1 min ago Aug 31, 2026HTBS

Doggett’s: Living History

Harry Phelps won Doggett’s in 1919 but here, starting the 1949 race, he is in the coat and badge of the Bargemaster of the Fishmongers’ Company, a position he held between 1927 and 1972.

31 August 2026

By Tim Koch

Tim Koch on a sculling race three centuries in the making.

A reminder that the 312th Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager will be on Wednesday, 2nd September beginning at London Bridge at 13.15, ending at Cadogan Pier, Chelsea (near the Albert Bridge) less than 30 minutes later. 

For anyone unsure what this strangely named race for single scullers is about, I have previously written:

Actor and comedian Thomas Doggett instigated his “wager” (from the old use of the word meaning trial by personal combat) in celebration of George I’s ascension to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland in 1714 which secured a Protestant line of succession. 

The race originally involved heavy passenger carrying wherries sculling against the tide, with “fouling” as part of the game, and start to finish could take two hours or more. Today, it is run with the tide in contemporary sculling boats controlled by an umpire with a course record of just over 23 minutes.

A race for single sculls over a course 0.6 km longer than the Putney to Mortlake Boat Race distance, Doggetts is only open to a maximum of six qualified members of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen who meet age and other requirements, traditionally those who have recently finished their apprenticeship to be a waterman (passenger carrier) or lighterman (goods carrier) of the River Thames. 

The tangible prize is a tailor made costume of an 18th-century Waterman. This is a splendid scarlet frock coat (originally “Protestant orange”) with a large silver badge on the arm plus knee breeches, white stockings and buckled shoes. The more esoteric prize is the honour of joining a very exclusive group.

A pictorial reminder of the journey to the 312th Doggett’s Coat and Badge.

1715: John Obey of Bermondsey (originally recorded as John Obie or John Opey) is widely recognised as the first winner of the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager.
1740: The finish.
Circa 1805: Mid-race by Thomas Rowlandson.
Circa 1822: The start. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
1842: The winner, James Liddy of Wandsworth.
1869: The finish at the Old Swan, Chelsea (now demolished).
J.J. Turferry (winner in 1900), WH Campbell (1850) and AH Brewer (1901).
On the left is Henry Thomas Silvester (winner in 1932), in the middle is his younger brother, William Fredrick Silvester (1937) and on the right is their father, Henry Silvester (1905). Henry’s badge (illustrated) is in the Bill Miller collection. William’s coat and badge is on display in Waterman’s Hall.
1956: Won by Colin Williams of Deptford. Picture: Facebook.
The Keech brothers, Patrick (winner 2019) and Jack (2017).
Coran Cherry the 311th winner (2025) with John Obey, the first winner (1715). Picture Facebook.
One of these young watermen will soon be the 312th winner of the Doggett’s Coat and Badge. Left to right: Charlie Milward, Jack Finelli and Callum Howard.

My thoughts on this year’s contestants are in my report on the draw for this year’s race.

I have only just discovered a nice video of the 2025 race on YouTube. I missed it until now as the race was on 10 September 2025, but the video only went up on 6 March 2026! Worth the wait though.

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