Great River Race

Annual competition on the River Thames

Preparing for the start at Ham (2008) Through central London (2008) Finish at Greenwich (2008)

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 date of the race for 2023 has been set for 16 September.

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. Since 2009 the race has 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 and 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.

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 at Millwall upstream to Ham Landing near Ham House.

The 2010 race took place on Saturday 25 September, was 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 to the finishing point at Ham. 2012 Summer Olympics gold medallist Sophie Hosking and silver medallist Rob Williams were aboard the 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 the 25th edition of the race.[1]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Team GB Olympians last Hurrah aboard the Gloriana for this years Great River Race". www.richmond.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.

* v
* t
* e

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Districts|

* Barnes
* East Sheen
* Fulwell
* Ham
* Hampton
* Hampton Hill
* Hampton Wick
* Kew
* Mortlake
* Petersham
* Richmond
* St Margarets
* Strawberry Hill
* Teddington
* Twickenham
* Whitton

Railway stations|

* Barnes
* Barnes Bridge
* Fulwell
* Hampton
* Hampton Wick
* Kew Gardens
* Mortlake
* North Sheen
* Richmond
* St Margarets
* Strawberry Hill
* Teddington
* Twickenham
* Whitton

Streets and roads|

* A307 road
* A308 road
* A316 road
* Barnes High Street
* Castelnau, Barnes
* Church Road, Barnes
* George Street, Richmond
* Mill Hill, Barnes
* Mortlake High Street
* The Green, Richmond
* Kew Green
* Ringway 2
* South Circular Road
* The Terrace, Barnes
* The Vineyard, Richmond

River Thames bridges, islands
and river services|

* Bridges
* Benn's Island
* Corporation Island
* Eel Pie Island
* Glover's Island
* Platt's Eyot
* Swan Island
* Tagg's Island
* Trowlock Island
* Hammerton's Ferry
* Hampton Ferry
* Kew Pier
* Richmond Lock
* Teddington Lifeboat Station
* Teddington Lock
* former Twickenham Ferry

Other rivers and streams|

* Beverley Brook
* River Crane
* Duke of Northumberland's River
* Longford River
* Sudbrook and Latchmere stream
* River Thames

Sports venues|

* Athletic Ground, Richmond
* Barn Elms Playing Fields
* The Championship Course
* Cricket clubs and grounds
* Golf clubs and courses
* Hampton Pool
* The Lensbury
* Pools on the Park
* Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court
* Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre
* Thames Young Mariners
* Twickenham Stadium
* Twickenham Stoop
* former Ranelagh Club
* former Richmond Ice Rink

Events|

* Annual sports events
* Hampton Court Garden Festival
* Hampton Court Palace Festival

Breweries and pubs|

* Britannia, Richmond
* The Bull's Head, Barnes
* The Crown, Twickenham
* Dysart Arms, Petersham
* The Fox, Twickenham
* The George, Twickenham
* Hare and Hounds, East Sheen
* Jolly Coopers, Hampton
* Old Ship, Richmond
* Park Hotel, Teddington
* Richmond Brewery Stores
* Sun Inn, Barnes
* Twickenham Fine Ales
* Watney Combe & Reid
* White Cross, Richmond
* The White Swan, Twickenham

Theatres, cinemas
and music venues|

* The Bull's Head
* Crawdaddy Club
* The Exchange
* Olympic Studios
* Orange Tree Theatre
* OSO Arts Centre
* Puppet Theatre Barge
* Richmond Theatre
* TwickFolk
* Wathen Hall
* former Eel Pie Island Hotel

Film and recording studios|

* Astoria
* The Boathouse, Twickenham
* Eel Pie Studios
* Olympic Studios
* Twickenham Studios
* former Teddington Studios

Media and publishing|

* Richmond and Twickenham Times
* former Gaydar Radio
* former Hogarth Press

Public art|

* Public art
* Diana Fountain, Bushy Park
* The Naked Ladies
* Pope's Urn
* The Queen's Beasts

Historical royal palaces|

* Hampton Court Palace
* Hampton Court astronomical clock
* Hampton Court Maze
* Kew Palace
* Richmond Palace

Other places
of interest|

* 123 Mortlake High Street
* 14 The Terrace, Barnes
* 18 Station Road, Barnes
* 70 Barnes High Street
* Asgill House
* Barnes power station
* Brinsworth House
* Bushy House
* Chapel House
* Chapel in the Wood
* Clarence House
* Doughty House
* Douglas House
* Downe House
* East Sheen Filling Station
* Fulwell bus garage
* Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare
* Garrick's Villa
* Grove House, Hampton
* Halford House
* Ham House
* Hampton Water Treatment Works
* Hampton Youth Project
* Harrods Furniture Depository
* Hogarth House
* The Homestead
* Hotham House
* Kew Mortuary
* King's Observatory
* Kneller Hall
* Langham House
* Langham House Close
* Latchmere House
* Lichfield Court
* Marble Hill House
* Montrose House
* National Physical Laboratory
* Normansfield Theatre
* The Old Court House
* Old Town Hall, Richmond
* Ormeley Lodge
* Parkleys
* The Pavilion
* Pembroke Lodge
* Pope's Grotto
* Poppy Factory
* Royal Military School of Music
* Royal Star and Garter Home
* St Leonard's Court
* Strawberry Hill House
* Stud House
* Sudbrook House and Park
* Thatched House Lodge
* University Boat Race Stones
* Victoria Working Men's Club
* West Hall
* White Lodge
* The Wick
* Wick House
* Yelverton Lodge
* York House
* former Admiralty Research Laboratory
* former Alcott House
* former Camp Griffiss
* former Cross Deep House
* former The Karsino
* former Mortlake Tapestry Works
* former Mount Ararat
* former Pope's villa
* former Radnor House
* former Richmond House
* former Richmond Lodge
* former Sheen Priory
* former Star and Garter Hotel
* former Twickenham Park

Tragedy and disaster|

* Barnes child murder
* Barnes rail crash
* Ham bank murder
* Murder of Amélie Delagrange
* Murder of Julia Martha Thomas
* Richmond child murder
* Towpath murders

Other history topics|

* Adana Printing Machines
* Ashe baronets
* Cook baronets of Doughty House
* Darell baronets, of Richmond Hill
* GHQ Liaison Regiment (Phantom)
* Hampton Court Conference
* Kew Letters
* Petersham Hole
* Pocock baronets
* Richmond Flyers
* Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902
* Treaty of Hampton Court (1562)
* Vandeput baronets
* Warren-Lambert
* Wigan baronets

Parliamentary constituencies|

* Richmond Park
* Twickenham
* former Richmond and Barnes
* former Richmond (Surrey)

Other topics|

* Almshouses
* Archives, museums and art galleries
* Cemeteries, crematoria and memorials
* Churches
* Synagogue
* Grade I listed buildings
* Grade II* listed buildings
* Hospitals
* Local government
* Local council elections
* People
* Schools, colleges and universities
* Sports clubs

Parks, open spaces and nature reserves in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

## External links[edit]

* Great River Race web site

Media related to Great River Race at Wikimedia Commons
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