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Barge Driving Match

The 34th Barge Driving Match organised by the Transport on Water (TOW) Association took place on 5th July 2008.

This unique event is rowed over a course of seven miles between the Palaces of Greenwich and Westminster. Each barge is manned under oars by crews of Freemen and Apprentices of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen. The event is designed to showcase the skills of Watermen and Lightermen in navigating under oars, using only their own strength, experience and the tide to propel their craft, which can weigh up to 30 tonnes. No more than three crew members can row at any time using the 20ft oars, known as "sweeps". Two of the rowers power the craft whilst the third uses a sweep at the stern to steer the barge with the tide.

Each barge must collect at least one pennant from moored barges along the course as a further test of the crews' navigational skills.

There is one overall winner, two class winners and two special optional race sections, for which competing crews must pick a specified number of coloured pennants from designated barge roads throughout the course. There are also categories for the best dressed crew  - each event has a theme, and the best painted barge.

The event is very popular for spectators, who either watch from one of the many Thames pleasure craft that follow the course, line the route or watch from vantage points on the bridges along the way.

The 2008 match ended with the Port of London Authority team repeating their victories of 2006 and 2007 in their barge 'Blackwall'.

For more information about the Transport on Water Association and other barge driving events please click here (opens in a new window).