Schools' Head of the River Race
Encyclopedia
The Schools' Head of the River Race (SHORR) is a processional rowing
race organised by Westminster School
, held annually on the River Thames
in London
, England
, on the 4¼ mile (6.8 km) Championship Course
from Mortlake
to Putney
.
Emanuel School
in London, currently holds the record for the most winning squads, having won the race on 11 occasions. Aside from the Championship Course, the event offers a shortened course for smaller boats, such as J15 4s, J15 B 8's, and Maiden 4s. The shortened course runs from Hammersmith Bridge
(previously from London Corinthian Sailing Club
) to the regular finishing post at Putney
. However, CD Riches, the event manager, changed this in 2009. All crews now do the full course of 6.8 km
The current record holders for the larger events are:
The Schools Head of the River Race also forms one third of the prestigious rowing 'treble', most recently achieved by Eton College
in 2010. The treble encompasses winning the Schools Head of the River Race, the National Schools Regatta
, and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
.
* Shortened Course
Sport rowing
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 organised by Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, held annually on 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 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....
.
Emanuel School
Emanuel School
Emanuel School is a co-educational independent school in Battersea, south-west London. The school was founded by Lady Dacre and Elizabeth I in 1594. Today it has some 710 pupils, aged between ten and eighteen.-History:...
in London, currently holds the record for the most winning squads, having won the race on 11 occasions. Aside from the Championship Course, the event offers a shortened course for smaller boats, such as J15 4s, J15 B 8's, and Maiden 4s. The shortened course runs from Hammersmith Bridge
Hammersmith Bridge
Hammersmith Bridge is a crossing of the River Thames in west London, just south of the Hammersmith town centre area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham on the north side of the river. It allows road traffic and pedestrians to cross to Barnes on the south side of the river...
(previously from London Corinthian Sailing Club
London Corinthian Sailing Club
The London Corinthian Sailing Club is based on the river Thames at Hammersmith. Its activities include Dinghy sailing and racing on the river, and yachting in the Solent and further afield, as well as an active social side including 'Club Nights' every Tuesday evening.An RYA-approved offshore...
) to the regular finishing post at 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....
. However, CD Riches, the event manager, changed this in 2009. All crews now do the full course of 6.8 km
The current record holders for the larger events are:
- 1st VIIIs — Eton CollegeEton CollegeEton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
2009 (with three others crews, Shrewsbury, St. Paul's and Abingdon, going inside the record as well) - 2nd VIIIs — Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
II 2007 - 3rd VIIIs — Hampton SchoolHampton SchoolHampton School is an independent boys' day school in Hampton, London, England.-History:In 1556, Robert Hammond, a wealthy brewer who had acquired property in Hampton, left in his will provision for the maintenance of a 'free scole' and to build a small schoolhouse 'with seates in yt' in the...
2007 - J16 VIIIs — Hampton SchoolHampton SchoolHampton School is an independent boys' day school in Hampton, London, England.-History:In 1556, Robert Hammond, a wealthy brewer who had acquired property in Hampton, left in his will provision for the maintenance of a 'free scole' and to build a small schoolhouse 'with seates in yt' in the...
, 2011 - J15 VIIIs — St George's College, WeybridgeSt George's College, WeybridgeSt George's College, Weybridge is an independent mixed Roman Catholic co-educational day school in Surrey, England. It had historically been an all-boys' boarding school. The first girls entered the 6th Form in the 1960s and the school decided to take girls at age 11 in 1998...
2011 - J 4+ — George Watson's CollegeGeorge Watson's CollegeGeorge Watson's College, known informally as Watson's, is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871 and was merged with its sister school...
2007 - J16 4+ — St George's College, WeybridgeSt George's College, WeybridgeSt George's College, Weybridge is an independent mixed Roman Catholic co-educational day school in Surrey, England. It had historically been an all-boys' boarding school. The first girls entered the 6th Form in the 1960s and the school decided to take girls at age 11 in 1998...
2007 - J15 4+ - Westminster SchoolWestminster SchoolThe Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
2009 - WJ16 VIIIs — St George's College, WeybridgeSt George's College, WeybridgeSt George's College, Weybridge is an independent mixed Roman Catholic co-educational day school in Surrey, England. It had historically been an all-boys' boarding school. The first girls entered the 6th Form in the 1960s and the school decided to take girls at age 11 in 1998...
2007
The Schools Head of the River Race also forms one third of the prestigious rowing 'treble', most recently achieved by Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in 2010. The treble encompasses winning the Schools Head of the River Race, the National Schools Regatta
The National Schools Regatta
The National Schools Regatta is the largest regatta for juniors in Great Britain. Held annually in May the three day regatta offers events for junior rowers between J14 and J18.-History:...
, and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs.-History:The event was instituted in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
.
Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Abingdon | 16:53 |
| 2010 | Eton | 17:22 |
| 2009 | Eton | 16:47 |
| 2008 | Shrewsbury | 9:39* |
| 2007 | Shrewsbury | 17:06 |
| 2006 | Shrewsbury | 17:13 |
| 2005 | Eton | 17:24 |
* Shortened Course