Above: The large sign outside the Doggett’s Coat and Badge pub. It stands next to Blackfriars Bridge. The pub has no connection with the race other than the race passes it on the Thames, on the way to the end-point at Chelsea. The sign is a copy of the badge worn on the sleeve of the coat.
If you search for the word ‘Doggett’ on this Website you will find several articles that mention the famous race. This article will explain some of the details more fully. This year there is a good reason for describing the race for reasons that will become clear later. Doggett’s Coat and Badge is the name for the oldest rowing race in the world.
Sir Thomas Doggett was a famous Irish actor and comedian who became manager of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, and joint manager of the Drury Lane Theatre. Although there are several theories, there is no known reason why Doggett was so interested in sculling races on the Thames or in the Watermen’s Company. However, Doggett’s enthusiasm was so strong that he organised the race himself until his death in 1721 and he then left a will ensuring the race would continue after his death. The Fishmongers’ Company has faithfully complied with organising the race since his death although they admit that they are not really sure why they got involved when the race was for Watermen who were just ending their apprenticeship – not for Fishmongers.
The race – known as the Doggett’s Wager – is rowed over 4 miles and 7 furlongs (7,400 metres) on the original course chosen by Sir Thomas Doggett in 1715. The start of the race was from the Old Swan Tavern, on the north side of the Thames – just upriver of London Bridge. The end of the race was opposite the Swan Inn, at Chelsea, which also stood on the north side of the Thames. Because the Old Swan Tavern no longer exists, London Bridge has become the starting point. The Swan Inn, Chelsea, was also demolished many years ago and so the finishing point is the nearby Cadogan Pier.
Until 1873, it was a very tough race because the competitors rowed against the tide. There are stories that the race could take over two hours to complete. Since then it has been rowed with the tide and is usually completed in 25 to 30 minutes. Only the fastest launches on the river have the power to keep up with the rowers. The course record is held by Bobby Prentice who completed the course in 1973 taking just 23 minutes and 22 seconds. He is now Bargemaster to the Fishmongers’ Company and Upper Warden of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen.
The competitors are only allowed to take part when they are just ending their apprenticeship and about to become Licensed Waterman. Up to six apprentice watermen of the River Thames compete for this prestigious honour. In earlier times many apprentices took part in heats before the final race. These days so few men apply that only the final race needs to be organised. They row in vessels that are supplied for the race. Originally, it was raced every 1 August against the outgoing (falling or ebb) tide in the boats used by watermen to ferry passengers across the Thames. Today it is raced at a date and time, often in September, that coincides with the incoming (rising or flood) tide in contemporary single sculling boats.
The winner’s prize is the traditional Watermen’s red coat with a large silver badge on the sleeve, displaying a large oval badge displaying the horse of the House of Hanover and the word ‘Liberty’ – in honour of the accession of George I to the throne. In addition, each competitor who completes the course receives a miniature of a Doggett’s Badge for their lapel in a ceremony at Watermen’s Hall. The miniature badge is in silver for the winner and in bronze for the others who take part in the race. Monetary prizes are also awarded by the Fishmongers’ Company to the rowing clubs of those taking part, with £1,000 for the winner’s club, £600 for the second place, £400 for third and £200 for fourth.
In 2014 an extra race of six single sculls was rowed on the incoming tide from Shadwell Basin to London Bridge to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Watermen’s Company. In 1514 Henry Vlll gave Royal Assent to the first Act of Parliament for regulating watermen, wherry-men and bargemen which resulted in the formation of the Watermen’s Company – more correctly known as the Company of Watermen and Lightermen. The prize for the special autumn race in 2014 was that the winner received a claret colour coat instead of the famous red coat which is awarded after the annual contest.
This year – 2020 – the race had been scheduled for 3 September but current restrictions advised by British Rowing meant that competitors would not have had the chance to train on the Thames. The sculling boats in which they had planned to compete in the race, manufactured by Wintech Racing in China, were not due until August. The date in 2020 has been postponed until 16 March 2021, with a second race to be held the same year, on 8 September 2021. Apprentices will be invited to enter the appropriate race or may even qualify to compete in both.
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Know Your London 