River Thames to become sporting spectacle for biggest paddle event in London’s history

The company building London’s new ‘super sewer’ is launching the city’s first mass-participation paddling event on the River Thames later this year, aiming to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Regatta London will take place for the first time on Sunday 29 September 2019, with people of all skills invited to get on their paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and rowing boats to take part in a 12-mile journey from Putney Bridge to Greenwich.

The event, which will see the River Thames closed to all other marine traffic on the day, will raise money for a number of charities including London Youth Rowing, Mates in Mind and Thames 21.

Event organiser Andy Triggs Hodge, a former Olympic-gold-medallist rower who now works as a programme manager for Tideway, said: “Tideway’s ultimate goal is to reconnect London and Londoners with its river, and to rejuvenate our city’s greatest natural asset.

“With work well underway on the super sewer to clean up the river, we have the opportunity highlight the potential of a cleaner Thames as a hub of sports and recreation while raising thousands of pounds for charity. This is a unique opportunity for people to experience the River Thames when it’s closed to other traffic and to see one of the greatest cities in the world from a different angle.”

Construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel is currently taking place across 23 sites in London, with more than 2km of tunnel already built under the city. The tunnel, which will tackle sewage pollution in the River Thames, is due for completion in 2025*.

For more information about Regatta London and to sign up visit www.regatta.london

Notes to Editors

Tideway

Tideway is the independent construction company delivering London’s super sewer, the Thames Tideway Tunnel, which is a 25km sewer tunnel urgently required to tackle sewage pollution in the tidal River Thames. In total the project is creating 4,000 direct sustainable jobs. One in every 50 site jobs is an apprenticeship. Construction from 24 sites across London is due for completion by 2025*. For more information visit www.tideway.london

Headline charity partners

• Mates in Mind aims to raise awareness for and break the stigma around poor mental health and improve a positive metal wellbeing within construction and other related industries across the UK. For more information visit www.matesinmind.org 
• London Youth Rowing get young people active through rowing, working with around 8000 participants a year. They aim to improve the physical, social and mental well being of 11-18yr olds across London, as well as develop crucial life skills necessary for success in the classroom and the workplace. For more information visit www.londonyouthrowing.com
• Thames21 connects people with rivers by putting healthy rivers back at the heart of everyday life. They improve and restore rivers, educate and empower the community and campaign for positive change for the good of people and the environment. For more information visit www.thames21.org.uk

*This article has been amended to reflect the project's updated completion date following an analysis of the impacts of the pandemic.