Henley moved back as Pinsent seeks to avoid cancellation

Henley Regatta organisers have confirmed their intention to avoid a second successive cancellation by shifting the event to August, despite a clash with other rowing events.

The regatta was cancelled last year, for the first time since the Second World War, and this year’s event was in jeopardy when the original dates of late June/early July were deemed unfeasible.

Organisers investigated staging it at the London 2012 Olympics course at Dorney Lake, but they have now announced they are “cautiously but actively working towards” holding it at its traditional Henley home in the week commencing Aug 9.

They also confirmed it would “most likely” be staged with “limited site infrastructure and reduced spectator attendance”.

The committee of management, of which five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave is chairman, confirmed: “Our ambition remains to stage the best regatta possible in the context of the pandemic.”

The change of date means the regatta will now take place after the Olympic rowing competition concludes in Tokyo, Japan, on July 30. However, it clashes with the World Rowing Junior Championships, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Aug 11-15.

“Given a wide range of factors, including the pre-existing schedule of other events, the second week in August is the only practical option to accommodate a deferred regatta,” the committee of management said.

Despite the announcement, the event could yet be cancelled, with organisers stressing the plans are contingent on the Government sticking to its roadmap out of lockdown and the success of spectator pilots across sporting events in May.

Sir Matthew Pinsent, the fourtime Olympic champion, said: “The intention is to stage HRR. Not easy, not normal, but fingers crossed.”