The Amazon Beats The Thames

*London’s Great River Race (GRR) – a scene at Lambeth Bridge. Picture: Great River Race Trust.*

23 September 2024

By Tim Koch

Tim Koch watches a Great Race on a Great River.

A press release from the Great River Race Trust reports:

In an exciting, and fast paced Great River Race, the Cornish Pilot Gig, Amazon, crewed by the Caradon Pilot Gig Club posted the fastest overall time (on handicap), to win the Challenge Trophy of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames…

Some 270 crews took part in the 21.6 river marathon, on a mostly bright and sunny day. Conditions soon settled from a choppy start, and crews rowed strongly to the finish at Ham…

In total, thirty-seven trophies are awarded at the Great River Race. The fastest overall female crew on handicap was WSV Woudrichem rowing a St Ayles Skiff; the fastest mixed crew on handicap was Burra Rowing Club racing a Shetland Yaol; and the fastest female crew (not including handicap) was Bristol Gig Club in a Cornish Pilot Gig.

*A map of the course and an explanation of the basic entry requirements. Graphic: Great River Race Trust.*

An explanation of the handicapping system, as well as some crew bios can be found in the Great River Race 2024 digital magazine.

Full results are here. The event website giving all the details: www.greatriverrace.org.uk

As the GRR passed down Fulham Reach towards Hammersmith, I was attending the 10th Anniversary of Fulham Reach Boat Club, a registered charity with a vision of “Rowing for All.” Its website says, “we aim to give access to rowing to a cross-section of our community, especially those who are most in need because of financial hardship or social circumstance and help them realise their full potential both on and off the water.”

Below are some pictures that I took as the race passed Fulham Reach BC. I have not attempted to identify most of the boats or crews, I think that the images can be enjoyed on their own.