Sunday, 3 September 2023

Traditional pursuits in September

 

Traditional pursuits in September – part 1

All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Dragon boat

On Saturday 16th September the Great River Race will take place in London. Known as London’s River Marathon, over 200 rowing boats of differing designs, race for 21.6 miles from Masthouse Terrace Pier in Millwall to Ham House in Richmond.

It started in 1988 and has grown into a race attracting competitors from across the world. Some are enthusiastic amateurs while others are committed racers, who return annually to try and beat their earlier times and/or to win a trophy.

The rules specify that boats must be moved by oars or paddles only, must have fixed seats and must carry a cox and a passenger, though these two may alternate with any of the rowers, provided they accord with the gender and/or age restrictions of that class. The requirement to carry a cox and passenger is in recognition of the tradition of the Thames Watermen, who were ferry operators and boatmen on the River Thames. Each craft must also carry a flag measuring 3’ by 2’. 

This extract, courtesy of ‘The Great River Race’ magazine, explains more:

”The idea of The Great River Race is to find the UK Traditional Boat Champions. The overall winners receive the Challenge Trophy of The Company of Watermen & Lightermen of the River Thames. This is a mounted Waterman's Badge, first issued to William Savage of Gravesend in 1803.

The race is open to any traditional-style boat powered by a minimum of four oars or paddles. Sliding seats and riggers are not permitted. Each boat must have a cox and, in keeping with the Watermen's ancient traditional role as the taxi drivers for the Thames, each boat must carry a passenger.

The optimum speed of all craft competing is calculated by computer and no account is taken of the potential abilities of the crews. Boats leave the start line on a pursuit handicap basis - the slowest first - and the handicap system is calculated so that all boats should cross the finish line at the same time if all crews put in identical performances. Thus it is the crew that extracts the most out of its boat, regardless of type, which emerges as winner. The same principle applies to all handicap classes."

The Great River Race promotes fixed-seat rowing on the Thames and its tributaries and encourages traditional boat building.  Many participants use the event as an occasion to race money for charitable causes. It is a colourful day out, with many crews opting to wear fancy dress, and attracts spectators at various points along the course.

Rowing boats ranging from skiffs to barges, and Cornish gigs to dragon boats, race under 28 bridges in hopes of winning a Great Race trophy. There are more than thirty trophies to be won in the various categories, including one for best fancy dress.

19 comments:

  1. I could volunteer to be a passenger and just enjoy the ride.

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  2. Excellent. I will be in London. I might to to Richmond park that weekend.
    We do a lot of the rowing in Cambridge, including the Cambridge bumps races. Usually a chance for people to cheer on teams and have drinks. :)

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    1. There's always a good reason to have drinks ;-)

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  3. That sounds like great fun to watch, or if you're braver than I am, to take part in :)

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    1. Nice on a fine day, not so good in the driving rain - and the weather is so unpredictable.

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  4. Water sports are terrific in summer, especially if you live close to the beach. But in the UK, a] I don't remember it being hot enough to swim or surf for much of summer and b] our house was nowhere near a beach. So I loved Great River Races. I still do, but now they are on tv.

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  5. It sounds like really good fun and a very social/sociable occasion for all. xx

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    1. Some take it very seriously. I just think it looks so colourful. x x

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  6. The race sounds like something I woud like to see. My grandson S was in a rowing team in high school and they won a few trophies.

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    1. Rowing is a really tough sport - hard on the legs and back, so well done to your grandson.

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  7. This does get a bit complicated...but...The Great River
    Race is now a charitable trust run by volunteers and
    with over 2,500 competitors competing for 36 trophies,
    it has become the biggest and most prestigious event
    of its kind in Europe...

    The BBC has been the broadcaster of the race
    since its first edition in 1981 and is offering extensive
    coverage of both the elite race and mass-participation
    event...
    Live coverage starts at 8.30am on BBC One and runs
    until 2.15pm, when it switches to BBC Two before
    finishing at 3pm.
    You can also watch the race online on iPlayer...!
    🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟

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  8. Let's hope for fine weather and a following wind;-)

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  9. I'm astonished to have to admit that I've never heard of the Great River Race. I shall have to look up the dates and watch it.

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  10. I suppose it is fairly parochial. We tend to be rather London-centric in the Home Counties.

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  11. Hi Janice - I'd never heard of it either ... I always watch the Boat Race - but this must be wonderful for a day out along the river bank somewhere - especially in decent weather! Cheers Hilary

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    1. The organisers do claim that the weather is (usually) better than for the Boat Race.

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  12. That sounds like a wonderful race, quite a delightful spectacle to watch. Thanks for making your way back to my blog. I wasn't writing there for quite a while.

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  13. I'm glad you came back to Blogland - it's a nice place, really :-)

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