The Great River Race Report
Published 15:23 on 22 Sep 2025
A year ago as the newly appointed and first rowing race skipper at DQ I was given a free reign to select a Skippers Invitation Crew, to train and compete in the 2025 London Great River Race along the River Thames from Millwall Slipway to Ham House, a distance of 21miles.
The River Race attracts an international field of rowers from all parts of the UK, Europe, the USA and beyond. Some crews enter purely for fun and the experience of rowing through the iconic sights of London, some for the challenge of completing this tough endurance event and some for competition and the chance to pitch themselves alongside the best the rowing fraternity has to offer. I have to say, my motivation was the latter of those options.
Enter centre stage, the crew....
- Cox Nikki Buchanan
- 4. Stroke- yours truly- Nigel Foster
- 3. Midship- Andrew Graham
- 2. Midship- Andrew Buchanan
- 1. Bow- Iain Campbell
The rules of the River Race dictate the necessity to carry a passenger and we were delighted when our Vice Commodore Sarah Haig accepted our invitation to take a seat in the boat. This was not however a sedintary role. Sarah was to play an active part in our race management plan, counting overtakes to calculate our race position, assisting the cox with spotting obstacles and hazards and confirming transits we had planned into our passage plan.
When asked to give a nickname to the crew for this event I adopted
"The Quay Players"!
Following selection we set about the business of preparation, initially with one extra endurance row per month alongside regular race group training every week and regular participation in the "Concept 2 Indoor Rowers Group".
Incrementally our training progressed over the course of twelve months to additional extra training sessions every week covering around 18K per session. Amongst those sessions was a test run on the upper half of the race course from Putney to Ham. A steady stream of local regattas futher augmented our training regime and sharpened our racing instincts and by September 2025 we were race ready.
On Saturday 19th September 2025 we towed Seafox, our Celtic Longboat to Ham in South London where she was launched for towing to Millwall overnight. The crew based themselves in local hotels at Richmond overnight and enjoyed a "sensible" meal together before an early night in preparation for a 7.30am meet at Millwall the next morning.
20th September. Race Day! Hectic! 270 crews queueing to register on the day and 270 boats to be recovered to the beach from their mid river rafting.
The start line was like nothing we had ever seen and a massive step up from what we were used to. At boat number 150 we sat in the centre of the field for starting, with 149 boats ahead of us on the staggered start and something close to that behind us. Boats everywhere! From the 13 oared Spanish Tranerra to the Hawaian Outrigger and the Tudor SC triple skiff with all manner of craft between them.
Despite all the above, the crew stuck to their race plan and powered away, seeking clearer air by Tower Bridge under the steerage of Nikki Buchanan who threaded the needle and found the gaps to pass other boats for the first strech of the race. It was a loud, aggressive and adrenaline fuelled experience!
By Westminster bridge we had reeled in some 70 boats and at Putney Bridge we had put over 100 boats behind us, although some of the most elite crews had passed us.
At this time we were close to the halfway point and fatigue was kicking in. However, the crew consolidated and stuck steadfastly to our plan to maintain a rate of 26 to 28 strokes per minute.
By the time we passed under Richmond Bridge the 149 boats which started the race ahead of us had all been hunted down and put behind us. Close to the home straight we were lifted by the sound of familiar voices as supporters from Dell Quay enthusiastically spurred us on. We adopted our well practiced finish at a rate of 31 strokes per minute, which ensured there was not a shred of energy which was not left out on the water! Amid groans of strain and limbs of lead we reeled in those boats ahead of us which were still within reach. Finishing felt like a blissfull release!
From a field of 270 boats, Seafox, crewed by the "Quay Players" achieved an overall position of 8th place in 2hrs 37 mins 54 secs elapsed time, adjusted on handicap to 12th position in 3hrs 24mins 54 secs. We were also awarded the fastest vets (over 60's) trophy for the Celtic longboat class.
The post event party was superb as we ate, drank and mingled with old friends and made new acquaintances amongst the rowing community.
This has been a great 1st for the club in our Centenary year. Thanks to everyone who participated or supported this event in any way, it couldn't have happened without you.
I hope it's something we can replicate and built upon in years to come.
Skipper Nigel Foster and 'midships oarsman" Andrew Graham collect Fastest Vets in Celtic Longboat Class Award.
The Mele, photographed from Westminster Bridge!
The Quay Players
