On Wednesday, 2nd September 2026, the River Thames hosted the world’s oldest boat race and one of the longest-running sporting events in the world, the 312th Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager. This year’s race was won by 21-year-old Callum Howard from Southeast London in a time of 28 minutes and 29 seconds. The winner’s prizes were presented after the race by the Lady Mayor of London, Dame Susan Langley, on Cadogan Pier.
Callum will now be awarded one of the City of London’s most prestigious accolades: the Red Coat and Silver Badge. He works on cargo barges around Purfleet, Erith and Tilbury and was apprenticed by his father Nick Howard, who also competed in the Doggett’s Race in 1999, finishing a close second. It was his first attempt at the race, he was coached by Simon McCarthy, who won the 1984 Doggett’s, and trains at Globe Rowing Club in Greenwich, Southeast London.
The race saw three maritime professionals compete against each other along the fast-flowing tidal Thames in single sculls. Over the course, they passed under eleven of London’s most iconic bridges, racing upriver over 4 miles and 5 furlongs (7.44 km) between London Bridge and Cadogan Pier in Chelsea. It was one of the closest and hardest-fought races of recent years.
In second place was Jack Finelli of Medway Towns Rowing Club. He first raced Doggett’s in 2019, and this was the 28-year-old’s third attempt. In third place was 28-year-old Charlie Milward, from Poplar, Blackwell and District Rowing Club.
Sean Collins, CEO of Thames Clippers and the Master of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, who is also a Doggett’s winner from 1990, said: “The three rowers demonstrated grit and determination delivering their best performance, congratulations to the winner Callum and thanks to the coaches that have supported all three, without their hard work we would not have seen such a well contested race.”
The oldest boat race in the world, Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager was established in 1715 and has now been contested by watermen and lightermen for more than 300 years, making it the oldest continuous race in any sport. Combining tough competition, heritage, and pageantry, the Doggett’s Wager is one of the UK’s most unique events, with winners going on to long careers on the water, and in some cases racing for Great Britain, or ceremonial duties for the Royal Family. It is organised collaboratively by The Fishmongers’ Company and the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames. It is overseen by race Umpire Bobby Prentice, the Bargemaster to the Fishmongers’ and a former Doggett’s winner, who set the course record of 23 minutes 22 seconds in 1973.