MARLOW TOWN REGATTA HISTORY

The annual Rowing Regatta at Marlow has been the premier social and sporting event in the life of the Town since 1855.

Traditionally, Marlow Regatta’s June date, originally just two weeks before Henley Royal Regatta, meant that crews, including many from overseas, came to Marlow to fine-tune their racing, enjoy Regatta Day and prepare for Henley. However, the opening of a multi-lane international course at Dorney Lake in 2000 provided an opportunity that the rowers were keen to accept. As a result, the Marlow Regatta moved to Dorney in 2001.

Vintage photograph taken in 1873. A group of Victorians enjoying a day out at the Marlow Regatta.

The decision to move had been expected in Marlow and plans for the continuation of a traditional Regatta Day were soon put in place. A Committee was set up led by Jim Campbell, Mayor of Marlow at the time, made up of volunteers from a number of Marlow organisations , including Marlow Rowing Club and the Town Council. With 6 months to go to June 2001 and its first Regatta, scheduled one week ahead of the Marlow Regatta at Dorney, the Marlow Town Regatta & Festival (MTRF) was born!

The first MTRF, on Saturday 16th June 2001, set out to replicate the Garden Party atmosphere of the earlier Regattas and succeeded! In pouring rain, the good-humoured crowd in the Enclosures enjoyed the youth rowing programme and welcomed the MTRF Joint Presidents, Sir Steve and Lady Redgrave, still fresh from Sir Steve’s 5th gold victory at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The MTRF Committee was thus encouraged to proceed to a two-day event in 2002.

MTRF 2002 established a Regatta Day on Saturday which replicated the format of previous Regattas, with a full rowing programme during the day and a parking/picnic area on the cricket ground. The new Festival Day on Sunday was a more relaxed, family-oriented event, with children’s activities, a music programme, food court and bars in the general enclosure, and a full Dragon Boat programme on the river. Additionally, on both days, Exhibition and Trade Stands in the park were joined by a large Art & Craft Fair and, for local clubs and societies, the Marlow Showcase. Through sheer determination and hard work all round, the experimental two-day formula had proved itself and became the norm. 2012 marked the next major change with the picnicking being brought inside a much-enlarged enclosure. The family-friendly aura that this created was a great success and set a precedent for future events.

Today the terrific atmosphere and community presence see past and present pupils of schools, families and friends, together with local businesses make the most of enjoying picnicking along the river, whilst classic rowing adorns the Thames. The Marlow Town Regatta and Festival is now firmly on the map as an annual event, combining a traditional Saturday Rowing Regatta and garden party with a Sunday of wholesome family entertainment and Dragon Boating.