The Scullers Head of the River Race is a
rowing
Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically atta ...
race held annually on the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...
Championship Course
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 th ...
from
Mortlake
Mortlake is a suburban district of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes. Historically it was part of Surrey and until 1965 was in the Municipal Borough of Barnes. For many centu ...
to
Putney
Putney () is a district of southwest London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
History
Putney is an ancient paris ...
, open to
single scull
A single scull (or a scull) is a rowing boat designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand.
Racing boats (often called "shells") are long, narrow, and broadly semi-circular in cross-section in order to minimi ...
ers only. The race is held in November or early December each year on a week usually to suit the mid-morning or mid-afternoon timing of the ebb tide.
History
The Scullers Head was first raced in 1954 when it was won by
John Marsden.
[Daily Telegraph Obituary John Marsden 5 March 2004] It now admits entries of over 500 scullers
Main page noting new facts and full capacity of 550 entries has been reached in 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014. and is the largest sculling race in the UK for a single class of
racing shell
In watercraft, a racing shell (also referred to as just a ''fine boat'' (UK) or just ''shell'') is an extremely narrow, and often comparatively long, rowing boat specifically designed for racing or exercise. It is outfitted with long oars, outrigg ...
. The race gains enough entries to organise the greatest number of marshalls for any singles event on the Thames and it draws considerably more overseas single scullers than the same race held in reverse usually three to four weeks before, the
Wingfield Sculls
The Wingfield Sculls is a rowing race held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake.
The race is between single scullers and is usually on the Saturday three to four weeks before the Sc ...
, which dates to the middle of the 19th century.
In 2014 were the first admissions of categories for
adaptive rowing
Pararowing (or adaptive rowing) is a category of rowing race for those with physical, visual or intellectual disabilities.
History
In 1913, rowing for individuals with disabilities was initiated by headmaster George Clifford Brown at Worcester C ...
for athletes with disabilities, in TA and LTA
adaptive rowing classification Adaptive rowing classification is the classification system used for adaptive rowing. It is based on functional ability and is broken down into three specific classifications. This system is governed by Federation Internationale de Societes d'Av ...
s.
[
]
Annual organisation
The race is organised by Vesta Rowing Club
Vesta Rowing Club is a rowing club based on the Tideway of the River Thames in Putney, London, England. It was founded in 1870.
Vesta organises two head races every year; the Scullers Head and the Veterans Head.
History Foundation
Vesta Rowing ...
, Putney, London.
Results since 1990
Men
Women
See also
*Metropolitan Regatta
The Metropolitan Regatta is an international rowing (sport), rowing regatta. It takes place on Dorney Lake, Buckinghamshire near Eton, Berkshire, Eton next to the River Thames in southern England. It attracts crews from schools, clubs, and unive ...
The London Cup (singles). Held in late May/very early June at Eton-Dorney Lake.
*Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. First run in 1844, it is open to male scullers from all eligible rowing clubs. rowed by race-winning singles at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the thre ...
, forming the second prerequisite of the rare accomplishment of a 'Triple Crown' with those above and below. Held in July.
*Wingfield Sculls
The Wingfield Sculls is a rowing race held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake.
The race is between single scullers and is usually on the Saturday three to four weeks before the Sc ...
rowed by singles along the course in reverse, the last component of the 'Triple Crown'. Held in October or early November. Where the Scullers' Head is also won there is the theoretical possibility of a 'Quadruple Crown' for a single sculler able to win all four events. As the Diamond Sculls is not open to women, a win at the Scullers Head forms the last leg of the UK's Triple Crown for an all-round champion female single sculler.
*Rowing on the River Thames
The Thames is one of the main rowing rivers in Europe. Dorney Lake between Slough and Windsor, Berkshire is an international Cup, standard-distance rowing lake besides the Thames, and hosts the three main annual entry regattas for Henley: still n ...
References
External links
Scullers Head
Mortlake, London
Rowing in the United Kingdom
Water sports in London
1954 in sports
Head races
Recurring sporting events established in 1954
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