The Company of Watermen and Lightermen, 16 - 18 St-Mary-at-Hill, London, EC3R 8EF
Telephone: (+44) 020 7283 2373 Fax: (+44) 020 7283 0477 E-mail: admin@watermenshall.org
The Doggett’s Coat and Badge” is the oldest continuously run single sculling race in the world and is run in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers.
Thomas Doggett, (1640 - 1721) was born in Dublin but moved to London in 1690 to further his dream of acting. He was associated with the Drury Lane theatre and played comedy parts up to his retirement in 1713.
To celebrate the accession of the House of Hanover (George I – formerly Duke of Brunswick) to the throne of England in 1715 Doggett founded the race, now known as the Doggett’s Coat and Badge, however it was originally known as the Brunswick Coat and Badge. The race was managed by Doggett up to his death in 1721.
On his death a sum of money was left to a Mr Burt of the Admiralty Office with instructions to manage the race. Mr Burt felt unwilling to accept this task and the trusteeship of the race was passed to the Fishmongers’ Company. Since 1722 the Fishmongers’ Company have organised the race in accordance with Doggett’s instructions.
The race is open only to newly qualified Freemen of the Watermen’s Company.
The course is from London Bridge to Chelsea, a distance of four miles and five furlongs, and the prize of the orange red coat and silver arm badge is much treasured by those Freemen who have had the honour of winning the Wager.
Thomas Doggett, (1640 - 1721
A likeness of Thomas Doggett by the artist Ying Yang is on display in the Court Room at Watermen’s Hall .
This is a copy of the original painting by Thomas Murray which is at Sherborne Castle in Dorset.
The Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager
1st August 2015
Results
Louis Pettipher
Ben Folkard
Charlie Maynard
Dominic Coughlin.
Perry Flynn
Frankie Ruler
Doggett’s 2014