Princess Grace Challenge Cup

The Princess Grace Challenge Cup is a rowing event for women's quadruple sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to female crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry.

The race is named after Grace Patricia Kelly (later Grace, Princess of Monaco; November 12 1929 – September 14 1982) who was an Academy Award winning American film and stage actress. Upon marrying Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in 1956, she became Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, but was generally known as Princess Grace of Monaco. Princess Grace maintained dual American and Monegasque citizenship after her marriage. The principality's current Sovereign Prince, Albert II, is the son of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. The American Film Institute ranked Kelly #13 amongst the Greatest Female Stars of All Time.

A year before the Princesses untimely death in 1982 she was invited to present the prizes at the Royal Regatta. The Princess Grace Challenge Cup was first presented in 2003 by The President of the Australian Olympic Committee John Coates. In 2004 Grace's son Prince Albert of Monaco gave out the prizes at the Royal Regatta.

The Princesses father John Kelly, Sr. was the youngest of 10 children born to Irish immigrants from Newport, County Mayo, Ireland. He won Gold in the Single and Double Sculls at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp and a Gold Medal in the Double Sculls at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Both times he won gold in the Double Scull he teamed up with his cousin Paul Costello who is also a 3 time Olympic Gold Medalist. He is the only rower who is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

The Princesses brother John Kelly, Jr. won the Henley Diamond Sculls in '47 and '49, and a Bronze Medal in the single sculls at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. As a wedding gift, he gave his sister his Bronze Medal from the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. In 1985 John Kelly, Jr. was elected President of the United States Olympic Committee, the appointment was short-lived. Kelly died unexpectedly later that year.

Philadelphia erected a prominent statue of John Kelly, Sr near the finish line of the Schuylkill River course that Kelly rowed. It is located just off of the scenic "Kelly Drive," which is named for Kelly's son Jack Jr. Every year, USRowing bestows the Jack Kelly Award on an individual who represents the ideals that Jack Kelly exemplified including superior achievement in rowing, service to amateur athletics and success in their chosen profession.