"Mortlake to Putney" redirects here. For the cable ferry in Sydney, see Mortlake Ferry.
The Championship Course is a stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake and Putney in London, England. It is a well-established course for rowing races, particularly the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The course is on the tidal reaches of the river often referred to as the Tideway. Due to the iconic shape of the Championship Course, in orthopaedic surgery, an S-shaped incision along the crease of the elbow is commonly referred to as "a boat-race incision resembling the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake."[1]
Championship Course on a flood tide (e.g. for the Boat Race). The Start and Finish are reversed when racing on an ebb tide. "Middlesex" and "Surrey" denote banks of the Thames along this stretch, named for the historic countiesPutney Bridge
In 1845, it was agreed to stage the Boat Race (which had on five previous occasions been rowed from Westminster Bridge to Putney) on a course from 'Putney Bridge to Mortlake Church tower'.[2] The aim was to reduce the interference from heavy river traffic.
The course was later defined by two stones on the southern bank of the river, marked "U.B.R." for University Boat Race: one just downstream of Chiswick Bridge, close to The Ship public house, and the other just upstream of Putney Bridge. The course distance is 4 miles and 374 yards (6,779 m), as measured along the centre of the river's stream.
Races are always rowed in the same direction as the tide: from Mortlake to Putney on an ebb tide or from Putney to Mortlake on a flood tide.
Since the Boat Race moved to this course in 1845, it has always been raced on a flood tide from Putney to Mortlake except in 1846, 1856 and 1863. The Wingfield Sculls is also raced from Putney to Mortlake. Most other events race on an ebb tide from Mortlake to Putney.
In April 1869, the Harvard University Boat Club challenged the Oxford University Boat Club to an "International University Boat-Race" of coxed fours on the Boat Race course. The race took place on 27 August 1869 and was narrowly won by Oxford. The new Atlantic cable allowed daily reports to be received by all major newspapers across America within 23 minutes of the finish. U.S. public interest in the event was huge, with more publicity than any sporting event to date, and within two years of the event the "newly awakened interest in rowing at many of the most noted seats of learning" doubled the number of boat clubs in the US, and led to the formation of the Rowing Association of American Colleges.[3]
Landmarksedit
Principal landmarks, often used when racing, include (in order from Mortlake to Putney):
Marked by a post on the north bank opposite the stone on the south bank, the finish of the Boat Race and the start of the Head of the River race. Just downstream of Chiswick Bridge.
The large buoy marks the start of the area of the Putney Boat Houses. It has a reputation for ensnaring inexperienced crews when there is a fast ebb tide, for example during the various Head of the River races.
The University Stone lies on the south bank, marking the end of the Championship Course and the start of the Boat Race, just upstream of Putney Bridge.
includes a map of the course showing detailed rules for rowers, the deep water channel, local rowing clubs and other landmarks.
February 26, 2024
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Mortlake to Putney redirects here For the cable ferry in Sydney see Mortlake Ferry The Championship Course is a stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake and Putney in London England It is a well established course for rowing races particularly the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race The course is on the tidal reaches of the river often referred to as the Tideway Due to the iconic shape of the Championship Course in orthopaedic surgery an S shaped incision along the crease of the elbow is commonly referred to as a boat race incision resembling the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake 1 Championship Course on a flood tide e g for the Boat Race The Start and Finish are reversed when racing on an ebb tide Middlesex and Surrey denote banks of the Thames along this stretch named for the historic countiesPutney Bridge Contents 1 History 2 Landmarks 3 Events 4 Rowing clubs along the course 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editIn 1845 it was agreed to stage the Boat Race which had on five previous occasions been rowed from Westminster Bridge to Putney on a course from Putney Bridge to Mortlake Church tower 2 The aim was to reduce the interference from heavy river traffic The following year a race for the Professional World Sculling Championship moved to the course for the first time The Wingfield Sculls followed in 1861 The course was later defined by two stones on the southern bank of the river marked U B R for University Boat Race one just downstream of Chiswick Bridge close to The Ship public house and the other just upstream of Putney Bridge The course distance is 4 miles and 374 yards 6 779 m as measured along the centre of the river s stream Races are always rowed in the same direction as the tide from Mortlake to Putney on an ebb tide or from Putney to Mortlake on a flood tide Since the Boat Race moved to this course in 1845 it has always been raced on a flood tide from Putney to Mortlake except in 1846 1856 and 1863 The Wingfield Sculls is also raced from Putney to Mortlake Most other events race on an ebb tide from Mortlake to Putney In April 1869 the Harvard University Boat Club challenged the Oxford University Boat Club to an International University Boat Race of coxed fours on the Boat Race course The race took place on 27 August 1869 and was narrowly won by Oxford The new Atlantic cable allowed daily reports to be received by all major newspapers across America within 23 minutes of the finish U S public interest in the event was huge with more publicity than any sporting event to date and within two years of the event the newly awakened interest in rowing at many of the most noted seats of learning doubled the number of boat clubs in the US and led to the formation of the Rowing Association of American Colleges 3 Landmarks editPrincipal landmarks often used when racing include in order from Mortlake to Putney Landmark Bank Coordinates CommentsThe University Stone South 51 28 22 N 0 16 05 W 51 472861 N 0 268151 W 51 472861 0 268151 The Boat Race Finish nbsp nbsp Marked by a post on the north bank opposite the stone on the south bank the finish of the Boat Race and the start of the Head of the River race Just downstream of Chiswick Bridge Stag Brewery South 51 28 14 N 0 15 59 W 51 470474 N 0 266376 W 51 470474 0 266376 Stag Brewery nbsp Previously owned by Watneys and later by Anheuser Busch the brewery closed in December 2015 and is now earmarked for residential development Barnes Railway Bridge n a 51 28 22 N 0 15 14 W 51 472736 N 0 253758 W 51 472736 0 253758 Barnes Railway Bridge nbsp When racing crews must pass through the centre arch The Bandstand North 51 28 36 N 0 15 08 W 51 476572 N 0 252149 W 51 476572 0 252149 The Bandstand nbsp The Crossing n a 51 28 44 N 0 15 02 W 51 47879 N 0 250583 W 51 47879 0 250583 The Crossing Marks the start of the long Surrey bend Chiswick Pier North 51 28 57 N 0 15 03 W 51 482452 N 0 250937 W 51 482452 0 250937 Chiswick Pier nbsp Chiswick Steps South 51 29 04 N 0 14 51 W 51 484581 N 0 247463 W 51 484581 0 247463 Chiswick Steps Steps for the ferry which used to run across to the slipway in front of St Nicholas Church on the North side Chiswick Eyot North 51 29 15 N 0 14 45 W 51 487596 N 0 245814 W 51 487596 0 245814 Chiswick Eyot nbsp An uninhabited river island There is a channel behind north of the eyot navigable at high tide but it is never used for racing Fuller s Brewery North 51 29 14 N 0 15 01 W 51 487182 N 0 250411 W 51 487182 0 250411 Chiswick Eyot nbsp Just visible to crews behind the eyot St Paul s School South 51 29 20 N 0 14 09 W 51 488983 N 0 235855 W 51 488983 0 235855 St Paul s School nbsp Hammersmith Bridge n a 51 29 17 N 0 13 50 W 51 488129 N 0 230536 W 51 488129 0 230536 Hammersmith Bridge nbsp Coxes use a particular lamp post that shows clarification needed the deepest part of the river and therefore the fastest line Harrods Furniture Depository South 51 29 05 N 0 13 41 W 51 484633 N 0 227956 W 51 484633 0 227956 Harrods Furniture Repository nbsp Previously the warehouse for the famous shop now apartments The Crabtree North 51 28 55 N 0 13 25 W 51 482041 N 0 223482 W 51 482041 0 223482 The Crabtree nbsp A pub The Mile Post South 51 28 43 N 0 13 37 W 51 47852 N 0 226987 W 51 47852 0 226987 The Mile Post nbsp A stone obelisk forming a memorial to Steve Fairbairn founder of the Head of the River Race It was erected by members of Jesus College Boat Club Cambridge Thames Rowing Club and London Rowing Club and is precisely a mile from the Putney stone marking the end of the course Fulham Football Club North 51 28 30 N 0 13 18 W 51 474895 N 0 221655 W 51 474895 0 221655 Fulham Football Club nbsp The stadium is known as Craven Cottage crews stay wide round the bend as the area in front of the ground is shallow with slack water The Black Buoy South 51 28 16 N 0 13 16 W 51 471211 N 0 221132 W 51 471211 0 221132 The Black Buoy nbsp The large buoy marks the start of the area of the Putney Boat Houses It has a reputation for ensnaring inexperienced crews when there is a fast ebb tide for example during the various Head of the River races The Putney Stone South 51 28 02 N 0 12 50 W 51 467319 N 0 213756 W 51 467319 0 213756 Boat Race start nbsp The University Stone lies on the south bank marking the end of the Championship Course and the start of the Boat Race just upstream of Putney Bridge Events editBoustead Cup February March Women s Eights Head of the River Race March Schools Head of the River Race March Head of the River Race March April Veterans Head March The Boat Races The Boat Race Women s Boat Race and The Lightweight Boat Races 4 March April Wingfield Sculls October November Pairs Head of the River rowed as far as Harrods October Head of the River Fours November Veteran Fours Head of the River November Scullers Head November December Rowing clubs along the course edit nbsp Boat houses on the river bank near PutneyTideway Scullers School Thames Tradesmen s Rowing Club Emanuel School Boat Club Cygnet Rowing Club Barnes Bridge Ladies Rowing Club Sons of the Thames Rowing Club Latymer Upper School Boat Club Furnivall Sculling Club St Pauls School Boat Club Auriol Kensington Rowing Club Nautilus Rowing Club British Rowing headquarters Fulham Reach Boat Club Barn Elms Rowing Club Parr s Priory Rowing Club Imperial College Boat Club Thames Rowing Club Vesta Rowing Club Crabtree Boat Club King s College School Boat Club Dulwich College Boat Club Westminster School Boat Club HSBC Rowing Club London Rowing Club Putney High School Boat Club The London Oratory School Boat ClubSee also editRowing on the River Thames University Boat Race StonesReferences edit Wolfe Scott 2017 Green s Operative Hand Surgery Philadelphia PA Elsevier p 875 ISBN 9781455774272 Parishes Putney A History of the County of Surrey Volume 4 1912 pp 78 83 Date accessed 31 March 2010 Miller Bill 2006 1869 The Great International Boat Race Friends of Rowing History Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 8 April 2008 Lightweight Boat Races Oxford vs Cambridge External links editThe Port of London Rowing Chart includes a map of the course showing detailed rules for rowers the deep water channel local rowing clubs and other landmarks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Championship Course amp oldid 1195611097, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
