Messing About on the Thames: The Great River Race

SallyB2
By SallyB2 Last edited 150 months ago
Messing About on the Thames: The Great River Race

You know, we really don't pay enough attention to our river. And there's an awful lot of cool stuff happening thereupon.

Saturday 17 September sees the 23rd annual Great River Race, which comprises over 300 crews racing 21 miles upstream from Docklands to Ham. Yup, that's a serious shoulder work out. While entries are closed for this year, it will still be some spectacle to behold. Especially as the craft involved include historical replicas and weird/fancy skiffs from all over the world. Add to that the fact that many of the crews paddle in fancy dress – well, we're talking river pageant already. Most of the boats race for charity, many of them in aid of Row2Recovery which helps wounded servicemen and women.

Anyone strolling along the Thames on that day is likely to get a glimpse of the racers – but the best places for spectators are rather obviously the start or finish lines.

Think it sounds fun? Fancy yourself as a bit of a nautical type? Hotshot on the rowing machine at the gym? Know your bowline from your eye-splice? Well, you've got a year to get yourself into shape for the next race....

Image by thomas100.

Last Updated 15 September 2011