The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and best-known event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.
The event dates from 1839 and was originally called the "Henley Grand Challenge Cup". The Stewards resolved that a Silver Cup, worth 100 guineas, was to be competed for annually by amateur crews in eight-oared boats. One of the prize medals awarded at this first race was presented to the Regatta in 1969, and is on display in the Prize Tent.
The Grand Challenge Cup has since been competed for annually with the exception of the years affected by the two World Wars. The eligibility rules have varied over the years, but the premise that the Cup has always been open to all established amateur clubs has remained at its core. In its history the Cup has been won by foreign crews 45 times - 12 times by crews from Germany, 11 from the US, 9 from the former USSR, 4 times by crews from Canada, 3 times each from Australia and Belgium, twice by a Dutch crew and once each by crews from Bulgaria, Croatia, France and Switzerland.
The Cup itself records the names of all winning crews since 1839. The base was added in 1896 and subsequently extended in 1954 and again in 1986. The Book of Honour was added as an integral part of the trophy in 1954. In 1964, the winning Harvard crew of 1914 presented the Regatta with a new cup, identical to the original of 1839, which is now very fragile. This new cup continues to be used as the trophy awarded to the winning crew on finals day.
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