The Henley-on-Todd Regatta (also called the Todd River Race) is a "boat" race held annually in the typically dry sandy bed of the Todd River in Alice Springs, Australia.[1]
Competition at 51st Henley-on-Todd Regatta in August 2012
It began – and continues – cautiously as a joke at the expense of the original British colonizers and the formal atmosphere of the British river races which continue today. Every year on the third Saturday of August,[2] the town holds a mock regatta which large numbers of locals and tourists attend. Food and drink are sold at stalls, "no fishing" signs are put up, and the celebration takes all day. It is the only dry river regatta in the world; thus, it was the first regatta cancelled because of wet weather, on the occasion when there is actually water in the river. This happened in 1993, when the event was cancelled for the year due to flooding.[3][4] However, the Alice Springs Hash House Harriers and Katherine Hash House Harriers running groups put their boat entry into the water and completed the course under protest of the track officials. This was televised by ABC and shown around Australia on the nightly news.
"Boats" are made from metal frames and hung with banners and advertisements, and teams of "rowers" run their boats in races through the hot sand. Races are also held in washtubs, human-sized hamster wheels and at the final event, modified trucks decked out as boats are driven by teams armed with flour bombs and water cannon. Many bystanders end up as casualties of the final battle. Traditional teams include pirates and vikings, complete with costumes. Who wins the final battle can be difficult to determine; even the announcers occasionally get a blast.
Reg Smith at the Alice Springs Meteorological Bureau proposed an actual regatta along the lines of the famous Henley Royal Regatta (at Henley-on-Thames, thus the name of the regatta) in 1962. The idea was taken up by the Rotary club of Alice Springs, and despite the fact that the town was 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) from the nearest large body of water this was never seen as a problem.
Watching seemingly sane people race in bottomless "eights", "Oxford tubs", "bath tubs" and yachts through the deep coarse sand of the Todd River is a unique spectacle amongst world sporting events and attracts many local and international participants.
The Henley-On-Todd Regatta is run entirely on a volunteer basis by three Rotary Clubs based in 'the Alice'.
^Turner, Lloyd. "Home". Henley On Todd Regatta. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
^Herrick, Robert (11 August 2014). "Yellow submarine to make a splash at Henley-on-Todd dry river bed regatta". ABC. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
^Nfld. & Labrador (7 August 2008). "Royal St. John's Regatta cancelled 2nd day in a row". CBC Canada. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
^Todd River Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^Alice Springs (waterhole) Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^Alice Springs Telegraph Station Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^Alice Springs (town) Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.
External linksedit
Henley-on-Todd Regatta Official website – Photos, history, contacts, events
Sydney Morning Herald on Alice Springs – Includes references to the Todd River and the Henley-on-Todd Regatta
November 28, 2023
henley, todd, regatta, also, called, todd, river, race, boat, race, held, annually, typically, sandy, todd, river, alice, springs, australia, competition, 51st, august, 2012it, began, continues, cautiously, joke, expense, original, british, colonizers, formal,. The Henley on Todd Regatta also called the Todd River Race is a boat race held annually in the typically dry sandy bed of the Todd River in Alice Springs Australia 1 Competition at 51st Henley on Todd Regatta in August 2012It began and continues cautiously as a joke at the expense of the original British colonizers and the formal atmosphere of the British river races which continue today Every year on the third Saturday of August 2 the town holds a mock regatta which large numbers of locals and tourists attend Food and drink are sold at stalls no fishing signs are put up and the celebration takes all day It is the only dry river regatta in the world thus it was the first regatta cancelled because of wet weather on the occasion when there is actually water in the river This happened in 1993 when the event was cancelled for the year due to flooding 3 4 However the Alice Springs Hash House Harriers and Katherine Hash House Harriers running groups put their boat entry into the water and completed the course under protest of the track officials This was televised by ABC and shown around Australia on the nightly news Boats are made from metal frames and hung with banners and advertisements and teams of rowers run their boats in races through the hot sand Races are also held in washtubs human sized hamster wheels and at the final event modified trucks decked out as boats are driven by teams armed with flour bombs and water cannon Many bystanders end up as casualties of the final battle Traditional teams include pirates and vikings complete with costumes Who wins the final battle can be difficult to determine even the announcers occasionally get a blast Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editReg Smith at the Alice Springs Meteorological Bureau proposed an actual regatta along the lines of the famous Henley Royal Regatta at Henley on Thames thus the name of the regatta in 1962 The idea was taken up by the Rotary club of Alice Springs and despite the fact that the town was 1 500 kilometres 930 mi from the nearest large body of water this was never seen as a problem Watching seemingly sane people race in bottomless eights Oxford tubs bath tubs and yachts through the deep coarse sand of the Todd River is a unique spectacle amongst world sporting events and attracts many local and international participants The Henley On Todd Regatta is run entirely on a volunteer basis by three Rotary Clubs based in the Alice The Todd River was named in 1871 by surveyor W W Mills after Sir Charles Todd 5 Superintendent of Telegraphs and Postmaster General of South Australia who was the driving force for constructing the Australian Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta to Darwin The river is usually dry but prone to flooding during the wet season Mills also named a waterhole in the bed of the Todd River as Alice Springs 6 for Todd s wife Alice and this name was subsequently used for the telegraph station 7 and later the town 8 See also edit nbsp Australia portalList of festivals in AustraliaReferences edit Brian Johnston 5 November 2016 Archive on 4 Down Your Way Alice Springs Event occurs at 16 28 Turner Lloyd Home Henley On Todd Regatta Retrieved 25 February 2022 Herrick Robert 11 August 2014 Yellow submarine to make a splash at Henley on Todd dry river bed regatta ABC Retrieved 7 February 2017 Nfld amp Labrador 7 August 2008 Royal St John s Regatta cancelled 2nd day in a row CBC Canada Retrieved 27 November 2020 Todd River Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020 Alice Springs waterhole Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020 Alice Springs Telegraph Station Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020 Alice Springs town Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020 External links editHenley on Todd Regatta Official website Photos history contacts events Sydney Morning Herald on Alice Springs Includes references to the Todd River and the Henley on Todd Regatta Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henley on Todd Regatta amp oldid 1184043588, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
