The Great River Race is an annual competition held on the River Thames for any traditional-style coxed boat propelled by oars or paddles.
The competition was started in 1988 and covers a 21 mile (34 km) course on the tidal Thames between Ham, London and Greenwich. It is usually held on a Saturday in September. The race has for the past 4 years been run in the opposite direction, i.e. upstream with the tide from Greenwich to Ham. This appears to be the preferred arrangement for the organisers & the competitors alike.
The rules stipulate that boats must be moved by oars or paddles and have a cox and a passenger (although both cox and passenger may alternate with rowers during the race). Up to 300 boats take part including Gigs, Skiffs, Celtic Longboats, Cutters, Currachs, Dragon Boats, Whaleboats and an assortment of novelty craft. Boats are handicapped by class to provide an overall competition as well as competitions by class. As handicapping is on a slowest-away first basis, this makes for a lively race.
The race attracts serious racers as well as leisure rowers, making it a water-based equivalent of the London Marathon, and an interesting and colourful spectacle for the many who come to watch from the bridges and river banks. Every boat is required to carry a flag, and the prizes include one for fancy dress.
Since 2008, all crews taking part have been equipped with a GPS tracking system which allows both race organisers and members of the public to track the progress of competitors throughout the race by logging on to the Great River Race website.
The race is dependent on the tide and was originally rowed downstream on the outgoing tide. In 2009, the Great River Race was for the first time rowed upstream on an incoming tide. Competitors rowed from Docklands Sailing Club upstream to Ham Landing near Ham House.
The 2010 race took place on Saturday 25th September, was once again run upstream and featured a challenge by a crew from ITN London News issued to their counterparts in BBC London News. The ITN crew took part in a C8 Canadian canoe while the BBC team rowed a Thames Watermen's Cutter.
On Saturday 15 September 2012, Gloriana (specially commissioned for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant) was the leading boat of the oar-race on the final stretch from Richmond, London to the finishing point at Ham, London. Gold Medal rower Sophie Hosking and Silver Medallist Rob Williams was on aboard the Royal Gloriana. It was also rowed by youngsters supported by The Rowing Foundation, the Race’s official charity. It passed under Richmond Bridge before mooring up opposite the finish, below Ham House, in time to greet the winner of London’s 25th River Marathon.
Famous quotes containing the words river and/or race:
“It is ... despair at the mutability of all created things that links the Artist and the Ascetic—a desire to purify and preserve—to set oneself apart—somehow—from the river flowing onward to the grave.”
—Michele Murray (1933–1974)
“He who should inspire and lead his race must be defended from travelling with the souls of other men, from living, breathing, reading and writing in the daily, time-worn yoke of their opinions.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)