Following their Henley Royal Regatta debut last summer, the Oratory Cardinals Rowing Club are intending to brave the waters again this year. Initial interest gathered enough members to fill two eights although feasibility of dates has filtered this down to an eight comprising old boys from the last six years. Richard Adams has taken on the challenging task of bringing this crew to Henley standard in such a short period of time. The crew will train at the school boat house for two intensive weekends in the summer term before reuniting in late June on the Henley course to train each evening leading up to the Regatta Qualifying Races on 29th June. If the crew qualifies, it will move through to race for in the Thames Challenge Cup at Henley from 4th - 8th July. 

The Cardinals VIII hopes to meet the School 1st VIII on the Henley course for another race during the lead up to the Regatta.

You can follow the Club's progress for this and other events via their website at www.oratory-cardinals.org.uk and sign up for email updates throughout he season. Here you can also find archives of photos and video clips from past events and order club kit.

This year saw an old boys eight race the School’s 1st VIII for the first time. The racing was held on the Henley course just before the Royal Regatta. After a blisteringly quick start from the Oratory (a start that was later to prove one of the fastest starts at Henley of any British school crew), the Cardinals managed to pull back the lead and draw away to win by just over a length.
We very much hope that this can become a regular fixture.

The Club have just launched their new website at www.oratory-cardinals.org.uk The site feature results, photos and the press from past events, allows members to sign up to future events and supports a message board. If you’d like to join the Club, there’s even a form online! Or just log in and sign the Guest Book.