The Great River Race

The Great River Race is London’s River Marathon. It’s a spectacular boat race covering 21.6 miles from Millwall in the East to Richmond in the West, travelling under London’s famous bridges. It appeals to every level of competitor, from dedicated athletes who come every year to beat their records to those who simply enjoy laughter, fancy dress and making money for their charity. It’s a great fun day out for both competitors and spectators.

It started in 1988 with 61 boats crewed by a bunch of enthusiasts ranging from young scouts to hardened offshore rowing veterans coming from diverse organisations such as rowing clubs, pubs, schools, boating societies and the armed services. It now has around 300 crews taking part and is an international event with competitors from America, Australia, and many European countries.

This is a race for ‘fixed seat’ only craft and a large variety of boats take part including the traditional Thames Watermen’s Cutters. The race is based on the Watermen principle and so each crew must carry a passenger and cox along with a 3’ x 2’ flag. A handicapping system is used to ensure fair play.

The Great River Race is now a charitable trust run by volunteers and with over 2,500 competitors competing for 37 trophies, it has become the biggest and most prestigious event of its kind in Europe.