Maidstone regatta (1862)

Post date: Dec 16, 2013 8:52:16 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph Saturday 10th May 1862

Amateur Boating Clubs.—There are no less than five clubs now formed in this town for the purpose of holding regatta early in the summer. They are named " The Star," " The Sun," "The Comet," " The Whitworth," and “The Haditz," the whole of which have been provided with first-class boats, selected by Mr. T. Smith, under the Cliffe, and purchased by the clubs. It will be remembered that last year a very pleasant afternoon was spent in witnessing the rowing matches of one or two of the clubs, which were then in their infancy. This year the amusements, if the subscriptions will allow of it, will be conducted upon a more extended scale, and we hope the public will assist by liberally subscribing to a fund for that purpose. The boats, particularly the Star, are well manned, and when it is considered that the river Medway has long been a favourite scene for the display of skill in pulling an oar, and that among the amusements of the people few are more harmless or less likely to be abused, without saying a word about the manly strength and vigor gained by the use of the oar, we have no doubt that these clubs will meet with the support they richly deserve.

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph of Saturday 12th July 1862

THE MAIDSTONE REGATTA.

This Regatta took place Wednesday afternoon last, on the beautiful River Medway, between the town of Maidstone and the well-known Inn, "The Gibralter," which is situate opposite the picturesque ruins of Allington Castle, originally built by the Saxons, razed by the Danes, rebuilt by Earl Warren, improved and enlarged by Simon de Penchester, and added to by Sir Thomas Wyatt, father of the insurgent of that name, and around which "Many fair spots of sylvan beauty lie." There were a great number of persons present, and but for the unsettled state of the weather, no doubt a much larger concourse would have assembled "to witness the amusements which this regatta afforded. Perhaps not since the days of William the Conqueror, when the people of Kent visited him at Aliington, to complain of Odo, his brother, who had usurped their lands in this part of the county, has there, been so many people congregated so close to the ancient Castle. The arrangements at the "grand stand," on the castle side of the river, appeared be well made, and many who took an interest in the amusements of the day, were comfortably accommodated to witness the sport. The Cavalry Depot Band was present during the afternoon, and played at intervals lively but fashionable airs, which, with the coloured flags waving in the breeze, the tribes of many wondering, but merry fellows, with their fresh coloured lasses, and the beauties of the locality in which the fancy always seems to feel delight, rendered the afternoon one of excitement and interest.

Precisely at two o'clock the proceedings commenced by the introduction of a scullers race, in wherries, by Maidstone Watermen. In this race Clegg and Smith were the favourites, but, to the astonishment of all, gave up after rowing some distance down, and Sayer followed his example, leaving the contest to Smith, Thompson, Rose, and Bucknell, and which was well contested, particularly between the Wonder (a boat which by some means subsequently became the Wanderer) and the Express, which was gallantly won by Thompson in the latter boat.

The next race was the Members stakes, in four-oared cutters. This race was also well contested, and was won by the Undine, the Star taking the second prize. In this race four boats started, and the rowing was of a first rate character.

The Tradesmen's stakes followed and a better start was never witnessed. This was easily won by the boat Shrimp, the second prize being by the River.

A sculler's race, in outriggers, open to all comers, in which only four started, namely, All Comers, the Tyne, the Robin, and the Fairy, but the All Comers, which was rowed by T. Clegg, was capsized, Clegg getting a complete ducking, but swam ashore, Smith picking up the boat. The boat Robin reached the point of victory first, the Tyne, rowed by T. Robson, second, and the Fairy, by L. Lewis, third, the two last men hailed from Rochester, and it was expected they would have been the successful candidates, but they were disappointed.

The Ladies prize was well contested throughout by the boats Fairy and Garibaldi, the latter winning.

The next race for the Garrison stakes was won by the Undine, rowed by a crew from the Cavalry Depot, good style. The Ariel took the second prize, but the Sun was nowhere.

The all comers race, in four-oared outriggers, was won by the Garibaldi, Vivid second, and Vesta third.

A pair-oar race, in gigs, was won by the Rosebud the Louisa second.

In the race for the Volunteer Stakes the Ada and the Isis started, but the Ada after a short time gave up, leaving the Isis to "walk over."

The scullers race came next, the Fly and the Wonder started, but the Fly giving up left the Wonder to win at his leisure.

The Borough Stakes was won by the Undine, the second prize being well contested for by the Sun and the Star, the latter winning.

The last affair was the Barge Boat Race by Maidstone Watermen, pair of oars and no rudder, and created perhaps more excitement than any race during the day, from the sport expected from it, and from the fact that Bucknell and Ayres, one over years of age, and the other walking lame from a broken leg, having to contend against Clegg and Rose, and Smith and Thompson, said to be four the best men on the river. After some little delay from an appeal made by Bucknell to tbe umpire against the oars used in two of the boats, the Nautilus and the John, a good start was effected, and in the anxiety to get away the boats (four in number) became completely entangled, Clegg rowing into Bucknell, who, instead of tugging at his oar,"turned a complete somersault", and falling backwards into his mates lap, amidst roars of laughter from the spectators. In the meantime Smith and Webb had fouled, the former rowing into the timbers on the shore, and thence into the pier of the bridge. This start was the most interesting and merriest one of the day, from these various mishaps, but the men soon got into regular work, the "old-un" showing first through the bridge and taking a clear lead, closely followed Clegg, and the race now lay between these two boats, and a finer one was perhaps never witnessed. At the barrack pier Bucknell and Ayres had increased their lead to fifty yards, looking like safe winners but at this point Clegg and Rose threw overboard their long Billy Boy oars, and took to another pair, and then began gradually to overhaul their opponents, amidst the cheers from hundreds of people running down the tow path. Both boats were admirably steered, all the points being shaved to the greatest nicety, and not an inch of ground being lost. At the lower quarry point was evident that Bucknell was in trouble, although cheered by his mate, and gradually failed, so did Clegg inch by inch come up, and in Gibraltar reach both boats were abreast, and for several minutes neither party gained the least advantage. Clegg, who was loudly cheered by his friends, put on a tremendous spurt, and drew his boat in advance, at the rowing right athwart the Newark's bows, and taking her water, Bucknell being too much distressed to take the advantage of sheering into his opponent's stern and turning him round; he, however, still pluckily persevered to the end, and a fine race was finished by Clegg and Rose winning the first prize by a few yards. Smith and Thompson were nearly out of sight behind with their pleasure boat oars, and the two lads, Webb and Jessup, who rowed a good race, some distance astern of them. After the match a second appeal was made to the umpires by Bucknell, who contended that he was entitled to the first prize, and Webb and Jessup to the second, from the fact of the winners during the race throwing away a pair of oars and taking to others, contrary to the rules of all London rowing. Smith, he considered, was out of the race by rowing with new style oars, as the Secretary had expressly stated to him (Bucknell) that the men must have barge-boat oars. The Committee, however, declined to entertain these objections and handed over the 2nd prize. Bucknell was entered as a waterman from his owning the Snake sailing boat, when in reality he is a compositor, having served his time to printing, and worked many years in the town at it. Many are of opinion that had he started in the out-riggers' race, in which he was entered, he would have beaten the Rochester man, who came in third. His reason for declining that race was that it would not be fair to Ayres, to wear himself out contending in two matches previous to the barge boats. The barge boat race was run in less than 15 minutes.

During the races great number amused themselves with dancing on the "groen sward," and others with "kiss-in-the-ring." The day's amusements concluded with a display of fireworks. We are led to hope, with all the little drawbacks that may have occurred, that this regatta will continued, and if any of the arrangements have been found defective they will be remedied in future.

The following is the order which the several races were rowed : A Sculler's Race in Wherries. 1st £l, 2nd 10s. 3rd. 5s. By Watermen of Maidstone. Start in two lines, the first three 30 yards in advance. Express (W. Thompson) Wonder (G. Smith) Fly (G.Rose) Dove (R. Bucknell) . Lark (T. Clegg) 0 Hawk (C. Sayer) 0 The Members' Stakes. 1st £3,2nd £1 In Four-oared Cutters. Undine StarSun Comet The Tradesmen's Stakes. 1st £2, 2nd £1. In Wherries, Ran Dan (Pair of Oars and Pair of Sculls). Shrimp 1 Rover 2 Annie 3 Albert 4, A Sculler's Race, in Outriggers, open to all Comers. 1st £l 2nd 10s., 3rd 5s. To start in two lines. . - . Robin (G. Smith) 1Tyne (J. RobsoD) 2 Fairy (L. Lewis). 3Snipe (R. Bucknell) 0 All Comers (T. Clegg) ......... 0 Don (J. Blackwell) 0 Spratt (G. Nurse) The Ladies' Prize. 1st £3. In Four-oared Outriggers. Garibaldi 1Fairy 2 The Garrison Stakes. 1st £3, 2nd £1. In Four oared Cutters. Undine 1 Ariel 2 Star 3 Comet 0 All Comers' Race. Ist £4, 2nd £l. In Four-oared Out-riggers. Garibaldi 1 Vivid 2 Vesta 3 A Pair Oar Race. 1st £2, 2nd £1. In Gigs. Rosebud 1 Louisa 2 Lilly 3 The Volunteer Stakes. Ist £2, 2nd £1. lsis 1 Ada 2 A Sculler's Race, in Wherries. For a Pair of Silver Oars, presented by J. Mercer, Esq. Wonder (C. Nurse) Fly 0 The Borough Stakes. 1st £3, 2nd £1. In Four-oared Cutters. Undine 1 Star .. 2 5un.. 3 The Barge Owner's Stakes, 1st £1, 2nd lOs, 3rd 5s, By Watermen, in Barge Boats, Pair of Oars. No rudder allowed. Nautilus (Clegg and Rose) l Newark (Bucknell and Ayres) John (Smith and Thompson).., 3 Charlotte (Webb and Jessup) 4