Henley Winter Series 2025

Henley Dragon Boat Club, Wargrave Road, Henley-On-Thames, RG9 3JD , Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 3JD

Henley Dragon Boat Club has now established the Henley Winter Series (HWS) as the winter dragon boating event in the UK. Bourne Water Dragons try to attend at least one of the 4 long distance time trials. The turns and staggered start provide exciting racing for the crews and an unexpected spectacle for members of the public enjoying a peaceful Sunday morning stroll along the River Thames.

The first ever HWS event was held on 21st November 2004, with 80 paddlers and 5 crews racing in thick fog round the 7.5km circular course. Since then, the event has grown in popularity with the first event of the 2006/7 Series attracting 13 crews and over 250 competitors.

2025 Prizes are awarded for the:

• Fastest crew at each event
• Fastest crew based on handicap at each event
• Overall Series Winner (the crew that records the fastest overall time for all four events)

Crews can elect to attend any number of races in the Series. The circular race course will be approximately 7km, with a turn around an island at each end of the course. Crews are set off from a rolling start at timed intervals.

Prizes are awarded for the:

• Fastest crew at each event
• Fastest crew based on handicap at each event
• Overall Series Winner (the crew that records the fastest overall time for all four events)

Henley Herald Newspaper Report

The river levels and conditions were perfect for the first race of the season boating from the Eyot Centre. Dragonboat & outrigger crews came from as far as Milton Keynes, Worcester, London, Loughborough, Bournemouth and Shoreham, braving the damp morning to embark on the 7km & 12km Henley Regatta course routes.

The outriggers set off first in their 12km two loop course.

The dragonboats created a stir on the water with non-stop battles down their 7km course. Each boat was released every 30 seconds onto the course in a pursuit race, with the faster crews starting last. There were tight battles between crews as the motion from the river & wash created choppy waters. Crews met on the Temple Island buoy turn, necessitating them to turn together. Faster boats seized their opportunities cutting in the inside and pushing past the battling crews. It was a true spectacle for those watching.

Rafters, a team from lots of places in the mid/south of England powered along coming first in the open category, 33:23:92, a crew full of men. Henley Dragons on home waters and Wraysbury Dragons battled it out for first mixed crew, with Henley just pipping Wraysbury in a time of 36:16:37, Wraysbury in 36:51:01. Soaring Dragons team seemed to stay out of trouble along with Hurricanes behind them.

It was fabulous to see Bourne Water Dragons from Christchurch Bournemouth paddle the race along with Pink Champagne. Crews of cancer survivors and their supporters. Such inspirational teams. They certainly did themselves proud.