Karsten and Rutschow-Stomporowski renew their rivalry

Because Henley is a little bit quirky, it's often dismissed as another British anachronism.

Far from it.

The length of the regatta course, at just over a mile and an eighth, may not be quite the 2000m of international competition, but don't be fooled into thinking this isn't a competition worth watching.

Many of those competing at Henley have World Championship and Olympic aspirations.

But what makes Henley stand out is that among the world class athletes, there are also club crews.

Where normally there's no chance of a lesser oarsman rubbing shoulders at a regatta with the great and the good, Henley covers a breadth of talent.

Although there is a minimum requirement (the qualifying races ensure that each event reaches a certain standard), this is Royal Ascot combined with a local point-to-point.

So among the club crews, look out for some impressive names.

Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell will row both in the pairs (or Silver Goblets, as the competition is known at Henley) in the premier event for fours, the Prince Phillip Cup.

Sir Steve looks for 20

Their fellow Olympic champion Tim Foster will row for the University of London against Britain's leading sculler Matthew Wells in the Diamonds.

The VIIIs of Australia (silver in Sydney) and Croatia (bronze) will contest the Grand Challenge Cup in the absence of Great Britain.

The women's equivalent, the Henley Prize, pits the Olympic champions from Romania against Australia and a scratch British VIII, including four who won gold at the latest round of the World Cup in Vienna.

There should be a great battle in the women's sculls, as Olympic silver medallist Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski looks for revenge over the woman who beat her in Sydney, Ekaterina Karsten.

Sir Steve will compete in the Queen Mother Cup for quadruple sculls (where each oarsman has two oars, as opposed to the standard sweep-oar, where each has one).

He will row for the club he represented throughout his international career, Leander, but three other crews will be trying to deny him.

But don't bet against him taking his medal count to a nice round number 20.