Watch the Head of the River race

London's other rowing race kicks off today at 2.15pm, an annual race along the 4¼ mile Thames Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney, undertaken by over 400 competing crews of 'eights', racing the river in timed sections rather than to be the first boat on the water, in an event known as Head of the River.



Head of the River was first held in 1926, when 21 crews took part, and by in 1978, more than 400 crews were participating. For safety reasons an top limit of 420 was imposed and if more crews apply to take part, the participants are drawn out of a hat. It's a great spectacle, and when your author witnessed the race by chance during a walk by the river a good few years ago, it was quite a surprise.

For more, see http://www.horr.co.uk/

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