Great River Race

The Great River Race has been in existence since 1988. The same year, local boat builder, Eric Mastin finished a new skiff.
The new boat, the Tertius Metcalf, named after a well known local character in Gravesend, was entered into that very first
race. The following 3 years saw the Gravesend Regatta Committee win their class in the Tertius Metcalf.

The Gravesend Regatta skiffs have been rowed in the race on and off over the years, with varying success. However, 2007
saw 'Team Hefty' win the Clayton class trophy in the Grosvenor Waste Management Ltd sponsored boat. This is the first time
that one of our new fibre-glass skiffs has won in their class.

Below are pictures of different crews in the race, in Gravesend Regatta skiffs, over the years. Teams often row in fancy dress
and as today's course from Richmond to Greenwich is some 22 miles, it is an ideal opportunity to get sponsorship for good
causes.

The photographs of teams in fancy dress and in the sponsored skiffs are all from 2007. The teams all did well in their class and the final
two photographs are of the winning Clayton class skiff, Team Hefty. The picture to the left shows them receiving their trophy and from
left to right are, Paul Mitchell, Adam Rowland, Andy Hinde, Steve Jarrett and Tim Hart. Their passenger in the race was Tim's daughter,
Sophie.

We shall update this page, as we get further information about Gravesend Regatta skiffs entries in the race. We are currently trying to
obtain records of results of the race since 1988 to present day.

Originally the course was over 18 miles and the first few years
saw entries in the region of 60 crews. The race attracts all sorts
of boats, from skiffs, gigs, dragon boats and whalers, to name
just a few. Providing you have a cox and a passenger and row
on fixed seats you can enter. Boats are handicapped and
trophies are given for many different classes of boat. The entries
nowadays are up to almost 300 crews.

2005 celebrated the Battle of Trafalgar's 200th birthday and was
an extra special event.

The picture to the right and those above are from past Great
River Races.