Eton Excelsior R.C. Regatta 1926

Transcript

The regatta arranged by Eton Excelsior Rowing Club is now the chief event of its kind at the Royal Borough, and there was a large crowd in front of Eton College boathouse (which was kindly lent to the Committee for use as an enclosure) to witness the racing on Saturday.

Eton Excelsior are one of the oldest clubs on the river and their fixture has always been popular.  An interesting programme of events produced some very keen races and one dead-heat was recorded.  Unfortunately the Junior Fours in best-boats for the Ruthven Cup did not fill, and it is doubtful if such a race so late in the season meets with favour.

Eton Excelsior and Maidenhead competed for the Maiden Fours Cup.  Maidenhead got away well, and had nearly a length’s lead at the railway bridge, but Eton came up very fast at the finish and, passing Maidenhead, they won by one length.  P Tuddenham showed excellent judgment in stroking the Eton boat.  V. H. Hobbs won the Club Senior Sculls Challenge Cup by beating G. W. Bayley in the final by three lengths, whilst the Junior (Silver Challenge) Sculls were won by L. Barrett, who beat V. Wood in his heat and C. V. Marment in the final.

The final of the Club Fours between crews stroked by J. W. Croft and L. Barrett produced a very fine race, and the result was returned as a dead-heat.  Instead of rowing again the crews tossed for the Cup and prizes, and J. W. Croft was successful.

The Richardson Gardner Cups for the Pair-Oar Gig Race were won by H. Luff, R. C. Mills, and J. W. Croft (cox.). who beat A. A. Coles, G. W. Bayley, and L. B. Palmer (cox.) by a quarter of a length.  The Pair-Oar Outrigger Race for the Husted Cup was won by L. Barrett and W. Brown, who, after beating J. W. Croft and V. Wood on a foul in their heat, had to row over in the final, owing to their opponents, F. W. Buck and R. C. Mills, scratching.

The Mixed Dinghy Race was won by C. D. Dyson and Mrs. Bennett Ede by one length from L. F. Blane and Miss P. Young, whilst A. A. Coles and V. H. Hobbs won the Double Canoe Race, their opponents in the final, V. Wood and L. Barrett, capsizing.  There were eight starters in the Club Sculling Handicap, which took place over a course of one and three-quarter mile, with a turn.  V. H. Hobbs was at scratch, and F. Wilkinson, with 120 sec start, the limit man.  The race was won very easily by C. V. Marment with 80 sec start, L. Barrett, with 60 sec start, being second, and G. W. Bayley, 5 sec, third.

Two crews from Staines B.C., two from Albion R.C. and one each from Westminster Bank R.C. and Eton Excelsior R.C. competed for the Wakefield Memorial Cup for Open Double Sculls, and K. Casson Smith, G. A. Smith, and Mrs. G. A. Smith (cox), of the Staines B.C., defeated F. Spiegel, J. Whitehouse, and Miss Knight (cox.), Albion R.C., in the final by half-a-length.

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