Doggett's Coat and Badge - Timeline

Timeline

• 1 August 1714 - accession of George I of the House of Hanover to the throne
• 1715 - There is a myth that Doggett fell into the Thames, and was saved by Watermen
• 1 August 1715 - the first Doggett's Coat and Badge Race
• 1721 - Doggett dies, will leaves specific instructions for race to continue
• 1730 - race was won by Jack Broughton, a champion pugilist
• 1769 - Fishmongers' Company established strict regulations to ensure fair competition
• 1873 - race run with the incoming tide from this year onwards
• 1880 - race was won by William J. Cobb who was so proud of his victory he became known as 'Doggett Cobb'
• 1887 - race was won by William Giles East who went on to win the Sculling Championship of England in 1891, became a Queen's Watermen in 1898, and Barge Master to the King in 1906.
• 1973 - The fastest race yet, won by Bobby Prentice in 23 minutes 22 seconds.
• 1988 - race opened to unsuccessful prior competitors to row in their 2nd and 3rd years of freedom
• 1992 - Claire Burran was the first woman to compete. Sister of 1988 winner Glen Hayes, she came third in rough conditions.
• 2005 - 291st race was the closest in recent memory, with first place winning by only a few lengths, and 2nd and 3rd places were given a dead heat.