🚣♀️🚣♂️ The River Thames is the stage on Saturday 28 March for the 100th edition of the Head of the River Race, the largest single processional rowing race in the world. Spectating is free.
NEWSFLASH: The 2026 Head of the River Race is a wrap! Results 👇
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2026 RESULTS
CONGRATULATIONS to Leander Club A who defended their Head of the River Race in the 2026 edition of the race. An impressive victory for the A-Team at Leander saw them cross the winning line in a time of 16:47.5 and claim the Fairburn Trophy. Oxford Brookes University Boat Club A (16:56.4) were runners-up for the third year in a row. In third place, London Rowing Club A (17:20.7) were the Club Pennant Winner of the Vernon Trophy (awarded to the fastest non-university/academic crew). Oxford Brookes University Boat Club C took home the Bernard Churcher Trophy in a time of 17:20.5. For a full list of the 2026 winners visit the HORR website.
2026 RACE PREVIEW
Hundreds of men’s eights crews will take to the water on Saturday 28 March in the Head of the River Race. The best will include GB and international Olympians in club colours, The action gets underway at 12.15pm in the shadow of Chiswick Bridge in Mortlake. It’s a special edition of the race which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026.
HEAD OF THE RIVER INTRO
Photo: Head of the River Race
Founded in 1926 by Cambridge and Tideway oarsman Steve Faibairn, the Head of the River Race – known as ‘The Head‘ – began life as a target for local crews at the end of the winter training season. 21 crews took part in the inaugural race. It takes place annually over 4¼ mile Thames Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney – i.e. the Boat Race course in reverse. Click on the course map (left) to see the course in full.
Fast forward to the present day and over 300 crews are entered annually into the race. They form a single procession of men’s eights heading east on the River Thames. The winning men’s crew is the fastest to cover the course. The long-standing record of 16 minutes 37 seconds – set in 1987 by the Great Britain rowing team – was broken in 2023 by Oxford Brookes and then again in 2024 by Leander Club with a time of 16:26.7.
2025 RESULTS – HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE
CONGRATULATIONS to Leander Club A who defended their Head of the River Race title in 2025. A commanding victory for the A-Team at Leander saw them cross the winning line in a time of 17:06.7 and claim the Fairburn Trophy. Oxford Brookes University A (17:18.8) were runners-up for the second time on the spin. In third place, Thames Rowing Club A (17:25.0) were the Club Pennant Winner of the Vernon Trophy (awarded to the fastest non-university/academic crew). Cambridge University Boat Club A took home the Bernard Churcher Trophy in a time of 17:44.8.
Can Leander Club A and Thames Rowing Club A retain their Fairburn Trophy and Club Pennant Winner of the Vernon Trophy titles in 2026? Head to the River Thames on Saturday 28 March to find out!
2026 TIMINGS, VIEWING SPOTS & CREWS TO WATCH
🕞 Race starts at 12.15pm in Mortlake (Chiswick Bridge). The crews set off in 10 second intervals. The final boat is likely to start after 1pm.
🕞 Race finishes by Putney Bridge with the winning crew expected just after 12.30pm. The procession of crews over the finishing line will continue until around 2pm.
Photo: Matt Byrne
The full draw for the 2026 race will be published here when finalised.
Crews to watch: Current champions Leander Club A are on a mission to make it three wins on the spin in the Fairburn Trophy. They won it in a course record time of 16:26.7 in 2024 and successfully defended it in 2025. Oxford Brookes University A are looking to avenge back-to-back runner-up finishes as the hands of Leander. Thames Rowing Club are aiming to be the Club Pennant & Vernon Trophy winners for a third consecutive year.
Best viewing spots
A public towpath runs the length of the course meaning there is no shortage of good vantage points.
Mortlake will be buzzing at the start as all the crews gather with Chiswick Bridge providing an ideal place to take in the build-up and start of the race. En route Barnes Bridge is a favourite spot. Here the race is still in its relatively early stages. At Hammersmith Bridge the strain will be telling on the crews well into the second half of the course. The banks of the River Thames at Putney (a couple of hundred metres before the bridge) is the place to be to see the crews over the finishing line. Many rowing clubs and pubs will be serving refreshments.
THE BOAT RACE
🚣♀️🚣♂️ Last but not least … 2026 Boat Race alert!! The stage is set for Saturday 4 April and the 80th Women’s Boat Race and 171st Men’s Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge. It takes place on the Championship Course from Putney to Chiswick. Join some 250,000 spectators who will line the banks of the river!
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