Medway regattas (1867)

Post date: Apr 14, 2015 1:52:54 PM

Extract from South Eastern Gazette 16th July 1867

WATERINGBURY REGATTA.

THE ANNUAL REGATTA will be held at

Wateringbury, on the River Medway, between

Tutsham Lock and Bow Bridge, on the 21st of August.

ARTHUR FREMLIN, Hon. Sec.

Further particulars will be duly announced.

Extract from South Eastern Gazette 6^th August 1867

WATERINGBURY REGATTA.

THE ANNUAL AMATEUR REGATTA will

be held at Wateringbury , on the River Medway,

between Tutsham Lock and Bow Bridge, on Wednesday,

the 21st of Au g u s t.

ARTHUR FREMLIN, Hon. Sec

Extract from South Eastern Gazette 20 August 1867

SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.

WATERINGBURY REGATTA,

WEDNESDAY, 21st A U G U S T, 1867.

ON THE ABOVE DAY,

ALL the Ordinary Trains from Stations on the Branch between PADDOCK WOOD and MAIDSTONE,

and also from Tunbridge, Tunbridge Wells,

Staplehurst, and Marden, will be

1, 2, AND 3 CLASS TO WATERINGBURY.

For Times of the Trains see Time Tables.

Children under twelve, half-fares.

Tickets available for the day only.

C. W. EBORALL,

General Manager

Extract from Dover Express - Friday 23 August 1867

TONBRIDGE

Tonbridge Regatta.—Friday turned out a beautiful day for the Regatta, much to the satisfaction of large number of spectators. The course of the river is provokingly circuitous to give the spectator the option of running along the bank for half a mile or so if he wishes to keep the boats in sight or to remain in one position, and be contented with a very limited view of each race. Again, the narrowness of the river necessitates one boat following another, and necessarily gives certain advantage to the foremost boat. Necessity is the mother of invention, and accordingly " heats" have to be resorted to and a different starting and winning post provided for the two boats—for two is the limited number. _ The space between the two starting and two winning posts is perhaps about forty feet. By the kindness of Mr. Thompson, of Haseden, a portion of the river (about half a mile in extent), situate above Lucifer bridge, is used for the regatta. A temporary grand stand was erected at a short distance from the winning post, and was occupied principally by ladies. The Tonbridge brass band was also present on the occasion, and discoursed some capital music. One of the races was tub race, for none but swimmers, four started, with one exception, the competitors swimming and pushing the tubs before them. The one who, like Diogenes, stuck to his tub, was allowed take the prize, although a gentleman named Rogers was the first at the post.

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph 24^th August 1867

WATERINGBURY REGATTA.

The annual regatta in connection with the Wateringbury Club came off on Wednesday afternoon last, and drew together several thousand persons.

The patronesses of the club are the Viscountess Falmouth, Lady Francis Fletcher, Lady Isabel Bligh, the Hon. Lady Stapleton, Lady Hawley, Mrs Brown, and Mrs Pratt Barlow; the stewards include the names of the Rev. A. C. Lee, Captain King, R.E., Captain Fisher Evans, S. Norton, Esq., H. E. Brown, Esq., T. White, Esq., John Von Dadelszen, Esq., and F. Pratt Barlow, with H. White, Esq., as President, and A. Fremlin, Esq., Hon. Secretary.

Amongst those who graced the proceedings with their presence to-day were Lady Holmesdale, Ladies Mary and Ann Marsham, J. Whitehead, Esq., General and Lady Fletcher, Knatchbull Hugessen, Esq., M.P., Mrs Home, Mrs Brown, Rev. —Timins, W. B. Kelly, Esq., Miss White, the Misses Godfrey, the Misses Jones Marsham, Rev Cobb, Rev. A. C. Lee, G. F. Lines, Esq ,J. White, Esq., A. White, Esq, Rev R. Earle. Rev. H. Stevens, F. Russell, Esq., T. Goodwin, Esq., Mrs and Misses Whatman, Dr Lawrie, Major Laurie, &c. The proceedings, through the indefatigable exertion of A. Fremlin, Esq, the Hon. Secretary and the Committee, were most satisfactorily carried out.

The first race the card came off shortly after two o'clock, and consisted of the First Heat for the Medway Cup, about half-a mile. The crew were,

I " Flying Sap" Red and Blue.

1. Lieut. Blood, R E.

2. Beresford, R.E.

3. Pottinger, R.E.

4. Captain Marindin, R.E.

Coxn. Lieut Brown, R.E

II " Nell" Dark Blue.

1. H. Cheal (Tunbridge crew)

2. F. Collins

3. E. Bowles

4. W. Flood

Coxn. F. Towner

Both boats started about 30 yards apart and got well off by first report of pistol. The race was well contested, no apparent difference existing till within two hundred yards from home, when the Royal Engineers put a spurt, and won by about half a boat's length.

The next heat for the same cup was contested by

III " Heather Bell" Black and red

1 Lieut. Mereman, R.E 0

2 Captain Lindsy, R.E

3 Lieut. Montgomerie, R.A

4 Le Meassurier, R E

Coxn. Lieut. Clarke, R.E

IV "The Cam" (Wateringbury Crew) blue and White Horse 0

1. A. Fremlin

2. J. Godden

3. R. Cripps

4. W. S. Brown

Cox. K.Towner

This was the best race of the day, and an arduous struggle resulted in a dead heat. After another race, both boats rowed their dead heat off when the "Heather Bell" won by short boat's head.

The cup was thus left to contested for by both crews of the Royal Engineers, but the "Heather Bell" declining the contest, the crew of the " Flying Sap" rowed over the course and claimed the cup.

A Dingey Race for a cup—All comers.

About half a mile.

I R. Rodger, bow black 1

W. W. Rodger, ..stroke

III H. White, bow white 2 A White, stroke

II W. Bruorton, bow...brown

3 A. K. Brown, stroke.

This race caused great amusement in consequence of the mishaps that occurred. Shortly after the boats started the two latter fouled each other, one of the rowers unshipping his skulls [sic] and turning a somersault in the air; and before the two latter boats could extricate themselves, run each other into the bank. Mr. R. Rodger and Mr. W. W. Rodger, went ahead, but lost considerably at the turn, and with very great difficulty escaped a foul. On the turn the two boats astern pulled up considerably but were unable to catch the black, the Messrs. Roger's winning by about boat's length.

The next race on the card was the final heat of the Ladies' Challenge Cup. About one mile. The above Cup has to be held two years in succession before claimed. It was won last year by the Wateringbury Crew. Three boats contested this on Tuesday, viz., the "Flying Sap," the " Heather Bell'' and the " Nell" (Tunbridge Crew), when the Tunbridge crew won. It was then left for Tunbridge and Wateringbury to row the final heat to-day. The crews were

II " Nell" (Tunbridge crew) dark blue

1 H. Cheal 1

2 F. Collins

3. E. Bowles

4. W. Flood .

Coxn. F. Towner

I " The Cam" Red and White Horse.

1. A. Fremlin

2. J. Godden

3. R. Cripps

4. W. S. Brown

Coxn. E. Towner

This was the race of the day, and a more desperate struggle for victory could not have been witnessed. The partizans of both crews cheering lustily from the banks of the river, the Tunbridge crew winning by scarcely six yards.

Amongst other amusing contests was that of

A Canoe Race for a Cup.

F. Pratt Barlow dark blue 1

Lieut. Lewis, R.E blue and red 2

Major Harrison white and red

Lieut. Green, R.E

The conditions of the race were that the men should paddle a certain distance, drag the canoe ashore, place it in the water again and paddle to the goal. Lieut. Lewis took a clear lead, and arriving at the bank indicated, drew his boat out of the water, dragging it the requisite distance, but to his chagrin as he was placing in again capsized his boat and fell into the water, to the great hilarity of the spectators. This misfortune Mr Barlow took advantage of by placing his canoe more carefully in the water, he then got in and won in easy manner.

Pair-oared Race for Challenge Oars, presented by C. J. Mercer, Esq., (to be held from year to year). About half a mile.

The final heat for the above prize came off about half-past five. The following two crews were left to contest the oars.

VI •' Fly" light blue

1 A. Hutson, bow

T. Hutson, stroke

Alf. Hutson, coxn 1....„

" Ino" white and brown... 2

A. Fremlin bow

W. S. Brown, stroke

G. M. White, coxn

Four other crews contested the day previous, but were beaten by the above. The "Fly" won a good race by about a boat's length.

Amongst other amusements was a tub race, and climbing the greasy pole. The West Kent Militia Band (under Bugle Major Berry) was present and ably executed a good programme of music. On the whole the regatta may said to have been the most successful that has hitherto been held, the proceedings giving general satisfaction, and on the whole the races well contested.