Rowing event at the Henley Royal Regatta
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. First run in 1844, it is open to male scullers from all eligible rowing clubs .[ 1] [ 2]
The Diamond Challenge Sculls, the Wingfield Sculls and the London Cup in the Metropolitan Regatta make up the "Triple Crown" of the three premier single sculling events in the United Kingdom.
The Diamond Challenge Sculls trophy (centre in wooden case)
Alexander Alcée Casamajor (single scull) five-time winner in the mid-19th century
Guy Nicholls caricature from 1889
Year
Winner
Club
Runner-up
Club
ref
1844
Thomas Bumpsted
Scullers Club, London
H Morgan
Christ Church, Ox
1845
S Wallace
Leander Club
J W Conant
St. John's College, Ox
1846
Sir Edward Moon
Magdalen College, Oxford
Thomas Howard Fellows
Leander Club
1847
William Maule
Trinity College, Cm
Edward Moon
Magdalen College, Ox
1848
William Bagshawe
Trinity College, Cm
W Wilberforce
Oxford University BC
1849
Thomas Bone
London
C S Bagot
Trinity College, Cm
1850
Thomas Bone
Meteor Club, London
John Erskine Clarke
Wadham College
1851
Edward Gryffydh Peacock
Thames Club
Edward Macnaghten
Trinity College, Cm
1852
Edward Macnaghten
Trinity College, Cm
Edward Gryffydh Peacock
London
1853
Stephen Rippingall
Peterhouse, Cm
Martin Howy Irving
Balliol College, Ox
1854
Herbert Playford
Wandle Club, London
R C Galton
Trinity College, Cm
1855
A. A. Casamajor
Wandle Club, London
Herbert Playford
Wandle Club
1856
A. A. Casamajor
Argonaut Club , London
C Stephens
Caversham BC
[ 3]
1857
A. A. Casamajor
London RC
James Paine
London RC
1858
A. A. Casamajor
London RC
rowed over
n/a
[ 4]
1859
Edwin Brickwood
Richmond RC
R Beaumont
Third Trinity, Cm
1860
Herbert Playford
London RC
Edwin Brickwood
London
1861
A. A. Casamajor
London RC
Edwin Brickwood
London
1862
Edwin Brickwood
London RC
Walter Bradford Woodgate
Brasenose College, Ox
1863
Charles Bennett Lawes
Third Trinity, Cm
Edwin Brickwood
London
1864
Walter Bradford Woodgate
Brasenose College, Ox
Edward Michell
Magdalen College, Ox
1865
Edward Michell
Magdalen College, Ox
Charles Bennett Lawes
Third Trinity, Cm
1866
Edward Michell
Magdalen College, Ox
Walter Bradford Woodgate
Kingston RC
1867
William Crofts
Brasenose College, Ox
Frank Willan
Exeter College, Ox
1868
William Stout
London Rowing Club
William Crofts
Brasenose College, Ox
1869
William Crofts
Brasenose College, Oxford
A C Yarborough
Lincoln College, Ox
1870
John Brooks Close
First Trinity, Cm
R J Waldie-Griffith
Jesus College, Cm
1871
William Fawcus
Tynemouth RC
John Goldie
Lady Margaret BC, Cm
1872
Clement Courtenay Knollys
Magdalen College, Ox
C H Lawton
York
1873
Alfred Dicker
Lady Margaret, Cm
W Chillingworth
Twickenham RC
1874
Alfred Dicker
Lady Margaret, Cm
William Fawcus
Tynemouth RC
1875
Alfred Dicker
Lady Margaret, Cm
William Brooks Close
Cambridge
1876
Frank Lumley Playford
London RC
Robert Labat
London RC
1877
Tom Edwards-Moss
Brasenose College, Ox
A V Frere
Kingston RC
1878
Tom Edwards-Moss
Brasenose College, Ox
Jefferson Lowndes
Hertford College, Ox
1879
Jefferson Lowndes
Hertford College, Ox
Frank Lumley Playford
London RC
1880
Jefferson Lowndes
Derby School RC
C E Adam
Oxford
1881
Jefferson Lowndes
Derby School RC
Achilles Wild
Frankfurt, GER
1882
Jefferson Lowndes
Derby School RC
Alexandre Lein
Paris, FRA
1883
Jefferson Lowndes
Twickenham RC
Achilles Wild
Frankfurt, GER
1884
William Sully Unwin
Magdalen College, Ox
R H Smith
Thames RC
1885
William Sully Unwin
Magdalen College, Ox
Frederick I Pitman
Third Trinity, Cm
1886
Frederick Pitman
Third Trinity, Cm
William Sully Unwin
Magdalen College, Ox
1887
James Cardwell Gardner
Emmanuel College, Cm
Guy Nickalls
Magdalen College, Oxford
1888
Guy Nickalls
Magdalen College, Ox
E Doering
F Hammonia BC, GER
1889
Guy Nickalls
Magdalen College, Ox
Charles J Psotta
New York AC, USA
1890
Guy Nickalls
Magdalen College, Ox
Gilbert Kennedy
Kingston RC
1891
Vivian Nickalls
Magdalen College, Ox
rowed over
n/a
[ 5]
1892
Janus Ooms
Neptune RC, NED
S M Boyd
Trinity College, Dublin, IRE
1893
Guy Nickalls
Magdalen College, Ox
Gilbert Kennedy
Kingston RC
1894
Guy Nickalls
Formosa BC
Vivian Nickalls
Magdalen College, Ox
1895
Rupert Guinness
Leander Club
Guy Nickalls
London RC
[ 6]
1896
Rupert Guinness
Leander Club
Rupert Kendall Beaumont
Burton-On-Trent RC
1897
Edward Ten Eyck
Wachusett, USA
Harry Blackstaffe
Vesta RC
1898
Benjamin Hunting Howell
Trinity Hall, Cm
Harry Blackstaffe
Vesta RC
1899
Benjamin Hunting Howell
Thames RC
Harry Blackstaffe
Vesta RC
1900
Edward Hemmerde
University College, Ox
Benjamin Hunting Howell
Thames RC
1901
Charles Vincent Fox
Guards Brigade RC
St G Ashe
Thames RC
1902
Frederick Septimus Kelly
Balliol College, Ox
Raymond Etherington-Smith
Leander Club
1903
Frederick Septimus Kelly
Leander Club
Jack Beresford
Kennsington RC
1904
Lou Scholes
Toronto RC, CAN
Arthur Cloutte
London RC
1905
Frederick Septimus Kelly
Leander Club
Harry Blackstaffe
Vesta RC
1906
Harry Blackstaffe
Vesta RC
William Darell
Household Brigade
1907
William Darell
Household Brigade
Alexander McCulloch
University College, Ox
1908
Alexander McCulloch
Leander Club
Athol Alexander Stuart
Kingston RC
1909
Athol Alexander Stuart
Kingston RC
Rudolph Lucas
Mainz RC, GER
1910
Wally Kinnear
Kensington RC
Rudolph Lucas
Mainz RC, GER
1911
Wally Kinnear
Kensington RC
Eric Powell
Vikings Club
1912
Eric Powell
Vikings Club
Alexander McCulloch
Leander Club
1913
Cecil McVilly
Derwent RC, AUS
Edward Dennis P Pinks
London RC
1914
Giuseppe Sinigaglia
Lario Club, Como, ITA
Colin M Stuart
Trinity Hall, Cm
[ 7]
No races 1915–1919 (WWI)
Jack Beresford (left) congratulates Walter Hoover (right) after the final of the Diamond Sculls in 1922
Year
Winner
Club
Runner-up
Club
ref
1920
Jack Beresford
Thames RC
Donald Gollan
First Trinity, Cm
1921
Frits Eijken
Delft Univ, Laga, NED
Jack Beresford
Thames RC
1922
Walter Hoover
Duluth, Minnesota, USA
Jack Beresford
Thames RC
1923
Morris Keele Morris
London RC
Donald Gollan
Leander Club
1924
Jack Beresford
Thames RC
Keith Neville Craig
Pembroke College, Cm
1925
Jack Beresford
Thames RC
Donald Gollan
Leander Club
1926
Jack Beresford
Thames RC
Geoffrey Egbert G Goddard
Jesus College, Cm
[ 8]
1927
R T Lee
Worcester College, Ox
Joseph Wright Jr.
Argonaut RC , CAN
[ 9] [ 10]
1928
Joseph Wright Jr.
Argonaut RC, CAN
R T Lee
Worcester College, Oxford
[ 11]
1929
Bert Gunther
De Amstel, NED
Joseph Wright Jr.
Argonaut RC, CAN
[ 12]
1930
Jack Guest
Don Rowing Club, CAN
Gerhard Boetzelen
Berliner RC, GER
1931
Bobby Pearce
Leander BC, Hamilton, CAN
Fred Bradley
Pembroke College, Cm
[ 13]
1932
Herbert Buhtz
Berliner RC, GER
Gerhard Boetzelen
Berliner RC, GER
1933
Tom Askwith
Peterhouse, Cm
Humphrey Warren
Trinity Hall, Cm
1934
Herbert Buhtz
Berliner RC, GER
Winthrop Rutherford
Princeton University, USA
[ 14]
1935
Ernst Rufli
FC Zurich RC, SWI
Jiří Zavřel
Veslařský Klub, CZE
1936
Ernst Rufli
FC Zurich RC, SWI
Thomas Harold Tyler
Thames RC
1937
Josef Hasenöhrl
RV Ellida, AUT
John Francis Coulson
Argonaut RC, CAN
1938
Joe Burk
Penn AC , USA
Len D Habbitts
Reading RC
1939
Joe Burk
Penn AC , USA
Roger Verey
Akademicki Zwiazek Sportowy, POL
[ 15]
No races 1940–1945 (WWII)
Stuart Mackenzie, six times winner from 1957 to 1962
Three-time winner Seán Drea
Year
Winner
Club
Runner-up
Club
ref
1946
Jean Séphériadès
SN Basse Seine, FRA
John B. Kelly Jr.
US Navy, USA
1947
John B. Kelly Jr.
University of Penn , USA
Carl H Fronsdal
Bergens Roklubb, NOR
1948
Mervyn Wood
NSW Police RC, AUS
Bert Bushnell
Maidenhead RC
1949
John B. Kelly Jr.
University of Penn , USA
Jack H Trinsey
Notre Dame Club of Phila, USA
1950
Antony Rowe
Leander Club
Rob van Mesdag
Trinity College, Dublin
1951
Tony Fox
Pembroke College, Cm
Erik Larsen
Koge Roklubb, DEN
1952
Mervyn Wood
Sydney Rowing Club , AUS
Tony Fox
London Rowing Club
1953
Tony Fox
London Rowing Club
Robert George
Union Nautique de Liege, BEL
1954
Perica Vlašić
Mornar Club, YUG
Alain Colomb
Aviron Romand, SWI
1955
Teodor Kocerka
AZS Bydgoszsz, POL
Sidney Rand
Royal Air Force
1956
Teodor Kocerka
AZS Bydgoszsz, POL
Tony Fox
London Rowing Club
1957
Stuart Mackenzie
Sydney RC, AUS
Vyacheslav Ivanov
Krasnoe Znamia, USSR
1958
Stuart Mackenzie
Sydney RC, AUS
Vyacheslav Ivanov
Central Army Club, USSR
1959
Stuart Mackenzie
Sydney RC, AUS
Harry Parker
Vesper BC, USA
[ 16]
1960
Stuart Mackenzie
Leander Club
Teodor Kocerka
AZS Szczecin, POL
1961
Stuart Mackenzie
Mosman RC, AUS
Oleg Tyurin
Trud Club, Leningrad
[ 17]
1962
Stuart Mackenzie
Leander Club
William L. Barry
Quintin BC
1963
Gottfried Kottmann
Belvoir RC, SWI
William L. Barry
Quintin BC
1964
Seymour Cromwell
Nonpareil RC, USA
Alberto Demiddi
Club de Regatas Rosario, ARG
1965
Donald Spero
NY AC, USA
Hugh Wardell-Yerburgh
Bristol RC
[ 18]
1966
Achim Hill
BSGM Baumschuleneweg, GDR
Jan Wienese
Roei en Zeilverenging de Amstel
1967
Martin Studach
Grasshopper Club Zürich , SWI
Jochen Meißner
Mannheimer Rv Amiciitia Von 1876
1968
Hugh Wardell-Yerburgh
Eton Vikings
Kenny Dwan
Poplar, Blackwall & District RC
1969
Joachim Böhmer
SC Dynamo Berlin , GER
William B Tytus
Seattle Tennis Club
1970
Jochen Meißner
Mannheimer RV Amicitia, GER
Patrick Delafield
Tideway Scullers' School
1971
Alberto Demiddi
Club de Regatas Rosario, ARG
Jim Dietz
New York AC, USA
1972
Aleksandr Timoshinin
WMF Moscow, USSR
Seán Drea
Vesper BC, USA
1973
Seán Drea
Neptune Rowing Club, IRE
David Sturge
Lady Margaret BC
1974
Seán Drea
Neptune RC, IRE
Kenny Dwan
Poplar, Blackwall & District RC
1975
Seán Drea
Neptune RC, IRE
Jim Dietz
New York AC
1976
Ted Hale
Sydney Rowing Club , AUS
Peter Zeun
Peterborough City RC
[ 19]
1977
Tim Crooks
Leander Club
Jim Dietz
New York AC
1978
Tim Crooks
Leander Club
Hugh Matheson
Thames Tradesmen's RC
1979
Hugh Matheson
Nottingham Rowing Club
Johan Ghoos
Antwerpse RV, BEL
[ 20]
1980
Ricardo Ibarra
Mar del Plata, ARG
Rolf Thorsen
Horten Roklubb, NOR
1981
Chris Baillieu
Leander Club
Chris Howell
University of London RC
1982
Chris Baillieu
Leander Club
Allan Whitwell
Thames Tradesmen's RC
1983
Steve Redgrave
Marlow Rowing Club
Tim Crooks
Kingston RC
1984
Chris Baillieu
Leander Club
Bjarne Eltang
Danske SR, DEN
1985
Steve Redgrave
Marlow Rowing Club
Brad Alan Lewis
Dirty Dozen RC, USA
[ 21]
1986
Bjarne Eltang
Danske Stud RK, DEN
Steve Redgrave
Marlow Rowing Club
1987
Peter-Michael Kolbe
RC Hamburg, GER
Vasil Yakusha
Soviet Army, USSR
[ 22]
1988
Hamish McGlashan
Melbourne University BC
Andrew Sudduth
Harvard University, USA
1989
Václav Chalupa
Dukla Praha, CZE
Kajetan Broniewski
AZS-AWF Warszawa, POL
[ 23]
1990
Eric Verdonk
Koru RC, NZL
Wim Van Belleghem
Bruges Trimm-en, BEL
1991
Wim Van Belleghem
Royal Club Nautique de Gand , BEL
Eric Verdonk
Koru RC, NZL
1992
Rorie Henderson
Leander Club
Paul Reedy
Melbourne University BC
1993
Thomas Lange
Ruderverein Bollberg-Halle, GER
Václav Chalupa
Dukla Praha, CZE
[ 24]
1994
Xeno Müller
Grasshopper Club Zurich , SWI
Martin Haldbo Hansen
Denmark Rocenter
1995
Jüri Jaanson
Parnu Rowing Club, EST
Xeno Müller
Grasshopper Club, Zurich
1996
Merlin L. O. Vervoorn
DSR Proteus-Eretes, Delft, NED
Andy. R Bihrer
Grasshopper Club, Zurich
[ 25]
1997
Greg Searle
Molesey Boat Club
Peter Haining
Auriol Kensington RC
1998
Jamie Koven
Brown Alumni, USA
Greg Searle
Molesey Boat Club
[ 26]
1999
Marcel Hacker
RC Magdeburg, GER
Jamie Koven
Riverside Boat Club, USA
New Zealander Drysdale winning in 2009
Oliver Zeidler
Year
Winner
Club
Runner-up
Club
ref
2000
Aquil Abdullah
Princeton Training Center, USA
Simon D. Goodbrand
Rob Roy Boat Club
2001
Duncan Free
Surfers Paradise RC, AUS
Todd Hallett
Amateur AC, CAN
2002
Pete Wells
University of London
Matt Langridge
Leander Club
2003
Alan Campbell
Tideway Scullers School
Ben P. Hopkins
Vurtin Univ, AUS
2004
Marcel Hacker
Casseler Fraven Ruderverein, GER
Colin Smith
Oxford University
2005
Wyatt Allen
Princeton Training Center, USA
Charlie M. Palmer
Cantabridgeian RC
2006
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC , NZL
Charlie M. Palmer
Cambridge University
2007
Alan Campbell
Tideway Scullers School
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC, NZL
2008
Ian Lawson
Leander Club
Sean M Jacob
Old Collegians BC, IRE
2009
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC, NZL
Alan Campbell
Tideway Scullers School
2010
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC, NZL
Lassi Karonen
Brudpiga Roddklubb, SWE
[ 27]
2011
Alan Campbell
Tideway Scullers School
Nick Hudson
Australian Institute of Sport
2012
Peter Lambert
Old Edwardian BC, RSA
Graeme Thomas
Agecroft RC
2013
Aleksandar Aleksandrov
Kur Club, Azerbaijan
Alan Campbell
Tideway Scullers School
2014
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC, NZL
Roel Braas
Hollandia Roeiclub , NED
2015
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC, NZL
Gabor Csepregi
Danubius Nemzeti Hajos Egylet, HUN
2016
Hannes Obreno
Brugse Trim en RC, BEL
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC, NZL
2017
Matthew Dunham
Waiariki RC NZL
John Graves
Craftsbury Sculling Center, USA.
2018
Mahé Drysdale
West End RC, NZL
Kjetil Borch
Horten Roklubb, NOR
2019
Oliver Zeidler
Donau-Ruder-Club, GER
Guillaume Krommenhoek
Hollandia Roeiclub, NED
2020
No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic
[ 28]
2021
Graeme Thomas
Agecroft Rowing Club
Sebastian Devereux
Leander Club
[ 29]
2022
Oliver Zeidler
Frankfurt RS Germany 1869
David Bartholot
Rowing Australia
[ 30]
2023
Oliver Zeidler
Frankfurt RS Germany 1869
Piotr Płomiński
WTW Warszawa, POL
[ 31]
2024
Oliver Zeidler
Frankfurt RS Germany 1869
James Plihal
Craftsbury Green Racing Project, USA.
[ 32]