SELKIE HENLEY CLASSIC

Exclusive access to swim the world-renowned Henley Royal Regatta course at dawn

 SUNDAY 30TH JUNE 2024 

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When and Where:
Sunday 30 June 2024, 4am
Temple Island Meadows, Henley

Distance:
2.1km upstream

Entry Fee:
Early Bird Tier 2 From £59

Information:
Minimum age 14
Wetsuits Optional

Since 2004 Henley Swim has had exclusive once-a-year access to the Henley Royal Regatta course, allowing you the opportunity to swim the stunning, world-renowned 2.1km course at dawn. Henley Swim is privileged to be able to stage the Selkie Henley Classic on this beautiful reach of the Thames. This is the ONLY time you will be able to have a safe supervised swim on the course, while it is completely closed to boat traffic. This year is the 20th anniversary of this iconic swim.

The event starts with a short walk to the official regatta start, where the first swimmers will enter the water, just as the sun is rising. This River Thames swimming experience takes you past all the famous Henley Regatta landmarks including the Barn Bar, Phyllis Court and the Members’ Grandstand. As the church and bridge come into sight in the early morning sun, you reach the end of your swim at the Official Regatta Finish.

After a short walk back to the event area you are welcomed by the smell of coffee and breakfast, into the hub of swimmers exhilarated by what they have accomplished before most of the country wakes up.

The Selkie Henley Classic is a swim like no other, and once experienced, it’s difficult to stop yourself returning year after year. Give it a go, and experience for yourself the unique atmosphere of this event.

Due to strict restrictions of use of the river (the rowers are on the water immediately after the event) we have a small window between sunrise and 06:30am. Places in this event are limited and cannot be expanded. Don’t miss out, register NOW.

We are pleased to be working with Macmillan Cancer Support as our Official Charity Partner.  Macmillan aim to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, by providing physical, financial and emotional support. You will be able to sign up for a FREE charity place in the Henley Classic, and pledge to fundraise £250 to help with their incredible work. More details, pledge amounts, and how to apply…

River Thames swimming events
henley classic | River Thames swimming
selkie classic | River Thames swimming

SELKIE HENLEY CLASSIC FAQs

Please see our FAQ page for more general FAQs around all Henley Swim events

Selkie Henley Classic Wave Options

The Selkie Henley Classic swim is a River Thames swimming event and has several wave options to choose from.

Swimming on the Henley Regatta course is a privilege and we are very grateful for the support we receive. In return we have to be clear of the river by 0630 so it is important that you select the correct wave based on your anticipated swim time.

Please remember that it is an upstream swim so be realistic with your time and err on the side of caution.

WAVE 1 (Juniors and Schools)

Juniors (age 14-17 on 25th June 2023) and School swimmers will automatically be put in this wave

Junior swimmers will be set off slightly in advance of the sporting wave.

WAVE 2 (Sporting)

Select this wave if you  wish to swim at leisure or alongside friends.

WAVE 3 

Select this wave if you comfortably average between 2 mins 15 secs and 2 mins 30 secs per 100m during a distance swim.

WAVE 4 

Select this wave if you comfortably average between 2 mins and 2 mins 15 secs per 100m during a distance swim.

WAVE 5

Select this wave if you comfortably average between 1 min 45 secs and 2 mins per 100m during a distance swim.

WAVE 6 (Performance)

Select this wave if you wish to race hard (likely to be in the top 100 swimmers) and average below 1min 45 secs per 100m during a distance swim.

Teams – There is one team competition. A team can be made up of any combination of male or female swimmers and any number. The four fastest times will qualify for the competition.  Create or join a team during the entry process.

Elite Entrants

At the Selkie Henley Classic, elite adult swimmers participate in the Performance wave. All swimmers that are 17 or under on the day of the race will swim in the Junior wave.

Wetsuits are optional for all swimmers.

Event Location

The Selkie Henley Classic is hosted at Temple Island Meadows RG9 3DD, which is just one mile from Henley town centre. Parking is available at the event venue.

Swim Course

The course is a unique, straight line, point-to point-swim (ie no turns) and takes advantage of the boomed course of the Henley Royal Regatta. The swim is upstream, the strength of the stream varies from year-to-year, ensuring that no two events are the same.

Venue Facilities

Parking is available at the venue
Toilets and changing facilities will be provided
Hot & cold drinks & snacks will be available at the main event area

Timings

Full timings are given in the information pack. The general rule is to aim to arrive at the event venue around 75 minutes before your wave time.

Camping

Basic camping will be available on the Saturday night at Glebe Campsite. The cost is £21 per person in either a tent, campervan or motorhome and can be pre-booked when registering for the event.

Well behaved dogs are allowed at the campsite as long as they are kept under control, on a lead, and are cleaned up after. Should these rules be broken, we have the right to ask you and your dog to leave the site immediately without a refund.

The campsite is not run by Henley Swim, on-the-day camping may be available but will be more expensive.

Saturday Registrations

The venue will be open on Saturday afternoon for anyone who would like to give themselves a little longer in bed on Sunday, by collecting their race packs on Saturday afternoon.

Food & Drink

There will be food and drink available to purchase on the Saturday afternoon and evening, for campers and for swimmers collecting their race packs.

The food vendors will also be open for breakfast from around 3am to the end of the event at around 9am.

Event Memorabilia

There will be a range of Henley Classic and Henley Swim memorabilia available from our clothing partners Scimitar.

Swimmer's Forum

We have set up a Facebook Forum called Henley Swim Chatter, where you are able to discuss anything with fellow swimmers from nutrition and training tips to event transport.

Water Temperature

The water temperature at the Classic depends upon both the outside temperature and the quantity of rainfall in the days and weeks running up to the event. It is therefore very difficult to predict.

Based on previous years, at the end of June, we would expect the water to be between 17 and 19 degrees centigrade.