Henley remembers its military might

SPORT can help bring nations together, celebrate history, develop teamwork and enable men and women, young and less young, to work together in the pursuit of brilliance. But rarely do you find all this encapsulated in a single event. The King’s Cup, however, a one-of-a-kind race taking place at Henley Royal Regatta (HRR) this July, might just manage it.

“The concept has been several years in the making and for me personally, a tally of 138 days away to date building the necessary links, support and confidence that we can make this happen,” says Chris Hartley, chair of the organising committee. “The Henley Regatta Stewards — and Sir Steve Redgrave, who chairs the management committee — have been terrifically supportive.”

This race is a reincarnation of the original King’s Cup contested in 1919, within months of the Armistice. The viability of reviving a full HRR that year — with more than 240 of the oarsmen from 1914’s regatta