From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
Women's Eights Head of the River Race
(
WEHoRR
) is a
processional
rowing
race held annually on the
Tideway
of the
River Thames
in
London
on the
4
+
1
⁄
4
-mile (6.8 km)
Championship Course
from
Mortlake
to
Putney
.
A mirror of the Eights
Head of the River
for male crews, it is held a fortnight earlier when the tides are similar. It is raced on the outgoing tide and starting around one hour after high tide in order to maximise advantage from the tidal flow.
Around 300 crews of women (with the occasional male coxswain) compete for over a dozen trophies and pennants.
[1]
There are categories for beginners, elite and veteran rowers.
History
[
edit
]
The race was first held in 1927 following the first running of the men's version in 1926. At first it was simply a match between Ace and
Weybridge
LARC. This race was run as a side-by-side race, with Weybridge winning in a boat borrowed from
Thames Rowing Club
. The second year featured the same two crews, and the same result. In 1929, for the third race, there was the addition of Alpha, having formed in a split from Ace in 1927. Alpha won this running of the race.
The first running of the race in processional format was in 1930, as the entries had risen to five, making it impossible to run fairly in the side-by-side format on the tidal river.
Furnivall Sculling Club
(then an all women's club) won this first processional version of the race. It then continued in similar format annually until the outbreak of
war
in 1939.
The event restarted in 1950, with a shortened course of 2 miles, as it was felt that the effects of the war years and food
rationing
made the full course too hard. Entries grew from the original five to twelve by the mid 50s, and then declined to only six by the mid 60s. The lack of sectional boats meant that it was extremely difficult to transport boats from further afield, so the event was largely confined to the London clubs.
In the period from the 1970s onwards, entries rose ten-fold from 27 in 1977 to 300 in 2009.
[2]
International crews have been visiting London to compete and entries have come from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the
Netherlands
and United States.
Records
[
edit
]
[3]
Past winners
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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Districts
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Railway stations
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Streets and roads
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River Thames bridges, islands
and river services
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Other rivers and streams
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Sports venues
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Events
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Breweries and pubs
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- Britannia, Richmond
- The Bull's Head, Barnes
- The Crown, Twickenham
- Dysart Arms, Petersham
- The Fox, Twickenham
- The George, Twickenham
- Hare and Hounds, East Sheen
- Jolly Coopers, Hampton
- Old Ship, Richmond
- Park Hotel, Teddington
- Richmond Brewery Stores
- Sun Inn, Barnes
- Twickenham Fine Ales
- Watney Combe & Reid
- White Cross, Richmond
- The White Swan, Twickenham
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Theatres, cinemas
and music venues
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Film and recording studios
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Media and publishing
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Public art
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Historical royal palaces
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Other places
of interest
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Tragedy and disaster
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Other history topics
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Parliamentary constituencies
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Other topics
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