Great River Race

The competition was started in 1988 and covers a 21-mile (34 km) course on the tidal Thames between Ham, London and Greenwich.

The race attracts serious racers as well as leisure rowers, making it a water-based equivalent of the London Marathon, and an interesting and colourful spectacle for the many who come to watch from the bridges and river banks.

The ITN crew took part in a C8 Canadian canoe while the BBC team rowed a Thames Watermen's Cutter.

On Saturday 15 September 2012, Gloriana (specially commissioned for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant) was the leading boat of the oar-race on the final stretch from Richmond to the finishing point at Ham.

It passed under Richmond Bridge before mooring up opposite the finish, below Ham House, in time to greet the winner of the 25th edition of the race.

Preparing for the start at Ham (2008)
Through central London (2008)
Finish at Greenwich (2008)