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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
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The '''Fuller's Head of the River Fours ''' ('''HOR4s''') is a processional [[sport rowing|rowing]] race held annually on the [[Thames]] in [[London]] on the 4¼ mile (6.8 km) [[The Championship Course|Championship Course]] from [[Mortlake]] to [[Putney]].
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Head of the River Fours
| logo =
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| date =
| begins =
| ends =
| frequency = Annual
| location = [[The Championship Course|Championship Course]], [[River Thames]] in [[London]], [[England]]
| years_active = 1955 – present
| first =
| last =
| prev =
| next =
| participants = 480 crews
| attendance =
| organised =
| website = {{URL|https://www.hor4s.com/}}
| footnotes =
⚫
}}The '''Fuller's Head of the River Fours ''' ('''HOR4s''') is a [[head race|processional]] [[rowing (sport)|rowing]] race held annually on the [[Tideway]] of the [[River Thames]] in [[London]] on the {{convert|4+1/4|mi|km|adj=on}} [[The Championship Course|Championship Course]] from [[Mortlake]] to [[Putney]].


==History==
==History==
The idea for a Tradesmen's Tideway Head Race for fours, was first mooted in the early 1950s by the [[Thames Amateur Rowing Association]]. The TARA, was the Thames branch of the [[National Amateur Rowing Association]], the governing body who looked after manual workers who could not join the [[Amateur Rowing Association|ARA]] which did not recognise their amateur status.
The idea for a Tradesmen's Tideway Head Race for fours, was first mooted in the early 1950s by the Thames Amateur Rowing Association (the TARA).{{#tag:ref|This was the Thames branch of the [[National Amateur Rowing Association]], the governing body formed of manual workers who could not join the [[Amateur Rowing Association|ARA]] (which did not recognise their amateur status, maintaining until the late 1960s in some international events that rowing was a good sport for non-manual workers but that they could be put at a disadvantage if racing against those who worked outdoors in physically demanding work.) NARA's existence reflected demand from such men and women too to compete in the sport, many of whom were drawn to the sport by living near a busy river.|group= n}}


Despite picking a date for the new race, the TARA soon dropped their plans after learning that the [[Tradesmen's Rowing Clubs Association]] (the body who looked after real professionals - i.e. those who worked with boats for a living) had also started to organise a similar open fours race.
After picking a date for the new race the TARA dropped their plans after learning that the Tradesmen's Rowing Clubs Association had also started to organise a similar open fours race.{{#tag:ref|A similar organisation formed of riverine and canal-based professionals such as hired [[Waterman (occupation)|watermen]], point-to-point ferrymen, bargemen and boat repairers and all others who worked with boats full-time.|group= n}}


And so it was that the fledging "Head of the River 4os" was first raced in 1955. In the following years the race was known as the Tradesmen's Rowing Club's Association Head of the River Fours, though even at this stage ARA clubs were entering along with NARA and TRAC clubs.
Thus the fledgling "Head of the River 4s" was first raced in 1955. In the following years the race was known as the Tradesmen's Rowing Clubs' Association Head of the River Fours, though even at this stage ARA clubs were entering along with NARA and TRCA clubs.


In the late 1950s the ARA and NARA finally merged into the Amateur Rowing association of Great Britain. The event then became known simply as the Head of the River Fours, and was handed over to a new Committee in 1963 after the TRCA's eventual amalgamation.
In the late 1950s the ARA and NARA finally merged into the Amateur Rowing Association of Great Britain. The event then became known simply as the Head of the River Fours, and was handed over to a new Committee in 1963 after the TRCA's eventual amalgamation.


⚫
In the first race, 34 crews rowed over a three-mile course from [[Chiswick]] '''Steps to Putney Pier'''. The entry has grown steadily over the years and in 1988 the race was extended to the full four and a quarter mile [[The Championship Course|Championship Course]] from [[Mortlake]] to [[Putney]] (i.e., the Oxford and Cambridge [[Boat Race]] course in reverse).
Since that time many changes have taken place to the race, including the course length and alterations and additions to the status and boat classifications available. Of particular interest was the introduction of quadruple sculls in 1969 when there were 3 entries. A women's junior quadruple sculls event was added in 2005 and the current breakdown of events of offer is as follows:


Since its inception, many changes have taken place to the race, including the course length and alterations. Most crew/boat categories with four rowers have been added. In particular the introduction of quads was in 1973 when there were just three entries. Women's crews first competed in the HOR4s in 1977 (when there were 20 entries) after the event merged with the Women's Rowing Committee Head of the River Fours. Lightweight events were added in 2008 but have since been discontinued due to lack of entries. In general, the race is over-subscribed and attracts entries from all over the United Kingdom and abroad.
'''Quadruple sculls (4x)''' (Seven Events)
Open Elite; Women's Elite; Open Senior 1; Open Senior 2; Women's Senior 2; Open Junior;
Women's junior


⚫
[[Fuller, Smith and Turner]] began their sponsorship of the Race in 1979 and event winners are rewarded each year with excellent hospitality in the Hock Cellar at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, where the prizes are presented.
'''Coxless fours (4-)''' (Four Events)
Open Elite; Women's Elite; Open Senior 1; Open Senior 2


==Events==
'''Coxed fours (4+)''' (Nine Events)
The race currently provides 18 events for coxed fours, coxless fours and quadruple sculls in Club, Academic and School/Junior categories for open and women's crews. It is run by a committee of volunteers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hor4s.com/entries/|title=Entries |publisher=Head of the River Fours|accessdate=14 October 2019}}</ref>
Open Elite; Women's Elite; Open Senior 1; Open Senior 2; Women's Senior 2; Open Senior 3 (Academic; Women's Senior 4 (Academic; Open Senior 3 (Club); Women's Senior 3 (Club)


==See also==
⚫
In the first race 34 crews rowed over a 3 mile course from Chiswick '''Steps to Putney Pier'''. The entry has grown steadily over the years and in 1990 the race was extended to the full four and a quarter mile [[The Championship Course|Championship Course]] from [[Mortlake]] to [[Putney]] (ie. the Oxford/Cambridge boatrace course in reverse).
*[[Rowing on the River Thames]]
*[[Head of the River Race]] – a similar race open to men's [[eight (rowing)|eights]].
*[[Women's Eights Head of the River Race]]


==Notes and references==
For many years the entry exceeded the 500 permitted maximum, but in 1997 the [[Port of London Authority]] agreed to a request for 50 more crews. Even with 550 places available (the largest number of crews entered in an one race in the UK) the race is still heavily oversubscribed.
;Notes
{{Reflist|group=n}}
;References
{{Reflist}}
*[[Hylton Cleaver|Cleaver, Hylton]], ''A History of Rowing''
*National Amateur Rowing Association, [[London Metropolitan Archives]], Catalogue Ref. A/NAR


⚫
==External links==
⚫
[[Fuller, Smith and Turner]] began their sponsorship of the Race in 1979 and event winners are rewarded each year with excellent hospitality in the Hock Cellar at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, where the prizes are presented.
* [https://www.hor4s.com/ Head of The River Fours website]


{{LB Richmond}}
⚫
==External Links==
{{Rowing}}
http://www.hor4s.org


[[Category:Rowing in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Mortlake, London]]
[[Category:Rowing on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1955]]
[[Category:Head races]]
[[Category:Water sports in London]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in England]]

Latest revision as of 19:42, 11 October 2021

Head of the River Fours
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Championship Course, River Thames in London, England
Years active1955 – present
Participants480 crews
Websitewww.hor4s.com

The Fuller's Head of the River Fours (HOR4s) is a processional rowing race held annually on the Tideway of the River Thames in London on the 4+1⁄4-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney.

History

[edit]

The idea for a Tradesmen's Tideway Head Race for fours, was first mooted in the early 1950s by the Thames Amateur Rowing Association (the TARA).[n 1]

After picking a date for the new race the TARA dropped their plans after learning that the Tradesmen's Rowing Clubs Association had also started to organise a similar open fours race.[n 2]

Thus the fledgling "Head of the River 4s" was first raced in 1955. In the following years the race was known as the Tradesmen's Rowing Clubs' Association Head of the River Fours, though even at this stage ARA clubs were entering along with NARA and TRCA clubs.

In the late 1950s the ARA and NARA finally merged into the Amateur Rowing Association of Great Britain. The event then became known simply as the Head of the River Fours, and was handed over to a new Committee in 1963 after the TRCA's eventual amalgamation.

In the first race, 34 crews rowed over a three-mile course from Chiswick Steps to Putney Pier. The entry has grown steadily over the years and in 1988 the race was extended to the full four and a quarter mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney (i.e., the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race course in reverse).

Since its inception, many changes have taken place to the race, including the course length and alterations. Most crew/boat categories with four rowers have been added. In particular the introduction of quads was in 1973 when there were just three entries. Women's crews first competed in the HOR4s in 1977 (when there were 20 entries) after the event merged with the Women's Rowing Committee Head of the River Fours. Lightweight events were added in 2008 but have since been discontinued due to lack of entries. In general, the race is over-subscribed and attracts entries from all over the United Kingdom and abroad.

Fuller, Smith and Turner began their sponsorship of the Race in 1979 and event winners are rewarded each year with excellent hospitality in the Hock Cellar at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, where the prizes are presented.

Events

[edit]

The race currently provides 18 events for coxed fours, coxless fours and quadruple sculls in Club, Academic and School/Junior categories for open and women's crews. It is run by a committee of volunteers.[1]

See also

[edit]

Notes and references

[edit]
Notes
  1. ^ This was the Thames branch of the National Amateur Rowing Association, the governing body formed of manual workers who could not join the ARA (which did not recognise their amateur status, maintaining until the late 1960s in some international events that rowing was a good sport for non-manual workers but that they could be put at a disadvantage if racing against those who worked outdoors in physically demanding work.) NARA's existence reflected demand from such men and women too to compete in the sport, many of whom were drawn to the sport by living near a busy river.
  2. ^ A similar organisation formed of riverine and canal-based professionals such as hired watermen, point-to-point ferrymen, bargemen and boat repairers and all others who worked with boats full-time.
References
  1. ^ "Entries". Head of the River Fours. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
[edit]
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