Diamond Challenge Sculls

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]

Diamond Challenge Sculls
Venue	Henley Royal Regatta, River Thames
Location	Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Dates	1844 – present

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.

Past winners

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)

1920 to 1939

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	[13]
1931	Bobby Pearce	Leander BC, Hamilton, CAN	Fred Bradley	Pembroke College, Cm	[14]
1932	Herbert Buhtz	Berliner RC, GER	Gerhard Boetzelen	Berliner RC, GER	[15]
1933	Tom Askwith	Peterhouse, Cm	Humphrey Warren	Trinity Hall, Cm	[16]
1934	Herbert Buhtz	Berliner RC, GER	Winthrop Rutherford	Princeton University, USA	[17]
1935	Ernst Rufli	FC Zurich RC, SWI	Jiří Zavřel	Veslařský Klub, CZE	[18]
1936	Ernst Rufli	FC Zurich RC, SWI	Thomas Harold Tyler	Thames RC	[19]
1937	Josef Hasenöhrl	RV Ellida, AUT	John Francis Coulson	Argonaut RC, CAN	[20]
1938	Joe Burk	Penn AC, USA	Len D Habbitts	Reading RC	[21]
1939	Joe Burk	Penn AC, USA	Roger Verey	Akademicki Zwiazek Sportowy, POL	[22]
No races 1940–1945 (WWII)

1946 to 1999

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	[23]
1947	John B. Kelly Jr.	University of Penn, USA	Carl H Fronsdal	Bergens Roklubb, NOR	[24][25]
1948	Mervyn Wood	NSW Police RC, AUS	Bert Bushnell	Maidenhead RC	[26]
1949	John B. Kelly Jr.	University of Penn, USA	Jack H Trinsey	Notre Dame Club of Phila, USA	[27]
1950	Antony Rowe	Leander Club	Rob van Mesdag	Trinity College, Dublin	[28]
1951	Tony Fox	Pembroke College, Cm	Erik Larsen	Koge Roklubb, DEN	[29]
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	[30][31]
1954	Perica Vlašić	Mornar Club, YUG	Alain Colomb	Aviron Romand, SWI	[32]
1955	Teodor Kocerka	AZS Bydgoszsz, POL	Sidney Rand	Royal Air Force	[33]
1956	Teodor Kocerka	AZS Bydgoszsz, POL	Tony Fox	London Rowing Club	[34]
1957	Stuart Mackenzie	Sydney RC, AUS	Vyacheslav Ivanov	Krasnoe Znamia, USSR	[35]
1958	Stuart Mackenzie	Sydney RC, AUS	Vyacheslav Ivanov	Central Army Club, USSR	[36]
1959	Stuart Mackenzie	Sydney RC, AUS	Harry Parker	Vesper BC, USA	[37]
1960	Stuart Mackenzie	Leander Club	Teodor Kocerka	AZS Szczecin, POL	[38]
1961	Stuart Mackenzie	Mosman RC, AUS	Oleg Tyurin	Trud Club, Leningrad	[39]
1962	Stuart Mackenzie	Leander Club	William L. Barry	Quintin BC	[40]
1963	Gottfried Kottmann	Belvoir RC, SWI	William L. Barry	Quintin BC	[41]
1964	Seymour Cromwell	Nonpareil RC, USA	Alberto Demiddi	Club de Regatas Rosario, ARG	[42]
1965	Donald Spero	NY AC, USA	Hugh Wardell-Yerburgh	Bristol RC	[43]
1966	Achim Hill	BSGM Baumschuleneweg, GDR	Jan Wienese	Roei en Zeilverenging de Amstel	[44]
1967	Martin Studach	Grasshopper Club Zürich, SWI	Jochen Meißner	Mannheimer Rv Amiciitia Von 1876	[45]
1968	Hugh Wardell-Yerburgh	Eton Vikings	Kenny Dwan	Poplar, Blackwall & District RC	[46]
1969	Joachim Böhmer	SC Dynamo Berlin, GER	William B Tytus	Seattle Tennis Club	[47]
1970	Jochen Meißner	Mannheimer RV Amicitia, GER	Patrick Delafield	Tideway Scullers' School	[48]
1971	Alberto Demiddi	Club de Regatas Rosario, ARG	Jim Dietz	New York AC, USA	[49]
1972	Aleksandr Timoshinin	WMF Moscow, USSR	Seán Drea	Vesper BC, USA	[50]
1973	Seán Drea	Neptune Rowing Club, IRE	David Sturge	Lady Margaret BC	[51]
1974	Seán Drea	Neptune RC, IRE	Kenny Dwan	Poplar, Blackwall & District RC	[52]
1975	Seán Drea	Neptune RC, IRE	Jim Dietz	New York AC	[53]
1976	Ted Hale	Sydney Rowing Club, AUS	Peter Zeun	Peterborough City RC	[54]
1977	Tim Crooks	Leander Club	Jim Dietz	New York AC	[55]
1978	Tim Crooks	Leander Club	Hugh Matheson	Thames Tradesmen's RC	[56]
1979	Hugh Matheson	Nottingham Rowing Club	Johan Ghoos	Antwerpse RV, BEL	[57]
1980	Ricardo Ibarra	Mar del Plata, ARG	Rolf Thorsen	Horten Roklubb, NOR	[58]
1981	Chris Baillieu	Leander Club	Chris Howell	University of London RC	[59]
1982	Chris Baillieu	Leander Club	Allan Whitwell	Thames Tradesmen's RC	[60]
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	[61]
1986	Bjarne Eltang	Danske Stud RK, DEN	Steve Redgrave	Marlow Rowing Club
1987	Peter-Michael Kolbe	RC Hamburg, GER	Vasil Yakusha	Soviet Army, USSR	[62]
1988	Hamish McGlashan	Melbourne University BC	Andrew Sudduth	Harvard University, USA
1989	Václav Chalupa	Dukla Praha, CZE	Kajetan Broniewski	AZS-AWF Warszawa, POL	[63]
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	[64]
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	[65]
1997	Greg Searle	Molesey Boat Club	Peter Haining	Auriol Kensington RC
1998	Jamie Koven	Brown Alumni, USA	Greg Searle	Molesey Boat Club	[66]
1999	Marcel Hacker	RC Magdeburg, GER	Jamie Koven	Riverside Boat Club, USA

2000 onwards

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	Cantabrigian 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	[67]
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				[68]
2021	Graeme Thomas	Agecroft Rowing Club	Sebastian Devereux	Leander Club	[69]
2022	Oliver Zeidler	Frankfurt RS Germany 1869	David Bartholot	Rowing Australia	[70]
2023	Oliver Zeidler	Frankfurt RS Germany 1869	Piotr Płomiński	WTW Warszawa, POL	[71]
2024	Oliver Zeidler	Frankfurt RS Germany 1869	James Plihal	Craftsbury Green Racing Project, USA.	[72]
2025	Melvin Twellaar	Hollandia Roeiclub	Finlay Hamill	Waikato Rowing Club

See also

• Rowing on the River Thames