University Boat Race Stones University Boat Race Stones The University Boat Race Stones are two small stone markers on the southern bank of the River Thames in west London, one 129m upstream of Putney Bridge and the other at Mortlake, 112m downstream of Chiswick Bridge. The stones define the start and finish points of the Championship Course (4 miles and 374 yards (6,779 m) from Putney to Mortlake, as measured along the centre of the river). The course is used for rowing races including the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, Women's Boat Race, Head of the River Race and other races. The stones are
Charles Campbell (rower) was an easy winner and the time recorded was a slow 42 minutes, but the boats used were slow, old-fashioned wherries. Future races were to feature faster wager boats. Campbell's third title race occurred on 19 August 1846 again after being challenged by Coombes. This time the stake was £100 a side. This was the first title race held on what became known as the Championship Course of Putney to Mortlake on the Thames. The match had been eagerly anticipated by many sportsmen and there was considerable speculation as to the outcome. It was noted that one of the famous