Regatta and Fete at Stourport ... 1881

The annual fete and regatta in connection with the Stourport Literary Institution took place on Monday, in the Lickhill Grounds near Stourport. The weather was fine, and there was a large attendance of spectators. The regatta and sports formed the principal part of the programme, but there were the usual accessories of out-door fetes, and 'shows' and kindred institutions were in strong force. Green's Kidderminster military band and the Stourport Victoria brass band provided music. The umpire and starter for the regatta were the Rev. S. F. Barber and Mr Comber; judge, Mr J. Smith; hon. secretary, Mr S. J. Bywater. For the athletic sports, Mr H. M. Oliver was handicapper; Mr Bagster and Mr J. Corbet, judges; the Rev. T. B. Althorne, referee; and Mr T. H. Ganderton, hon. secretary. The regatta events were as follows:-

The Vice-president's Prize, a silver cup, value 3 guineas, for town and club junior sculls (presented by Mr T. Garlick). Three-quarters of a mile - Stourport Institute Boat Club (G. Crane) bt Stourport Institute Boat Club (P. A. Glover).

The County Members' Plate, two silver cups, and a coxswain's prize, value 5gs; for clinker pairs. Distance three-quarters of a mile. Stourport Institute Boat Club - J. R. Eaton (bow), J. Baylis (stroke), C. Baylis (coxswain) bt Stourport Institute Boat Club - H. Jeffries (bow), A. Tunkiss (stroke). The first crew won easily.

The President's Plate, a silver cup value 5 gs; for junior clinker sculls; presented by Mr A. Baldwin, president of the Boat Club. Distance three-quarters of a mile. First Heat:- Shrewsbury Rowing Club - W. Hudson bt Stourport Institute Boat Club - J. R. Eaton. Second Heat - Stourport Institute Boat Club - G. Crane, row over. Final Heat - W. Hudson bt G. Crane. Hudson won without difficulty.

The Kidderminster Plate, four silver cups and coxswain's prize, value 12gs; for junior clinker fours. Distance three-quarters of a mile. First Heat - Bridgnorth Rowing Club bt Evesham Rowing Club. Second Heat - Stourport Institute Boat Club - C. R. Glover, G. Griffin, C. J. Purser, G. Crane (stroke), C. Baylis (coxswain), row over. Final Heat - Bridgnorth bt Stourport. The first heat was a good race between the Evesham and Bridgnorth crews. Bridgnorth won the final by 14 or 15 lengths.

The Town Plate, four silver cups and coxswain's prize, value 30gs; for senior fours; no restriction as to boats. Distance, one mile. First Heat: Bridgnorth Rowing Club bt Evesham Rowing Club. Second Heat: Bewdley Rowing Club row over. Final Heat: Bridgnorth bt Bewdley.

The Severn Cup (presented by Mr T. C. Lawson), value Ten Guineas, with the Amateur Championship of the Severn. For senior sculls, Distance one mile. First Heat: Evesham Rowing Club, E. B. Martin bt Shrewsbury Pengwern Boat Club, W. C. Preece. Second Heat: Oxford, Worcester College Boat Club, H. S. Chesshire bt Bewdley Rowing Club, R. H. Whitcombe, 2. Final Heat: E. B. Martin bt H. S. Chesshire.

At the close of the competitions the prizes were distributed by Lord Lyttleton, President of the Worcester Union of Clubs and Institutes, and the formal part of the programme was brought to a close.

The Distribution of the Prizes
The prizes, which consisted of silver cups, &c., were distributed by Lord Lyttleton. Previous to handing them to the successful competitors, his Lordship said he wished to congratulate the committeee upon the very satisfactory way in which all the events had gone off. It was very few who knew the enormous labour which, the successful carrying out of a fete of that kind rendered necessary. They had had beautiful weather and all the sports had been well contested, and the programme had been gone through with commendable punctuality. He was sorry to hear that they had not been forrtunate in securing so many entries as in former years for the aquatics, but no doubt this was due to other things taking place in the neighbourhood; but after looking at the programme he thought the entries were fairly satisfactory. He also regretted that the local crews had not been more successful, but at the same time he was glad to see their Bridgnorth friends had carried off the principal prizes, and he hoped their having done so would be incentive to local crews in years to come - (applause).
Lord Lyttleton then distributed the prizes.

Mr E. Baldwin, M.P., proposed a vote of thanks to his lordship for attending, and said that Lord Lyttleton took great interest in everything calculated to advance the moral and intellectual qualities of institutes, and had shown that practically by his attendance at their sports that day.

Mr Charles Harrison seconded the motion and in doing so remarked that they had had some very good sports that day, which had been keenly contested and hardly won. His lordship was an athlete himself and it was satisfactory to hear him say the performance had been good, and had gone off smoothly and well. His lordship had always taken a keen interest in the welfare of Working Men's Institutes, and with reference to the Stourport Literary Institution he had done what he could, not only for the intellectual advancement of its members but also in giving his sympathy with the efforts of its officers to provide a good day's sport. He had also shown his interest by coming their to give away the prizes. Mr Harrison regretted that the young men of Stourport had not taken advantage of the noble river which was running through their midst to a greater extent than they had in perfecting themselves in rowing. He saw no reason why they should not have a good eight-oar as well as a four-oar crew at Stourport, and he hoped that next year, that would be an accomplished fact. Rowing was a thing which required a good deal of time, trouble and obedience to their trainer. He heartily seconded the vote of thanks to his lordship.
The motion was put and carried amid applause.

Lord Lyttleton, in response, said he came there partly with the view to helping a local institute, and also having an afternoon's enjoyment, which he had had. It was true he was educated at a school which was supposed to be the first school for rowing in the country, viz. Eton. But he did not take much part in rowing, as he had been a member of the 'dry bobs' which meant that he took a greater interest in cricket. He had seen some good rowing in his time, and he thought that if the Stourport people could get a good coach as in former years, and were able to practice under good tuition, there was no doubt they would regain the proud position they formerly held - (applause). He hoped that would be the case and he would come there another year to see if his prophecy had turned out true -(cheers).

Sir Edmund Lechmere was present in the afternoon. Messrs. Councillors C. Crowther and W. H. Green, as well as many other Kidderminster gentlemen were also on the grounds. We must conclude by again congratulating Mr Bywater and the committee upon the exceedingly efficient way in which the whole of the arrangements were carried out.
The Proceeds of the Regatta

The sum collected at the gates and entrances amounted to £80 8s. It would probably have been £90 or £100 had there not been so many attractions elsewhere during the same week.
Accident to an Excursion Train

On Monday night an accident occurred to the excursion train from Birmingham to Stourport, which caused a delay of three hours. The engine broke down at Hampton Load. An engine was telegraphed for from Worcester, but the passengers who should have left Stourport, soon after nine p.m. were not able to start till midnight.