Mr. Doggett's Day

This being the day of His Majesty's happy accession to the throne, there will be given by Mr. Doggett an Orange Colour Livery with a Badge representing Liberty to be rowed for by Six Watermen that are out of their time within the year past. They are to row from London Bridge to Chelsea. It will be continued annually on the same day forever.

--From a 1715 proclamation on the first anniversary of the accession of George I

Under the somber loom of London Bridge last week, six long-muscled watermen bent to their oars in six shells and began the long pull upstream to Chelsea. Traffic on the grey river ignored them, and they had to thread their way with care. Only a handful of spectator launches followed in their wake, but the six oarsmen were competing in the world's oldest boat race. After 2 1/2 centuries, Thames rivermen still prize Thomas Doggett's loud livery and silver badge. The assurance that they will do so "forever" remains unbroken.

Bottles & Stones. A race between rivermen had more meaning when Mr. Doggett first donated his trophies. The Thames was London's main thoroughfare; some 40,000 wherries navigated its surface as modern taxicabs navigate the Strand. Theaters in particular relied on watermen to bring their audiences, and Doggett, an Irish comedian, had a very practical affection for the hard-working rowers. London sportsmen soon developed just as practical an affection for the race.

Bettors backed their choices heavily, sometimes helped their favorites by dropping stones on rival rowers from the Thames bridges. Bottle-throwing became something of a specialized art, and well into the 20th century spectators with sufficient financial interest used to steer power boats close to the racers, throwing them off beat and course.

Lighters & Skiffs. The big wherries and their rowers have long disappeared, and today's competitors are men who make their living handling cargo lighters. Their shells are carefully conditioned, and to make things still easier, they row the 4 3/4 miles to Chelsea with the tide, not against it, as Thomas Doggett's contemporaries used to do. No longer will the Speaker rush from the Chair in the House of Commons with the members in tow (as Charles Shaw-Lefevre did to watch the 1848 race). But to young rivermen, winning the race is still their greatest ambition.

Former winners turn out in their bright livery (now red instead of Doggett's orange) and proud 12-oz. silver arm badges to cock critical eyes from official launches. The contestants themselves train for months. This year Ken Collins, 21, a tireless lighterman from Bermondsey, sprinted into an early lead as they slid past Southwark Bridge and Saint Paul's. Behind him came Bob Gibbs, Jack Smith, Ken Green, Dave Reed and Malcolm Troubridge. Still in front when he passed the finish line at Chelsea after 27 min. 20 sec. of rowing, he was only eleven seconds ahead of Bob Gibbs.

Since World War II, Doggett competitors have not been considered professionals, hence are eligible for the Diamond Sculls at Henley. Would Collins try? He was making no promises. But wasn't the wearer of Doggett's coat and badge the best oarsman in England?

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