Woodgate caused controversy at Henley Royal Regatta and his actions twice resulted in changes to Henley's rules.
A special Prize for four-oared crews without coxswains was offered at the regatta in 1869 when it was won by the Oxford Radleian Club and when Stewards' became a coxless race in 1873, Woodgate "won his moral victory," the Rowing Almanack later recalled.