EERC Regatta 1926

Transcript

Successful Afternoon’s Sport

Founded in the year 1851, the Eton Excelsior R.C. is one of the oldest upriver clubs. Prior to that date there were other local rowing clubs in existence, as from an old circular now in possession of the Club an Eton rowing club was going strong in the year 1826. Reference is made to this in another column.

The Excelsior R.C. held their annual regatta on Saturday last, and despite some heavy showers early in the afternoon, there was a good attendance in the enclosure, which was again in the Eton College B.C. (by kind permission of the College authorities). Sir George Peters, J.P., the popular president, and Lady Peters were among the early arrivals, and they stayed to the end of the programme, Lady Peters distributing the handsome prizes, which included some dozen cups. Much regret was felt that Leslie Andrews, who met with a very serious motor-cycle accident at Kingston some weeks ago, was unable to be present. The Secretary (Mr. J. W. Tull) received a letter from him, dated King Edward VII. Hospital, August 20th, in which he stated:

“As the powers that be have decided I am not to go to the regatta to-morrow and so have not put my leg in plaster, I write to ask if you will kindly do the following favour. Please thank Sir George and Lady Peters and members of the Club, etc., for their kind sympathy in my unfortunate accident. I can assure them all that I have felt the shock very much of having to bring my rowing to such an abrupt ending. I wish the regatta every success, and although I shall not be with you all in person, I shall be in spirit.”

The races were keenly contested. C. V. Marment, a promising young sculler, won the Handicap Sculls, and it was interesting to note that for this event F. Wilkinson, a former captain, turned out and still shewed good form despite his age. V. H. Hobbs won the Senior Sculls, and L. Barrett the Junior Sculls, while the Excelsior Club defeated the Maidenhead R.C. in the Open Maiden Four-oar Race. The Open Double Sculling with lady cox was won by Staines. The Scratch Eights, as usual, caused a great deal of interest, and there were some close finishes, despite two unusual happenings – the breaking of a stroke’s oar, and a cox- swain’s rudder line. The speedy Etona (kindly lent by the Eton College B.C.) was used as the umpire’s launch.

The courses for the open events were: For the Maiden Fours, from the Mill Stream to the enclosure, and for the Double Sculling, from the G.W.R. Bridge to the enclosure.

Messrs. J. W. Tull (the hon. secretary) and T. Luff (assistant hon. secretary) carried out the secretarial duties, as usual, most thor- oughly. The other officials were :-Starters and Umpires: Messrs. L. F. Blane, S. Blane, W. Boulton (M.R.C.), W. Dodds, E., W. Fuggle, D. R. Miller (S.B.C.), G. L. Thompson (Leander B.C.), A. M. L. Thompson (Vikings B.C.), F. Wilkinson, and O. H. Collins (Marlow R.C.); Judges: Messrs. A. E. Barber, T. Boswell, C. F. Brunsdon, H. J. Hetherington, W. E. Herbert, S. M. Herbert, S. Melville, O. Rowland, F. G. Saunders, and Lieut.-Colonel J. T. Halligan, O.B.E.: Clerks of the Course: Messrs. B. N. Bettridge, M. J. Bell, S. E. Little, T. J. Cartland, T. South, and the Committee. Mr. W. Odell (the Brocas Boat Company’s manager) and the staff rendered every assistance during the afternoon. Mr. T. Kendall’s string band played a very pleasing selection of music.

At the conclusion of the regatta, Lady Peters presented the prizes, and the youngest competitor (N. H. Mills) handed her a bouquet on behalf of the Club.

The popular Captain (Mr. H. A. Baker) proposed a very cordial vote of thanks to Lady Peters for so kindly coming to present the prizes, and Sir George made a happy reply.

The Events

SENIOR SCULLS (for Challenge Cup and prize presented by Sir George Peters). 

Final: Berks Station: V. H. Hobbs, 1:  Bucks Station G. W. Bayley, 2.  Won by three lengths.

JUNIOR SCULLS (for Silver Challenge Sculls, and prize presented by Lady Peters). 

First heat: Bucks: C. V. Marment, 1: Berks: A. J. Merson, 2.  Won easily. 

Second heat: Berks: L. Barrett, 1: Bucks: V. Wood, 2.  Won easily. 

Final heat: Bucks: L. Barrett, 1; Berks: C. V. Marment, 2.  Won easily.

PAIR-OAR GIG RACE (for the “Richardson Gardner” Challenge Cups).

Final:  Berks: R. C. Mills, J. W. Croft, H. Luff (cox), 1: Centre: A. A. Coles, G. W. Bayley, L. B. Palmer (cox), 2: Bucks: F. W. Buck, V. H. Hobbs, T. Luff (cox), 3.  Good race, won by a quarter of a length.

FOUR-OAR RACE (for Challenge Cup). 

First heat: Bucks: F. W. Buck, V. Wood. A. J. Merson, J. W. Croft, N. H. Mills (cox), 1; Berks: A. Bellringer, A. G. Horlock, R. C. Mills, V. H. Hobbs, M. R. Burgoyne (cox), 2.  Won by a length. 

Second heat: Bucks: W. Brown, P. Tuddenham, G. Newton, L. Barrett, M. R. Burgoyne (cox), 1: Berks: G. W. Bayley, J. G. White, H. Luff, L. B. Palmer, L. B. Mills (cox), 2.  Won by a length and a quarter. 

Final: Berks: J. W. Croft’s crew, 1; Bucks: L. Barrett’s crew, 2.  The race was a very exciting one, and resulted in a dead heat.  On tossing for the cup, J. W. Croft’s crew won.

OPEN MAIDEN FOUR-OAR RACE (for the Challenge Cup presented by Mr. A. Jacobs, and presentation prizes).

(Holders, Eton Excelsior R.C.) 

Final: Berks: Eton Excelsior R.C. – N. Langley, C. V. Marment, А. А. Coles, P. Tuddenham, L. B. Mills (cox), 1; Bucks: Maidenhead R.C. – E. Lane, R. Ashton, E. M. Hall, J. G. Potter, F. Goord (cox), 2.  The Excelsior soon got ahead, and rowing strongly won by a length.

PAIR-OAR OUTRIGGERS (for the “Husted” Challenge Cup).

First heat: Berks: L. Barrett and W. Brown, 1; Bucks: J. W. Croft and V. Wood, 2.  Won on a foul. 

Final: L. Barrett and W. Brown rowed over: F. W. Buck and R. C. Mills scratched.

TUB DINGHY RACE, MIXED (prizes presented by Mr. A. H. Dyson). 

First heat: Berks: L. F. Blane and Miss P. Young, 1; Bucks: N. Langley and Miss Maxim, 2.  Won easily. 

Second heat: Berks: C. D. Dyson and Miss Knight, 1; Bucks: J. W. Croft and Miss M. Dunn, 2: Centre: L. B. Palmer and Miss L. Osmond, 3.  Won by a length. 

Third heat: Bucks: F. W. Buck and Miss M. Haddon, 1; Berks: A. E. Gibson and Miss S. Jessop, 2.  Won by 1½ lengths.

Final: Centre: C. D. Dyson and Mrs. Bennett Ede. 1: Bucks: L. F. Blane and Miss P. Young, 2: Berks: F. W. Buck and Miss M. Haddon, 3.  Won by half-a-length.

HANDICAP SCULLS (for the “Wise” Challenge Cup: first prize presented by Messrs. Wagland and Son). 

Final: C. V. Marment (80 secs. start), 1; L. Barrett (60 secs.), 2; G. W. Bayley (5 secs.), 3; V. Wood (60 secs.), 4; V. H. Hobbs (scratch), 5; C. D. Dyson (50 secs.). 6; F. Wilkinson (120 secs.), 7; A. J. Merson (70 secs.), 8.  Marment, who shewed [sic] very good form, won easily; good third.

DOUBLE-CANOE RACE.

First heat: Berks: V. Wood and L. Barrett, 1; Bucks: J. G. White and V. J. Pottow, 2.  Won by half-a-length. 

Second heat: Berks: A. A. Coles and V. H. Hobbs, 1; Bucks: L. B. Palmer and C. D. Dyson, 2; Centre: H. Luff and R. C. Mills, 3.  Good race, won by 2 ft. 

Final: Bucks: A. A. Coles and V. H. Hobbs, 1; Berks: V. Wood and L. Barrett, 2.  Won easily, the second pair capsizing.

OPEN DOUBLE SCULLING (lady cox) for the “Wakefield” Memorial Challenge Cup, and presentation prizes. 

First heat: Berks: Staines B.C. – K. Casson Smith, G. A. Smith, Mrs. G. A. Smith (cox), 1: Bucks: Eton Excelsior R.C., L. F. Blane, J. W. Croft, Miss M. Dunn (cox), 2; Centre: Westminster Bank R.C. B. Bilborough, A. Ε. Gibson, Miss Jessop (cox), 3.  Won by half-a-length. 

Second heat: Berks: Albion R.C.

Notes

1. The date is omitted from the newspaper clipping; however, August 27th fell on a Friday in 1926.

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Sources and references

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