Background
The race was founded on 10 August 1830, at the instigation of barrister Henry Colsell Wingfield. The idea for the race was suggested at a dinner after a sculling race and following this a subscription dinner was held at the Swan in Battersea, where money was raised to fund the event, the rules were decided and a date was set.
The initial conditions were that the race should be run on the half tide from Westminster to Putney against all challengers, annually on the 10th August forever (10 August being Wingfield's birthday), though the first race actually went from the Red House, Battersea to Hammersmith.
The Wingfield Sculls, the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta and the London Cup in the Metropolitan Regatta made up the "Triple Crown" of the three premier amateur single sculling events in the United Kingdom.
Following the first Wingfield Sculls race, a separate Championship of the Thames for professional scullers was held for the first time in October 1831.
The 2009 race took place on Thursday 5 November.
Read more about this topic: Wingfield Sculls
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