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The Steve Faldo Memorial Barge-Driving Race 2010
Sun 12 September 2010
12.30 – 1pm Newcomers Race -
3.30 – 4.15pm Steve Faldo Memorial Race -
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Photo: Nathalie Crouch
The Steve Faldo Memorial Barge-Driving Race re-enacts the way watermen manoeuvred their barges on the Thames in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when goods from cargo ships were offloaded onto barges, or ‘lighters’, and rowed with long oars to quayside warehouses.
The teams competing in this impressive race require skill and strength to propel these heavy un-powered vessels and ride the river currents. The main race features barges crewed by modern-day watermen and lightermen, who work on boats up and down the Thames from Woolwich to Hampton Court. The earlier race features novice crews, made up of friends, family and apprentices of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen. The race commemorates the captain of the Marchioness, who died along with fifty others when it sank after being run down by a dredger on 20 August 1989.
1 comment
Fantastic event watched by so many on Steve Woolacott`s “Pride of London”.
Many of whom had had their first taste of “under-oars” with me many years ago.
Many of whom had the chance of getting their own back after long hours of classroom drudgery, but were kind enough not to.
Thanks to Eddie Smith and Ltge Research Committee for organising.
When is the next one ???
By Ted Hunt on Sat 18 September 2010
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