Saturday Snapshots #99

Making a splash – Henley Royal Regatta, July 2010

The Henley Royal Regatta has taken place at Henley-on-Thames every summer since 1839, when the racing took place on a single afternoon.  The Regatta proved so popular with oarsmen that the racing lasted for two days from 1840. In 1886 the Regatta was extended to three days and to four in 1906. Since 1928 its increased popularity meant entries exceeded the permitted numbers in several events, and so Qualifying Races are now held in the week before the Regatta to reduce the number of entries to the permitted maximum.  Today the Regatta extendeds over five days and attracts up to 35,000 spectators.  In 1851 H.R.H. Prince Albert became the Regatta’s first Royal Patron. Since the death of The Prince Consort, the reigning Monarch has always consented to become Patron, hence the “royal” in the title.

This is GB international rower & Olympic bronze medallist Matt Wells, making a splash in a quad race.

This is part of a series of non-food photographs that will be published every Saturday on CookSister – all previously featured  photographs can be viewed on the Saturday Snapshots archive pages.  All photos featured in Saturday Snapshots are available to buy as high-quality greeting cards or prints in my RedBubble store. They make gifts, for friends or for yourself!