EERC Regatta 1928

Transcript

Well-Contested Events and a Fine Day

Established in the year 1951, the Eton Excelsior R.C. is one of the oldest clubs on the Thames, and it is gratifying to find it in such a flourishing state after a period of 77 years.  The annual club regatta was held on Saturday afternoon over the Windsor Reach, and the weather was ideal.  In fact, it was one of the best days yje executive has been favoured with for many years.  It was pleasing to see a number of old members present, including the veterans, Mr. R. E. Hannis and Mr. H. J. Hetherington, who were rowing for the Club over half-a-century ago.

The Eton College Boat Club again kindly placed their commodious premises at Winter’s raft at the disposal of the Committee as an enclosure, and also lent their electric launch, Etona, for umpiring purposes.  Mr. W. Odell, the manager, and several of the staff, also lent a hand, and the long program was carried through without a hitch, thanks to Captain A. M. L. Thomson the Hon Secretary; Mr. L. Barrett; the Assistant Hon. Secretary. Mr. T. Luff and the various other officials.

There was a very good attendance, both ashore and afloat. and among the early arrivals were the Mayor and Mayoress of Windsor (Sir William and Lady Carter), and the Mayoress kindly presented the prizes, a handsome collection, which was much admired.  The only matter for regret was the absence of the popular President, Sir George Peters, J.P., and Lady Peters, who have attended the regatta for very many years past.  This was due to the illness of Sir George, and a telegram of sympathy was despatched by the executive to him during the afternoon.  His genial presence was much missed.

The various events were admirably contested, there being a large number of close finishes.  In the open races, the Club gained a popular victory in the Maiden Four-oar Race, defeating Gresham R.C. easily.  A smart Junior Four from Maidenhead secured the Ruthven Challenge Cup, and the Open Double Sculling Race, with lady cox, was again won by the Staines Club, who have secured this event every year since the war.  On Saturday, however, the margin was only two feet over Maidenhead.  The various Club races were keenly contested, and notable victories were secured by C. D. Dyson, V. H. Hobbs and C. L. Andrews.  The Scratch Eights again produced some spirited racing, no fewer than six crews taking part.  The courses for the open events were:- Maiden Fours: Mill Stream to Enclosure; Double Sculling: G.W.R. Bridge to Enclosure; and Junior Fours: Clewer Point to Enclosure.  The chief officials, who carried out their duties admirably, were: Starters and Umpires – Messrs. L. F. Blane, S. Blane, F. Wilkinson, F. L. P. Webb, Capt. A. M. L. Thomson (Eton Vikings B.C.), Messrs. H. O. Collins (Marlow R.C.), N. L. Huggins (Staines B.С.), and K. Ruffe-Thomas (Maidenhead R.C.); Judges Messrs. T. Boswell, C. F. Brunsdon, H. J. Hetherington and Mr. O. Rowland; Clerks of the Course – Messrs. B. N. Bettridge, S. E. Little, T. J. Cartland, C. R. B. Howlett, E. W. Fuggle, T. South and the Committee; Captain – Capt. A. M. L. Thomson; Vice-Captain Mr. V. H. Hobbs: Treasurer – Mr. V. A. C. Wood; Auditors – Messrs. A. H. Dyson and M. Lightfoot; Committee – Messrs. V. J. Pottow, C. D. Dyson, J. W. Tull, J. W. Croft, G. W. Bayley, A. J. Merson, A. Bellringer, and H. A. Baker.

Mr. T. Kendall’s string band played a pleasing selection of music in the enclosure during the afternoon.

At the conclusion of the presentation of prizes, Captain THOMSON, in a few well-chosen words, proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to the Mayoress for presenting the prizes, and Lady Carter was handed a silver spoon with the Club badge on it as a memento of the occasion. The MAYOR returned thanks in a happy little speech.

The Events

WINDSOR V. ETON EIGHT-OAR RACE (for the “Peters” Challenge Cup)

Berks Station: Windsor crew J. G. White (bow), C. Matthews, E. C. N. Gower, W. A. Brown, F. W. Buck, A. J. Merson, J. W. Croft, V. H. Hobbs (stroke), S. W. L. R. Lucking (cox).  Bucks Station: Eton crew W. A. Street (bow), R. Stickland, D. S. Andrews, G. W. Bayley, W. Bedford, R. C. Mills, C. L. Andrews, L. Barrett (stroke), G. H. Street (cox).  A ding-dong race was witnessed, only a few feet separating the crews at any time, and an exciting finish ended in a dead-heat.

FOUR-OAR RACE (for Challenge Cup)

First Heat: Bucks: D. S. Andrews, R. Strickland (bow), F. W. Buck, V. H. Hobbs (stroke), J. G. White (cox), 1; Berks: C. Matthews (bow), C. D. Dyson, J. W. Croft, L. Barrett (stroke), N. Haines (cox), 2.  Won by a length and a quarter.

Second Heat: Bucks: W. A. Brown (bow), W. A. Street, A. J. Merson, V. A. Wood (stroke), H. E. Duggan (cox), 1; Berks: E. C. N. Gower (bow), G. W. Bayley, W. Bedford, R. C. Mills (stroke), G. H. Street (cox), 2. Won by a length and a half.

Final: Berks: Winner of Heat I, 1; Bucks: Winner of Heat II., 2. Won by two lengths. First

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

First Heat: Bucks: V. H. Hobbs, 1; Berks: L. Barrett, 2.  Won by a length and a half.

Final: Berks: V. H. Hobbs, 1; Bucks: G. W. Bayley, 2.  Won by a length and a half.

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

First Heat: Bucks: C. L. Andrews, 1; Berks: J. G. White, 2.  Won easily.

Final: Bucks: C. L. Andrews, 1; Berks: A. E. Sharratt, 2.  Won easily.

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

Final: Berks: D. S. Andrews (bow), W. A. Street (cox), G. Newton (stroke), 1; Centre: G. W. Bayley (bow), J. W. Croft (stroke), N. Haines (cox), 2; Bucks: F. W. Buck (bow), R. C. Mills (stroke), C. Matthews (cox), 3.  Won by two lengths.

TUB DINGHY RACE MIXED (prizes prosented by Mr. A. H. Dyson). First Heat:

Bucks: C. D. Dyson and Mrs. C. D. Dyson, rowed over.

Final: Bucks C. D. Dyson and Mrs. C. D. C Dyson. 1; Centre. V. A. C. Wood and Miss D. M. Wood, 2 Berks: G. H. Street and Miss M. Watts, 3.

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

Final: Berks: Eton Excelsior R.C. N. Haines (bow), W. A. Street, G. H. Street, J. G. White (stroke), R. C. P. Hunt (cox)), 1; Bucks Gresham R.C. L. G. Cannon (bow), W. S. Bell. F. H. Hawkins, J. Donovan (stroke), P. H. Whitney-Coates (cox), 2. Won by three lengths. Time, 4min, 22secs.

OPEN JUNIOR FOURS (for the “Ruthven” Challenge Cup, presented by Lord Ruthvon, and represented by the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club in 1893, to be competed for annually; and pre-sontation prizes

Bucks: Maidenhead R.C.: E. N. Reid (bow), R. B. C. Ryall, K. G. Knott, J. Millar (stroke), J. F. Hampton (cox), 1. Berks: Eton Excelsior R.C. C. L. Andrews (bow), C. Matthews, W. Bedford, R. Stickland (stroke), R. C. P. Hunt (cox), 2. Good race. Won by three-quarters of a length. Time, 4min. 30secs.

Final: Bucks Maidenhead R.C., 1: Berks Gresham R.C. L. G. Cannon (bow), W. S. Bell, F. H. Hawkins, J. Donovan (stroke), P. H. Whitney-Coates (cox), 2. Excellent race, won by a length and a quarter. Time, 4min. 42secs.

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

Final: Berks F. W. Buck and R. C. Mills, 1: Bucks V. A. C. Wood and L. Barrott, 2. Won by a length.

DOUBLE-CANOE RACE.

First Heat: Centre: M. R. Burgoyne and C. D. Dyson. 1: Berks: H. E. Duggan and J. B. Ray, 0; Bucks W. Bedford and R. Stickland, 6.

Final: Bucks: V. H. Hobbs and I. R. L. Thomson, 1 Centre: M. R. Burgoyne and C. D. Dyson. 2; Berks: F. Mainwood and W. A. Brown, 3.

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

Lady’s prize presented by Messrs. Wagland and Son. Holders: G. A. Smith and C. F. Tims (Staines B.C.). Bucks: Staines: C. F. Tims. R. J. Climpson and Mrs. C. F. Tims, 1 Berks Maidenhead G. C. Fox, K. G. Smith and Miss K. Beal, 2: Centre: Sunnyrocads: L. B. C. Jones, P. H. Mountjoy and Mrs. L. B. C. Jones, 3. Good race. Won by two feet three lengths between second and third.

HANDICAP SCULLS (for the “Wise” Challenge Cup).

Final: C. D. Dyson (80secs, start), 1; A. Sharratt (100 seos.), 2: G. W. Bayley (10sees. start), 3: V. H. Hobbs (scratch), 4; C. L. Andraws (20secs. start), 5. Good race. Won by half-a-length.

SCRATCH DONGOLAS

First Heat: Bucks: L. Barrett, J. W. Croft, D. S. Andrews, R. Stickland, H. C. Smith, R. J. Climpson, 1: Centre: C. D. Dyson, J. G. White, G. W. Bayley. H. Duggan, L. W. S. Howard, K. G. Smith, 2: Berks: W. A. Street, V. A. C. Wood, M. R. Burgoyne, W. Bedford, B. C. Harvey, T. P. Lever, 3.

Second Heat Berks: W. A. Brown, A. J. Merson, F. Mainwood, J. H. Whitehouse, F. Western, junr., C. F. Tims, 1: Centre: C. Matthews, I. R. L. Thomson, F. W. Buck, H. Culmer, E. C. Gower, R. V. Husted, 0: Bucks: V. H. Hobbs, N. Haines, G. H. Street, R. W. Prince, G. H. Stutley, W. T. King. 0.

Final: Berks: W. A. Brown’s crew, 1: Bucks: L. Barrett’s crew, 2.

SCRATCH EIGHTS

First Heat: Berks Station J. G. White, C. Matthews, F. Western, junr.. R. J. Climpson, G. L. Stanley Smith, R. C. Mills, G. C. Fox, V. A. C. Wood (stroke), R. C. Hunt (cox), 1; Bucks Station R. Stickland, J. H. Whitehouse, E. T. Watson, W. A. Brown, E.A. Weaver, T. P. Lever, C. G. Heather, J. Reid, L. W. S. Howard, 2.

Second Heat: Bucks Station: H. Culmer, G. H. Street, A. E. Sharratt, R. B. C. Ryall. F. W. Buck. W. F. Holmes, J. Spray, V. H. Hobbs (stroke), N. Haines (cox), 1; Berks Station W. A. Street, R. W. Stutley, F. Western, G. W. Bayley, R. V. Husted, L. G. Cannon, J. Wolrave, L. Barrett (stroke), H. Duggan (cox), 2.

Heat 3: Bucks Station: V. A. C. Wood’s crew. 1: Berks Station: W. Bedford, H. C. Smith, E. C. Gower, A. J. Merson. D. S. Andrews, K. G. Smith, H. E. Hughes. J. Millar (stroke), R. F. C. Wheeler (cox), 2.

Heat 4: Bucks Station V. H. Hobbs’s crew, 1; Bucks Station C. F. Tims, C. L. Andrews, J. W. Croft, R. C. Prince, M. R. Burgoyne, R. H. Dyke, E. N. Fox, C. D. Dyson, B. C. Harvey, 2.

Final: V. A. C. Wood’s crew. 1; V. H. Hobbs crew, 2. Splendid race, won by a length.

Winners of Club Races, 1928.

TRIAL JUNIOR FOURS, FOR THE “DEVEREUX CUP

N. Haines, W. A. Street, E. C. N. Gower, J. G. White (stroke).

ROBERT WILLIAM KING” CUP (Open Scratch Fours)

E. C. N. Gower, W. A. Street, F. W. Buck, R. C. Mills (stroke).

“HERBERT” SWIMMING CUP

J. В. Ray.

COXSWAIN’S SPOONS

R. C. P. Hunt.

Flannel Dance

A very successful flannel dance was held at the Castle Hotel, promoted by the club at the conclusion of the regatta, and judging by the attendance it must have been most gratifying to the promoters for the support given them. Dancing commenced shortly after eight and continued with the exception of a short interval for refreshments, until midnight, everyone having an excellent evening’s dancing. An excellent programme of dance music was rendered by Mr. Hugh Kendall’s Orchestra.

Images

Notes

Sources and references

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