Head of the River Fours
Encyclopedia
The Fuller's Head of the River Fours (HOR4s) is a processional rowing
race held annually on the Tideway
of the River Thames
in London
on the 4¼ mile (6.8 km) Championship Course
from Mortlake
to Putney
.
, the governing body who looked after manual workers who could not join the ARA
which did not recognise their amateur status.
Despite picking a date for the new race, the TARA soon dropped their plans after learning that the Tradesmen's Rowing Clubs Association (the body who looked after real professionals — i.e., those who worked with boats for a living) had also started to organise a similar open fours race.
And so it was that the fledging "Head of the River 4's" was first raced in 1955. In the following years the race was known as the Tradesmen's Rowing Club's Association Head of the River Fours, though even at this stage ARA clubs were entering along with NARA and TRCA clubs.
In the late 1950s the ARA and NARA finally merged into the Amateur Rowing Association of Great Britain. The event then became known simply as the Head of the River Fours, and was handed over to a new Committee in 1963 after the TRCA's eventual amalgamation.
Since that time many changes have taken place to the race, including the course length and alterations and additions to the status and boat classifications available. Of particular interest was the introduction of quadruple sculls in 1969 when there were three entries. A women's junior quadruple sculls event was added in 2005, in 2007, Women's Elite Coxed Fours were scrapped to be replaced with Women's Senior 2 Coxless Fours and the 2008 race will see the introduction of both Elite Open Lightweight and Elite Women's Lightweight quads for the first time.
The current breakdown of events of offer is as follows:
Quadruple sculls
(4x) (Nine Events)
Open Elite;
Women's Elite;
Open Elite Lwt;
Women's Elite Lwt;
Open Senior 1;
Open Senior 2;
Women's Senior 2;
Open Junior;
Women's junior
Coxless four
s (4-) (Five Events)
Open Elite;
Women's Elite;
Open Senior 1;
Open Senior 2;
Women's Senior 2
Coxed four
s (4+) (Eight Events)
Open Elite;
Open Senior 1;
Open Senior 2;
Women's Senior 2;
Open Senior 3 (Club and Academic),
Women's Senior 3 (Club and Academic)
In the first race, 34 crews rowed over a three mile course from Chiswick
Steps to Putney Pier. The entry has grown steadily over the years and in 1990 the race was extended to the full four and a quarter mile Championship Course
from Mortlake
to Putney
(i.e., the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race course in reverse).
For many years the entry exceeded the 500 permitted maximum, but in 1997 the Port of London Authority
agreed to a request for 50 more crews. Even with 550 places available (the largest number of crews entered in a one race in the UK) the race is still heavily oversubscribed.
Fuller, Smith and Turner
began their sponsorship of the Race in 1979 and event winners are rewarded each year with excellent hospitality in the Hock Cellar at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, where the prizes are presented.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
race held annually on the Tideway
Tideway
The Tideway is a name given to the part of the River Thames in England that is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock and is just under long...
of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on the 4¼ mile (6.8 km) Championship Course
The Championship Course
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...
from Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
to Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
.
History
The idea for a Tradesmen's Tideway Head Race for fours, was first mooted in the early 1950s by the Thames Amateur Rowing Association. The TARA was the Thames branch of the National Amateur Rowing AssociationNational Amateur Rowing Association
The National Amateur Rowing Association was founded in 1890 to cater for the large number of working class men who were prevented from joining the Amateur Rowing Association by virtue of their manual occupations...
, the governing body who looked after manual workers who could not join the ARA
Amateur Rowing Association
British Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association , is the governing body in England for the sport of rowing. It is also responsible for the development and organisation of international rowing teams representing Great Britain...
which did not recognise their amateur status.
Despite picking a date for the new race, the TARA soon dropped their plans after learning that the Tradesmen's Rowing Clubs Association (the body who looked after real professionals — i.e., those who worked with boats for a living) had also started to organise a similar open fours race.
And so it was that the fledging "Head of the River 4's" was first raced in 1955. In the following years the race was known as the Tradesmen's Rowing Club's Association Head of the River Fours, though even at this stage ARA clubs were entering along with NARA and TRCA clubs.
In the late 1950s the ARA and NARA finally merged into the Amateur Rowing Association of Great Britain. The event then became known simply as the Head of the River Fours, and was handed over to a new Committee in 1963 after the TRCA's eventual amalgamation.
Since that time many changes have taken place to the race, including the course length and alterations and additions to the status and boat classifications available. Of particular interest was the introduction of quadruple sculls in 1969 when there were three entries. A women's junior quadruple sculls event was added in 2005, in 2007, Women's Elite Coxed Fours were scrapped to be replaced with Women's Senior 2 Coxless Fours and the 2008 race will see the introduction of both Elite Open Lightweight and Elite Women's Lightweight quads for the first time.
The current breakdown of events of offer is as follows:
Quadruple sculls
Quad scull
A quad scull, or quadruple scull in full, is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
(4x) (Nine Events)
Open Elite;
Women's Elite;
Open Elite Lwt;
Women's Elite Lwt;
Open Senior 1;
Open Senior 2;
Women's Senior 2;
Open Junior;
Women's junior
Coxless four
Coxless four
A coxless four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of four rowers, each having one oar. There are two rowers on the stroke side and two on the bow side...
s (4-) (Five Events)
Open Elite;
Women's Elite;
Open Senior 1;
Open Senior 2;
Women's Senior 2
Coxed four
Coxed four
A coxed four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a cox....
s (4+) (Eight Events)
Open Elite;
Open Senior 1;
Open Senior 2;
Women's Senior 2;
Open Senior 3 (Club and Academic),
Women's Senior 3 (Club and Academic)
In the first race, 34 crews rowed over a three mile course from Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
Steps to Putney Pier. The entry has grown steadily over the years and in 1990 the race was extended to the full four and a quarter mile Championship Course
The Championship Course
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...
from Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
to Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
(i.e., the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race course in reverse).
For many years the entry exceeded the 500 permitted maximum, but in 1997 the Port of London Authority
Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority is a self-funding public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and the authority is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the...
agreed to a request for 50 more crews. Even with 550 places available (the largest number of crews entered in a one race in the UK) the race is still heavily oversubscribed.
Fuller, Smith and Turner
Fuller, Smith and Turner
Fuller's Brewery is a regional brewery founded in 1845 at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, West London.It has an estate of over three hundred public houses.-History:...
began their sponsorship of the Race in 1979 and event winners are rewarded each year with excellent hospitality in the Hock Cellar at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, where the prizes are presented.