Issue 100 - Centenary July 1997

Students' Searing Start to Season

St Edwards won six, Lancaster RGS five, Radley three and the home club, Birmingham, took nearly half of the dozen wins scored by clubs. Hammersmith opened the Tideway season with Furnivall winning six of the 22 events which attracted 71 entries. Thames took the eights' honours with three wins. An early season casualty was Runcorn, which was cancelled due to a low entry, the reason being the absence of the North West schools, who went to Poplar Spring for the Inter Regional Championships.

As reported in the June issue of Regatta, the Poplar event had 450 entries in 60 events. Marlow Spring had 173 crews and scullers in 56 events but only 13 of these attracted more than four entries. Clubs were again dominated by student opposition although the home club, Marlow, topped the day with five wins.

There were 75 entries in 19 classes at York Spring where the home club, York City, notched up ten. Coate Water Park took entries through the 200 mark with 52 events but 31 of these attracted less than four entries. Oxford Colleges and schools were dominant. Durham City provided two days' racing in 74 events for 272 entries; Durham ARC claimed 22 wins, Durham colleges amassed 12 and Queen Elizabeth HS got six.

A dozen clubs divided the spoils in 20 events at Borne, and Bradford had 104 contestants in 30 events, Newark, York City and Warrington sharing a dozen trophies. In its 265th year, Chester netted 175 entries in 51 events with the day being dominated by Royal Chester with 13 wins while Grosvenor claimed ten.

© Copyright K. Osborne, 1997.