The Championship Course: Map

Categories: Sport on the River Thames > Rowing venues > Sports venues in London > Rowing in the United Kingdom

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Putney Bridge

The stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake

and Putney

in London

, England

is a well-established course for rowing races, most famously the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. It is often referred to as The Championship Course. The course is on the tidal reaches of the river often referred to as the Tideway

History

In 1845 it was agreed to stage the Boat Race (which had on five previous occasions been contested from Westminster Bridge

to Putney) on a course from 'Putney Bridge to Mortlake church tower'. The aim was to reduce the interference from heavy river traffic on the race.

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 conducted 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 Oxford University Boat Club to an "International University Boat-Race" of coxed fours on the Boat Race course. The event took place on August 27, 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 U.S., and lead to the formation of the Rowing Association of American Colleges.

Landmarks

Principal landmarks, often used when racing, include (in order from Mortlake

to Putney

Landmark	Bank	Comments
The University Stone	South	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	Previously owned by Watneys, now brewing Budweiser beer.
Barnes Railway Bridge	n/a	When racing, crews must pass through the centre arch.
The Bandstand	North
The Crossing	n/a	Marks the start of the long Surrey bend.
Chiswick Pier	North
Chiswick Eyot	North	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	visible to crews, behind the eyot.
St Paul's School	South
Hammersmith Bridge	n/a	use a particular lamp-post that shows the deepest part of the river and therefore the fastest line.
Harrods ' Furniture Repository	South	the warehouse for the famous shop, now apartments.
The Crabtree	North	A pub.
The Mile Post	South	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 , 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	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	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	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 .