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Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race

The historic sculling race on the Thames for recently qualified watermen, was first contested in 1715. The event organisers, the Company of Watermen and Lightermen and the Fishmongers' Company, stage the race once a year.

The 4 miles and 7 furlong (7,400 metre) race was founded by Thomas Doggett, an Irish actor, in tribute to the skill and bravery of newly-licensed watermen, the London cabbies of their time, who rowed him home along the course route late one night in bad weather, when he would have otherwise been left stranded in the City. The race has been rowed with the tide since 1873.

  • The first race was held on 1 August 1715 to commemorate the first anniversary of the accession of King George I to the British throne.
  • When he died in 1721, Doggett left instructions in his will that the race should continue each 1st August “for ever.”
  • Nine races were held in 1947, for those who missed their chance to row during the war years. This means that the list of winners has remained unbroken since 1715.
  • Other previous winners of the race include in 1990 Sean Collins, the chief executive and co-founder of Thames Clippers, and the Port of London Authority’s Michael Russell in 1997.
  • The race record of 22 minutes and 23 seconds was set in 1973 by Bobby Prentice, who is now race umpire.

 

2023 Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager

Riess Ballard (above) won the 2023 Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 19 July 2023 and was preceded by a Coronation to Coronation pageant, featuring some of the winners since 1953.

The three scullers, all representing Poplar, Blackwall & District Rowing club, were:

  • Riess Ballard, the 2023 winner, wore black on the day.
  • Emily Hickman, the first female competitor in over twenty years, wore light blue to race.
  • Mathew Brookes, who wore red on the day.

 

2022 Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager

George Gilbert won the 2022 Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager. He wore red on the day and was this year's only competitor.

The race took place on 28 July 2022 and was delayed by one week due to a red weather warning for extreme heat. The two other competitors who were due to race (Mathew Brookes and Pascal Papis) withdrew due to injuries.  

2021 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager

Max Carter-Miller won the 2021 Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 8 September 2021.

The four scullers trained hard for the 2021 race and the competitors were

  • Thames Marine Services' Max Carter-Miller – The winner of the 2021 race and the 2020 runner up. He was in blue on race day
  • Capital Pleasure Boats' George Gilbert who was wearing black
  • Thames Clippers’ Coran Cherry was in red
  • Cory's Lucas Brittan, who raced in white

2020 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager

James Berry won the 2020 Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 25 June 2021, due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The four scullers trained hard for the 2020 race and the competitors were

  • James Berry – The winner of the 2020 race and the 2019 runner up. He was in white on race day
  • Capital Pleasure Boats' George Gilbert who was wearing red
  • Thames Marine Services Ltd’s Max Carter-Miller was in black
  • Thames Clippers’ Coran Cherry, who raced in light blue

2019 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager

Patrick Keech won the 2019 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 4 September 2019. The four scullers trained hard for the 2019 race and the competitors were

  • Patrick Keech – The winner of the 2019 race. He was in red on race day
  • James Berry who was wearing light blue 
  • Jack Finelli was in dark blue
  • George Gilbert, who raced in green

2018 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager

Alfie Anderson won the 2018 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 4 September 2018. There were only two scullers competing in 2018; Alfie Anderson, wearing orange, and George McCarthy, wearing green.

2017 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager

Jack Keech won the 2017 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 25 July 2017 and the competitors were

  • Jack Keech – The winner of the 2017 race. He was in orange on race day
  • Perry Flynn who was wearing dark blue
  • Alfie Anderson was in red
  • George McCarthy, who raced in light blue

2016 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager

Ben Folkard won the 2016 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 20 July 2016 and the competitors were

  • Ben Folkard – The winner of the 2016 race. He was in light blue on race day
  • George McCarthy who was wearing green
  • Perry Flynn was in orange
  • Jake Berry, who raced in red
  • Alfie Anderson raced in dark blue

2015 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager

Louis Pettipher won the 2015 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager. The event took place on 1 August 2015 and the competitors were

  • Louis Pettipher – The winner of the 2015 race. He was in dark blue on race day.
  • Frankie Ruler who was wearing red
  • Dom Coughlin was in orange
  • Ben Folkard, who raced in green
  • Perry Flynn competed in yellow
  • Charlie Maynard raced in light blue