The Championship Course

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The stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake and Putney in London, England is a well-established course for rowing races, most famously the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. It is often referred to as the Championship Course.

In 1845 it was agreed to stage the Boat Race (which had on five previous occasions been contested from Westminster to Putney) on a course from from 'Putney Bridge to Mortlake church tower'. The aim was to reduce the interference from heavy river traffic on the race.

The following year, a race for the World Professional Sculling Championship moved to the course for the first time. The Wingfield Sculls followed in 1861.

The course was later defined by two stones on the southern bank of the river, marked "U.B.R." for University Boat Race; one just downstream of Chiswick Bridge, in front of The Ship public house, and the other just upstream of Putney Bridge. The course distance is 4 miles and 374 yards (6,779 m), as measured along the centre of the river's stream.

Races are always conducted in the same direction as the tide: from Mortlake to Putney on an ebb tide or from Putney to Mortlake on a flood tide.

Since the Boat Race moved to this course in 1845, it has always been raced on a flood tide from Putney to Mortlake except in 1846, 1856 and 1863. The Wingfield Sculls is also raced from Putney to Mortlake. Most other events race on an ebb tide from Mortlake to Putney.

Principal landmarks, often used when racing, include (in order from Mortlake to Putney): the Stag brewery at Mortlake, Barnes Railway Bridge, the Bandstand, Chiswick Steps, Chiswick Eyot, St Paul's School boathouse, Hammersmith Bridge, the former Harrods' Furniture Repository, the Mile Post, Fulham Football Club and the Black Buoy.

The Mile Post is a stone obelisk forming a memorial to Steve Fairbairn, an oarsman, coach and founder of the Head of the River Race. It was erected by members of Jesus College Boat Club (Cambridge), Thames Rowing Club and London Rowing Club and is precisely a mile from the Putney stone marking the end of the course.