Medway regattas (1873)

Post date: Apr 14, 2015 2:52:35 PM

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 01 August 1873

TONBRIDGE REGATTA. This annual event took place on Thursday last, between the Waterworks and Barden Bridges, and the proceedings passed off in a very satisfactory manner. The arrangements were of a satisfactory character, and had the time been a little more attended to, would have been better. The attendance of visitors was unfortunately small, but select. The stewards were Messrs. R. Barber, H. Bartram, A. A. Conroy, J. G. Crease, J. Le Fleming, W. Flood, E. T. Foakes, J. Fry, E. J. Gorham, W. E. Koch, J. E. C. Koch, F. Luscombe, J. M. Montague, T. Nottidge, R. Owen, (C. R. Peake, Gordon Rich, and J. Vallings, the starter, Mr. W. Flood, the judges, Messrs. J. Le Fleming and A. A. Conroy, the referee, Mr. R. Neville, and hon. sec. Mr. John Fry.

The following is a return of the several contests.

Town Challenge Cup.—Open to clubs on the Medway.— Tonbridge- R. W. Barber, J. M. Brown, J. Fry, W. Flood (stroke), and H. Barber (cox). Wateringbury. J. Hutson, Woolley, Viney, T. Hutson (stroke), and Hutson (cox). Wateringbury took first position and gradually drew ahead, winning by three strokes. Sculling Race.—For the first heat Mr. Dallas Beeching and Mr. C. Clementson contested, and the former won easily by about three lengths. In the second heat Mr. J. Fry and W. Flood tried their skill, and although Flood pulled hard he failed to gain Mr. Fry, who rowed in a plucky manner and won. For the final heat Mr. Fry and Mr. Beeching rowed, but the former won by three or four lengths. Canoe Race. For the first heat Messrs. J. M. Brown, Dallas Beeching, and C. Clementson took the paddles, and as both the latter got into the water some fun resulted. Mr. Brown was the first to land and to ship his canoe, which, however, shot across the river, and as he was afraid to go after it the race was left to his opponents, Clementson ultimately winning. Mr. J. M. Montague secured the second heat from Mr. Thellusson in a very easy manner, and in the final heat Messrs. Clementson and Thellusson had a desperate struggle. Thellusson righted his canoe first, but Clementson dug him in the ribs with the nose of his boat and upset him, and both swam home, Clementson claiming the victory by a few yards. Mr. Beeching who lost his canoe on landing gave up the chase. Montague scratched. Challenge Pairs. Messrs. E. T. Foakes, W. Flood (stroke), and J. Cousins (cox.), ami Messrs. R. W. Barber, J. Vallings (stroke), and F. Barber (cox), made this a capital contest which the former won after a game struggle, by about a length.

Coxswains Race, challenge pairs. Messrs. F. W. Barber, A. Isard (Stroke), John Fry (cox) were pitted against Messrs. W. Bartram, E. C. Thellusson (stroke), and J. M. Montague (cox) but the former won easily by about half a dozen lengths. Scratch Four-oared Race. Messrs. E. T. Foakes, J. Vallings, A. A. Conroy, W. Flood (stroke), and H. Barber (cox), won this race very easily, and bumped their opponents Messrs. Dallas Beeching, W. A. Barton, J. G. Crease, J. M. Brown (stroke), F. Barber (cox), who were much the weaker crew. Dingy Scratch Pairs (rowed without coxswains). This race was won easily by Messrs. E. T. Foakes, and J. M. Montague (stroke), the other crew being Messrs W. A. Barton and A. A. Conroy (stroke). Ladies Challenge Cup. The same crews rowed in this as in the Town Challenge Cup. Wateringbury, who had first position again, won this time by about six strokes, the crew evidently in much better swing than the Tonbridge men. Coxswains Race for Dingy Scratch pairs without Coxswains. This race was won very easily by Thellusson and Conroy who beat H. Barber and W. Bartram by several lengths.

Dingy Challenge Pairs (without coxswains) When about 100 yards from the start. Messrs. J. G. Crease and E. J. Gorham (stroke) got wrecked and left their opponents Messrs. R. W. Barber and J. M. Brown row leisurely over the course. Members Four Oared Race.—This was a very good contest between Messrs. J. C. Seaton, A. A. Conroy, J. Fry, J. M. Montague (stroke) and V. V. Conroy (cox), and Messrs. C. Clementson, E. J. Corhaui, E. T. Foakes, W. Flood (stroke) and F. Barber (cox), and the former won by a couple of strokes only having put on a capital spurt at the finish.

The prizes were afterwards distributed by Mrs. Barber. During the afternoon A. Ward performed a series of interesting feats in the water, and between the different events the Royal Austrian Band played a selection of popular music.

Before concluding our report we must not omit to mention that John Fry, Esq. hon, sec. to the club is deserving of great praise for the way in which he carried out the important duties devolving upon him.

South Eastern Gazette 16^th August 1873

WATERINGBURY —The Regatta .—This annual affair came off on Wednesday last, between Tutsham Lock and Bow bridge, in the river Medway. Since its establishment ten years ago the Wateringbury regatta has been looked upon by the inhabitants of that, the neighbouring villages, and the town of Maidstone, as

the water carnival of the year. This being so, as it acquired wider publicity it became increasingly popular, and is now attended by many thousands of people, who can enjoy some very beautiful scenery, besides witnessing some hard-fought contests on the water, without having to go too far from their homes. The weather

on Wednesday last was in the early part of the morning very promising—of a soaking rain. As the sun advanced, however, the darker clouds retreated before it, giving place to a few white fleecy ones, an invigorating breeze sprang up, and the day was rendered most enjoyable. From about ten o’clock people began to pour

into the village, quickly making their way to the water side, booths for the refreshment of the inner man appeared, and “ three shies a penny at the milky cocoa nut” became a not infrequent cry. By the time appointed for the first race the towing path by the river was crowded, amateur oarsmen in craft of all descriptions flitted about here and there on the river, and in the grand stand as well as in the carriages on the opposite side of the river a number of not less enchanting than well dressed ladies anxiously awaited the appearance of the rival crews. But little need here be said of the regatta itself, of how gallantly but how unavailingly Wateringbury twice measured its strength against the Medway Rowing Club. The boat racing concluded, a miniature barge was moored in the centre of the river, attached to the barge being a long well-greased pole reaching over the water. At the end of this pole a box was slung and in this a goose was placed. A number of would-be possessors of this unfortunate bird having elicited peals of laughter by their grotesque and ludicrous attempts at reaching it—which always ended by a fall into the river, the goose was at length let loose and was eagerly pounced upon. Its shrift was short, but the contention as to whom it rightly belonged was fierce and lasted for a great length of time. For the high jump Mr. Warde surpassed all competitors, clearing 5ft. 6in. in beautiful style. As dusk approached the concourse of people began slowly and apparently with reluctance to wend their homeward journey, and by ten o’clock the riverside had resumed its wonted appearance. The success which attended the regatta was in a great measure due to the exertions of Mr. A. Walmesley, the hon. secretary.

The following is a, list of the events decided :—..

Dingee Race.—Pair oars.—1st heat, Messrs. F. Warde and A. Walmesley. 2nd heat, Messrs. Goodwin and Cripps

rowed over. Final heat, Messrs. F. Warde and A. Walmesley.

Won with great ease by six lengths.

Medway Challenge Cup.—Four-oared.—Medway Rowing

Club—J. W. Bagnall 1, A. Coulter 2, J. Tuffell 3, 0. J. Tuffell

stroke, and J. Shoote cox. Wateringbury Rowing Club—A .Hutson 1, T. Woolley 2, T. Finey 3, R. Hutson stroke, and A.

Hutson cox.

The Wateringbury crew got the best of the start and in the first half of the journey seemed to hold their opponents safe. Nearing the winning post, however, the stroke of the Medway rowing club called on his men and an exciting finish, ended in the latter winning by a bare length. The ship of the victorious crew was fitted with sliding seats.

Canoe Race.—Mr. F. Warde and Mr. H. Bartram competed. The former jumped off with the lead, but was unable to maintain his advantage, Mr. Bartram having the race in hand halfway from home.

Dingee Sculling Race.—1st heat, Mr. J. Fry. 2nd heat, Mr. H. Bartram. Final heat, Mr. Bartram. Won by several lengths.

Ladies’ Challenge ,Cup.—Precisely the same crews started for this as for the Medway Challenge Cup. The winners in

the latter race improved their advantage and won by about a length.

High Jump.—Mr. F. Warde, 5ft. 6in.

A flower show was also held in connection with the regatta, consisting of some very beautiful foliage plants, plants in blossom, fruit, vegetables, works of art, &c., arranged with excellent taste. The exhibitors comprised most of the gentry of the neighbourhood and a good many cottagers. The band of the Royal Engineers, numbering some 36 musicians, arrived on the ground shortly before two o’clock, and. played with its accustomed skill a choice programme of music.

Morning Post - Wednesday 17 September 1873

The first annual regatta of the Royal Engineer (non- commissioned officers and sappers) Rowing Club has just taken place on the Medway, and was attended with success