Windsor – Eton Race 1932

Transcript

Windsor v Eton Race

Victory for the Berks Crew

The annual eight-oar race for the silver challenge cup, presented by the late Sir George Peters, between the Windsor and Eton members of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, was rowed last (Thursday) evening over the usual course on the Thames, from Clewer Point to the Eton College rafts.  The event was followed with the customary enthusiasm and interest and resulted in a win for the Windsor crew by half-a-length.  The contest was first held in 1890 and since then the record shows that Eton have been successful on six occasions, while Windsor have secured the trophy thirteen times, this figure including the victory recorded last evening.  On one occasion there was a dead heat and in 1904 the contest was a four-oar race.

It was dusk when Mr. A. H. Dyson (a vice-president and auditor of the club) started the race.  The judges were Messrs. H. A. Baker and J. W. Tull.

Eton led at the start but Windsor made headway and spurted at the Great Western Railway Bridge, gaining a lead of half-a-length, which was maintained.  The finish was a capital one and both crews received an ovation.

Mr. Dyson and others followed the race in the motor launch “Romney First,” which had been kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. W. Franks.  The crews were:

Windsor (Berks Station)-E. T. Watson (bow), E. C. Smyth, A. Sharratt, V. H. Hobbs, J. B. C. Corps, J. B. Powell, F. W. Buck, V. A. C. Wood (stroke), A. Bellringer (cox).

Eton (Bucks Station)-N. C. F. Mackett (bow), H. J. Hughes, R. C. P. Hunt, G. W. Bayley, R. A. Littlewood, D. A. Bond, H. J. W. Nicholls, L. Barrett (stroke), C. D. Dyson (cox).

The Supper

After the race Mr. A. H. Dyson entertained the crews and some friends to supper at “Riverholme,” where an excellent repast was enjoyed.  The company included Messrs. T. Boswell, F. Wilkinson, O. Rowland, Corps, sen., T. Luff, H. Luff, etc.

The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Dyson) proposed the Royal toast which was loyally honoured.

“Our Worthy Host”

Mr. J. W. TULL proposed the toast of “Our worthy host.”  He referred in complimentary terms to the Dyson family.  All that they had done for the rowing world and the sport of Windsor was, he said, wonderful (applause).

Mr. A. H. DYSON, replying to a toast received with the singing of “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” thanked Mr. Tull (President of the Windsor and Eton Chamber of Trade), for his kind remarks and the company for the manner in which they had received the references to the Dyson family.  It gave him the greatest pleasure to think that they had been kind enough to meet him and their captain that evening.  He was told that he was with the junior sculls just fifty years ago, He had always taken the greatest interest in the Club and his present good health and fitness was evidence as to how good rowing was for a fellow.  He was very sorry that their President (Mr. G. Mitchell) was unable to be present on this occasion, but he had been in Scotland having just returned to Windsor.  After having travelled all day, Mr. Mitchell had rung up to say he was unable to attend the supper but he sent his best wishes (applause).

“The Winning Crew”

The Chairman proposed the toast of “The Winning Crew,” and asked that their late President’s cup should be handed round for all to drink to the health of the successful oarsmen. He was pleased that the Windsor crews had had the honour of winning the trophy on most occasions but there were not so many Eton members as there used to be. He remembered, years ago, when their friend Mr. F. Wilkinson was stroke and when he used to get them “home” (hear, hear), while once or twice Mr. Wilkinson had acted as cox. They had with them some old members, Messrs. Rowland, Wilkinson, Boswell, T. Luff and H. Luff. Mr. Baker was still a rowing member and Mr. Corps was the father of one of their active rowing members. He then took the cup and drank to the health of the winners, remarking “Good health to the winners and may Eton win it next year.”

The toast was cordially honoured, the company drinking to the health of the Windsor crew.

The Officials

The Chairman proposed the health of the officials of the Club to whom, he said, they were indebted for all they accomplished. He wished the name of the Club could be the Windsor and Eton Amateur Rowing Club. It might have the effect of doing away with some of their traditions though he did not see why it should be so. It would be nice to have the name of Windsor incorporated in the title and his suggestion was a thought which might be borne in mind when they secured their new premises. The rowing members of different towns had come to know the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club better because of their successes in the last few years (hear, hear).

The toast was received with enthusiasm.

Mr. C. D. Dyson said the season’s results were not too bad though they had not secured so many “pots” as last year. They had been represented at most of the up-river regattas and he thought the number of races won was a record. The junior eight got together extraordinarily well, winning several heats, just losing in the finals, being second past the post to twelve or thirteen crews (applause).

Mr. V. H. Hobbs, on behalf of the Committee and the Club, thanked Mr. A. H. Dyson for his hospitality, while they thanked him for everything he did for them. They were extremely fortunate in having a man of his age still so much interested in their activities. Mr. Cyril Dyson was a hard fighter and an energetic and excellent captain and he called upon the members to back him up even a little more than they did at the present time. He, the speaker, would also do all in his power to foster the welfare of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club (hear, hear).

Mr. V. A. Wood said the Club was better known now than it was some years ago, and this might be due to the circumstance that they had been represented at nearly every regatta. At a recent regatta he met an old rowing man who remembered the Club in years gone by and who recollected when Eton Excelsior crews gave other oarsmen a hard race. Older rowing men feared and respected Eton Excelsior Rowing Club oarsmen, and he (the speaker) expressed the hope that in the future the Club would be still better known in the rowing world on the Thames (applause).

The President

The Chairman proposed the health of “The President,” in felicitous terms and the company drank to Mr. G. Mitchell’s health with cordiality.

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