Head of The River Race - Race Format

Race Format

The race is only open to men's eights and is considered to be the peak of the head race season — attracting the top UK crews as well as foreign clubs. Composite crews, drawn from more than one club or institution, are not permitted.

The Championship Course is that of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race but, unlike the Boat Race, the Head of the River Race is raced on an ebb tide from Mortlake to Putney. The starting time for the race is different every year and depends on the tide — the first crew (winner from the previous year) starts the race the next year. Start time is usually about 2 hours after high tide and crews start at about 10 second intervals.

The record time of 16 min 37 s was set in 1987 by the Great Britain National Squad.

The Race is usually held on the third or fourth Saturday in March each year, depending on tides and the date of the Boat Race. Usually the two events are held on separate days, although in 1987 and 1994, the Boat Race took place in the morning and the Head in the afternoon

Also raced over the same course are the Schools' Head of the River Race (SHORR), organised by Westminster School, the Head of the River Fours (HOR4s) sponsored by Fuller's Brewery, the Women's Eights Head of the River Race (WEHoRR), the Veterans' Head of the River Race organised by Vesta Rowing Club, The Veterans' Fours Head of the River and the Scullers Head organised by Vesta Rowing Club. The Pairs Head is run over a shorter course from Chiswick Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge. The Veterans' HOR and Pairs HOR sometimes race in the reverse direction if tides do not permit the usual arrangement.