| Date | 30 July 1937 |
|---|---|
| Source | Unknown |
| Reference | EE01-0193 |
| Volume | Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, Volume 1 |
| Collection | Eton Excelsior |
Transcript
Success at the First Attempt in the Thames Cup Class
A Fine Performance
The Eton Excelsior Rowing Club had its first success in the Thames Cup Class at Staines Amateur Regatta on Saturday. Their victory in this class was a splendid performance and a fitting reward for much hard work which members of the crew have put in for many weeks. Eton Excelsior, who have been very well coached by Mr. H. O. C. Boret, the old Cambridge Blue, won the Junior-Senior Class at Kingston and Molesey, and so won in the higher class at their first attempt. It was a victory for “length”, and should be a lesson to crews who row the short and fast rate style.
There were eleven crews competing, including Thames, Kensington, Westminster Bank and Quintin.
The first heat was rowed on Friday night at 8.15 p.m. against National Provincial Bank. Excelsior got away to a very careful start and at the two minutes were a few lengths away from the half-mile signal, and were a half-length up during the third and fourth minutes. They drew away to win by \(1\frac{1}{2}\) lengths in 4.35 minutes, 10 seconds faster than the time this class was won in last year.
The next heat was on Saturday afternoon at 3.20 p.m. against Westminster Bank, who were only beaten by a length by Tabor Academy, U.S.A., at Henley this year. Excelsior got away to a good start and led immediately. At the two minutes they were within a length of the half-mile signal and leading by half a length. They held this lead to win in 4.33 minutes.
The semi-final was rowed against Kensington at 4.30 p.m., who had won their heat on Friday night in the same time as Excelsior. They had the slight advantage of not having rowed before during the afternoon. Excelsior got away to a good start, again leading immediately. At the two minutes they were level with the half-mile signal and half a length up. Again they held this lead to win in 4.33 minutes.
The final was rowed at 6 p.m. against Quintin. Excelsior got away to quite a good start and after a minute led by half a length. At the two minutes they were \(2\frac{1}{2}\) lengths past the half-mile signal; in the third minute another quarter-length was added to the lead. Then during the fourth minute Excelsior struck some bad water caused by the wash of a steamer and this rather upset them. The tideway crew being used to rough water drew nearly level, but Excelsior put in a very good spurt in the last half-minute and won by a quarter-length in the time of 4.35 minutes. The Grand Class Eights were won in 4.31 minutes.
The Thames Cup Class is the senior class, the only higher class being the grand class.
The crew was : E. Watson (bow), H. C. Gough, N. J. W. Nicholls, D. A. Bond, D. S. Harrison, P. Watson, R. J. Cork, A. G. Blake (stroke), B. J. Cork (cox).
The same crew are competing in the same class at Maidenhead Regatta tomorrow. This is the last big regatta of the season.
The Junior Four are also competing, viz. : H. Shrimpton (bow), K. Clarke, V. A. Hubbard, E. C. Pannell (stroke) and G. Cullum (cox). For the Junior Sculls V. A. C. Wood has entered.
It will be remembered that the Club also won the Junior Eights and Junior-Senior Fours at Reading.
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