Regattas along the River Thames

The River Thames is a very social river. Regattas are mainly amateur competitions but can also be championships for a particular area or type of boat.They are considered great opportunities for leisure and for promoting rowing.

Regattas consist of a series of boat races with other social activities such as dragon boat racing (Marlow Town Regatta). The regatta is regarded as part of the English social season and Henley is national institution. Since the first Regatta in 1839 (Royal from 1851), Henley Regatta has been the focus of national and international rowing competition. Each year it attracts the best crews from around the world to a unique sporting and social event which now engages more spectators than ever before.

Marlow Regatta (not to be confused with Marlow Town Regatta) is one of the major regattas in the British Rowing calendar, it is an independent regatta that isn't run on behalf of a single rowing club, but is organised by a committee of volunteers on behalf of the regatta Subscribers. In 2001, after 145 years on the River Thames in Marlow, the regatta moved to the multi-lane rowing course at Dorney Lake, Eton (near Windsor).

The Marlow Town Regatta combines a traditional rowing Regatta and its garden party ambiance with a ‘family day’ of Dragon Boat racing.

Egham Regatta was founded in 1909 & is still the only regatta on the River Thames for rowing skiffing & punting. The regatta is close to Runneymede meadows.The regatta is one of the largest sporting events in Runnymede, attracting young rowers from across southern England.

Chertsey and Shepperton Regatta is a regatta for skiff and punt racing held on Dumsey Meadow annually at the end of July or beginning of August. Since its founding over 160 years ago, the regatta has made an important contribution to rowing and punting sports.