Isle of Ely

The Isle of Ely /ˈiːli/ is an historic region around the city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England. It used to be a county in its own right.

Etymology

Its name is said to mean "island of eels", a reference to the creatures that were often caught in the local rivers for food. This etymology was first recorded by the Venerable Bede.

History

Until the 17th century, the area was an island surrounded by a large area of fenland, a type of swamp. It was coveted as an area difficult to penetrate, and was controlled in the very early medieval period by the Gyrwas, an Anglo-Saxon tribe. Upon their marriage in 652, Tondbert, a prince of the Gyrwas, presented Æthelthryth (who became St. Æthelthryth), the daughter of King Anna of the East Angles, with the Isle of Ely. She afterwards founded a monastery at Ely, which was destroyed by Viking raiders in 870, but was rebuilt and became a famous Abbey and Shrine. The Fens were ultimately drained, this began in 1626 using a network of canals designed by Dutch experts. Many Fenlanders were opposed to the draining as it deprived some of them of their traditional livelihood; acts of vandalism on dykes, ditches and sluices were common, but the drainage was completed by the end of the century.

Diamond jubilee

A diamond jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th or 75th anniversary.

Western monarchies

Originally celebrated on a 75th Anniversary, this changed in Britain, with the 60-year reign of Queen Victoria, which was commemarated as The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and was celebrated on 22 June 1897, The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was celebrated across the Commonwealth of Nations throughout 2012.

Asian monarchies

In East Asia, the diamond jubilee coincides with the traditional sixty-year sexagenary cycle, which is held in special importance despite not being called a "diamond jubilee."

Monarchs such as the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors of China, and Hirohito of emperor of Japan held celebrations for their sixtieth year of reign, as did King Bhumibol Adulyadej the King of Thailand on 10 June 2006.

National governments also mark their sixtieth anniversary as diamond jubilees, as did the Republic of Korea in 2005 and the People's Republic of China in 2009.

In South Asia, the term is also used for certain 100-week anniversaries. For instance, in both India and Pakistan, a diamond jubilee film is one shown in cinemas for 100 weeks or more.

Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the three other regattas rowed over approximately the same course, Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Masters Regatta and Henley Town and Visitors' Regatta, each of which is an entirely separate event.

The regatta lasts for 5 days (Wednesday to Sunday) over the first weekend in July. Races are head-to-head knock out competitions, raced over a course of 1 mile, 550 yards (2,112 m). The regatta regularly attracts international crews to race. The most prestigious event at the regatta is the Grand Challenge Cup for Men's Eights, which has been awarded since the regatta was first staged.

As the regatta pre-dates any national or international rowing organisation, it has its own rules and organisation, although it is recognised by both British Rowing (the governing body of rowing in England and Wales) and FISA (the International Federation of Rowing Associations). The regatta is organised by a self-electing body of Stewards, who are largely former rowers themselves.Pierre de Coubertin modelled elements of the organisation of the International Olympic Committee on the Henley Stewards.

Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part.

It has been held annually since 1896, with the exception of much of the 1914-18 Great War (1915–16 to 1918-19) and the start of the Second World War in 1939–1940 season, and involves amateur, semi-professional and professional clubs. For the 2013 competition, 96 teams entered the tournament.

The final of the Challenge Cup is one of the most prestigious matches in world rugby league, and is traditionally held at Wembley Stadium, London. Despite London not being an area traditionally associated with rugby league, the final receives a lot of mainstream media coverage and is broadcast to many different countries around the world. Traditionally, "Abide with Me" is sung before the game, and has become something of a rugby league anthem.

Henley

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