angst in even 1-2 of my young Channel swimmers. Learning to deal with the pressure of anticipation is a great life lesson. Please sign us up for next year when my swimmers will be older, physically faster but just as keen.
Once again many thanks, personally I am a great fan of the Henley Classic as is my Headmaster.”
Hamish McCarthy – Taunton School
To see the video that Taunton School made of the Henley Classic click here.
Thanks to Taunton School for their report of the Henley Classic 2017, and to Churcher’s College for their 2018 report.
The post Henley Classic Schools’ Open Water Swimming Cup – Sunday 30th June 2019 – 4.00am appeared first on Henley Swim - Inspirational Swim Events - Open Water Swimming.