Kingston Regatta
Kingston Regatta is a rowing regatta held in July on the River Thames at Kingston upon Thames. It was first raced on 1 and 2 June 1857, a year before the founding of Kingston Rowing Club, which has supported it ever since.
It was known for most of its history as Kingston Amateur Regatta.
The course
| Distance | 1,000 m |
| Direction | Downstream |
| Start | Alongside Hampton Court Park |
| Finish | Just upstream of Kingston Bridge |
| Reach | Above Teddington Lock |
Crews start from stake boats, which hold each boat in place until the umpire starts the race. The course has room for three lanes.
History
The first regatta followed an invitation for entries in the local papers. By the 1920s crews from Molesey, Thames, Twickenham and London rowing clubs were regular visitors. The regatta marked its 150th anniversary in 2007.
The Kingston Head
Kingston Rowing Club also runs the Kingston Head of the River Race in March. It is held a week before the Head of the River Race on the Tideway, and many crews use it as their final trial.
Watching
The Kingston bank and Queen’s Promenade overlook the lower part of the course, and the finish is a short walk from the town centre.