The Great River Race 2015
The Great River Race 2015 is under way.
I
magine a warm, sunny,
English Summer’s evening,
the sun shimmering on the
River Thames, a small rowing
boat, four experienced
rowers and me – my first
time in a rowing boat and
definitely my first time as a
rower! The scene couldn’t
have been more perfect,
despite the butterflies
fluttering nervously in my
tummy. I was given a few
practical instructions, taught
some basic terminology and
we were off! We glided
across the water, which was
as still as a mill pond, and I
was hooked!
That was the beginning of my
journey with ‘The Bench
Blisters’*, a team of fellow
London magistrates plus a
smattering of judges, court
staff and legal practitioners and
it culminated in me taking part
in the 28th annual Great River
Race last September, the
biggest and most prestigious
event of its kind in Europe.
Starting on the Isle of Dogs
and finishing in front of Ham
House, Richmond, there were
over 2,400 competitors in 333
traditional boats, 4 of them
ours, from all over the UK and
abroad. Being part of an event
with so many boats of all
shapes and sizes and crews of
all shapes and sizes (and
ages!), hurtling down the
Thames, was something I will
never forget. We had to battle
against a head wind and the
water was incredibly choppy.
However the atmosphere was
The whole Bench Blisters Team before the race.
electric and rowing past some
of the most iconic buildings in
London and under so many
famous bridges, was an
incredible experience.
We had terrific support from
the public too, with people
waving and cheering us on
from the banks and all the
bridges. My boat, the Anya, did
it in 3 hours 2 minutes and the
sense of achievement at the
finish was terrific. Although for
me, the most important thing
as we moored up was the sight
of a line of Portaloos!
Needless to say, thousands of
pounds were raised for charity
on the day as well. ‘The Bench
Blisters’ raised over £15,000
for a very special riverside
organisation. Shadwell Basin is
a charity based in East London
that offers outdoor and
adventure activities to the local
community.
One of the boats in action.
4
THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK
Many of the young people who
attend are from poorer
economic backgrounds and
activities in the holidays,
weekends and evenings are
highly subsidised. For just £5 a
day or £20 a week during the
holidays, a young person can
experience safe, challenging
and exciting activities like rock
climbing, kayaking or canoeing
and sailing. The centre offers
young people the opportunity
to directly benefit from such
positive life experiences and
the funds we raised will go
directly towards supporting the
costs of running these
programmes.
The Great River Race 2016 will
take place on 3rd September.
If you are interested in taking
part in this unique ‘River
Marathon’, you can contact
the organisers at: The
Boatyard, 44 Summer Rd,
Thames Ditton KT7 0QQ. Tel:
020 8398 8141.
I promise you’ll have the time
of your life!
* A ‘bench’ is a group of
magistrates in court and
‘blisters’ are what appear after
22 miles of rowing!
MICHÈLE MARRIOTT