Rowers from local schools competed in the inaugural Youth Boat Race in Hammersmith.
Hosted by Fulham Reach Boat Club, 32 students raced along the same stretch of the Thames as the Oxford v Cambridge Boat Races' course. The race was held on Tuesday 26 March – just four days before the rivalry returned to the river at the weekend.
Mixed crews from Sacred Heart High School, Hammersmith Academy, Fulham Boys School and West London Free School took to the Thames. H&F's Mayor – Cllr Patricia Quigley – cheered them on from the riverside.
She said: "Everyone should be very proud of what they have achieved today. This has been a fantastic event, and fingers crossed we can continue to have a Youth Boat Race in the future."
Cllr Quigley later awarded medals to all the rowers.
The Boat Races
Over the Easter weekend, the Oxford v Cambridge Boat Races saw both Cambridge crews retain their titles in the women's and men's races.
H&F welcomed thousands of visitors who spent the sunny afternoon on the 'Thames Riviera' to catch all the action.
Fan parks in Hammersmith's Furnivall Gardens and Fulham's Bishops Park were popular. With Fulham Football Club's new-look riverwalk opened next to Craven Cottage for the first time.
Visitors also flocked to get the best views from our great riverside pubs, and our local boat clubs were out enjoying the day – including a rowing machine competition outside Auriol Kensington Rowing Club.
Inspired to row?
Our borough has four boat clubs who regularly row on the famous course.
Fulham Reach Boat Club, who hosted the Youth Boat Race, is based at Distillery Wharf, Fulham. They offer training courses just 200m from Hammersmith Bridge.
Furnivall Sculling Club in Hammersmith welcomes everyone whether you're interested in rowing competitively or just for fun.
Sons of the Thames is a club based on the Tideway, just upstream of Hammersmith Bridge, which combines social events and competition rowing.
And there's also the Auriol Kensington Rowing Club at Lower Mall, Hammersmith, which bills itself as the friendliest rowing club on the river.
Check out these clubs if you're keen to find out more about getting into rowing.
