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In 1845 it was agreed to stage the Boat Race (which had on five previous occasions been contested from Westminster to Putney) on a course from from 'Putney Bridge to Mortlake Church tower'. The aim was to reduce the interference from heavy river traffic on the race. The following year, a race for the World Professional Sculling Championship moved to the course for the first time. The Wingfield Sculls followed in 1861 . The course was later defined by two stones on the southern bank of the river, marked "U.B.R." for University Boat Race; one just downstream of Chiswick Bridge , close to The Ship public house, and the other just upstream of Putney Bridge . The course distance is 4 Mile s and 374 Yard s (6,779 m), as measured along the centre of the river's stream. Races are always conducted in the same direction as the tide: from Mortlake to Putney on an ebb tide or from Putney to Mortlake on a flood tide. Since the Boat Race moved to this course in 1845, it has always been raced on a flood tide from Putney to Mortlake except in 1846 , 1856 and 1863 . The Wingfield Sculls is also raced from Putney to Mortlake . Most other events race on an ebb tide from Mortlake to Putney . Principal landmarks, often used when racing, include (in order from , the Bandstand, Chiswick Steps, Fuller's Brewery , Chiswick Eyot , St Paul's School boathouse, Hammersmith Bridge , the former Harrods ' Furniture Repository, the Mile Post, Fulham Football Club and the Black Buoy. The Mile Post is a stone obelisk forming a memorial to Steve Fairbairn , an oarsman, coach and founder of the Head Of The River Race . It was erected by members of Jesus College Boat Club (Cambridge) , Thames Rowing Club and London Rowing Club and is precisely a mile from the Putney stone marking the end of the course. EVENTS
ROWING CLUBS ALONG THE COURSE
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