Stourport Regatta and Athletic Sports ... 1892

The Stourport Regatta which a few years ago was a pleasant and popular event, has been revived, and the committee of the Institute Boat Club, who made alll the arrangements for the regatta and athletic sports held on Monday last, are to be heartily congratulated on the success which attended the gathering. It was feared that the exciting parliamentary electionswhich took place on the same date at Kidderminster, Worcester and other places in the Midland counties would have seriously interfered with the attendance of visitors, but despite these counter attractions several thousand patronised the sports, and we hope to hear that the committee have a substantial balance in hand. Mr Pratt's meadow, which is situate a little over half a mile above the Stourport Bridge, had once more been secured for the gathering. The spot is a very lovely one, commanding views of the bold scenery in the locality. The river is wide, and although there is one sharp bend the course is an exceedingly good one. The weather was all that could be desired for out-door enjoyment; the sun shone brightly all the day and there was a refreshing breeze from the south-west. The programme provided was not a very ambitious one, and as a consequence not many of the best crews were present. However, Worcester, Birmingham, Burton, Hereford and Shrewsbury were represented, and it speaks well for the careful training of the local crews, that in the face of these combinations, Stourport has the honour of retaining the two most coveted awards in the aquatic contests. During the afternoon Mr Alfred Baldwin, who had that day, been returned unopposed as member for the Bewdley Division of Worcestershire, Mr and Mrs John Brinton, Mr H. Dixon, Mr and Mrs C. E. Newmarch, and other ladies and gentlemen of the district visited the grounds and seemed delighted with the proceedings.

The Regatta
The officials were:- Judges, Rev. F. O. Gascoigne, Messrs. C. K. Harrison, M. Danks and R. B. Worth; umpires and starters, Messrs. R. S. Blundell and A. Comber; stewards, Messrs. W. Fisher and T. J. Smythe. Details:-
Severn Plate - Junior Sculls. Timepiece, value £3. For junior scullers who have never won an open regatta sculling prize. First heat: Stourport BC, V. Fisher - r.o.; second heat: Worcester RC, E. W. Dyke - 1, Worcester RC, P. V. Drew - 0; third heat: Bewdley RC, C. H. Baker - 1, Stourport BC, T. Rowley - 0; fourth heat: Shrewsbury Pengwern BC, G. Welling (scracthed), Stourport BC, W. Underhill - r.o.; fifth heat: Stourport BC, W. Randle - 1, Worcester RC, E. F. Skyrme - 0. Skyrme strained his arm and was unable to pull with his usual power. Sixth heat: Baker - 1, Fisher - 0. Won easily by several lengths. Seventh heat: Dyke - 1, Underhill - 0. Dyke won by several lengths. Eighth heat: Bewdley RC, Baker- 1, Stourport BC, W. Randle - 0. Won easily by nine lengths. Final: Baker - 1, Dyke - 0. The final was somewhat disappointing as Dyke failed to showgood form and Baker won by several lengths.
President's Plate - Pair oars (open). Two claret jugs and medals, and coxswain's prize value £5. Presented by Mr Alfred Baldwin J.P.
First Heat: Hereford Rowing Club bt Shrewsbury Pengwern Boat Club.
Second Heat: Worcester Rowing Club bt Stourport Boat Club, W. A. Baylis (bow), P. D. Glover (stroke), H. Jones (cox).
Third Heat: Bewdley Rowing Club bt Worcester Rowing Club.
Fourth Heat: Hereford - r.o., Worcester Rowing Club scratched.
Fifth Heat: Worcester bt Bewdley. The local men were very unfortunate, as the stroke broke his oar near the rowlock soon after starting leaving the city men to row home easily.
Final Heat: Hereford RC bt Worcester RC. The Worcester men made a bad start, and one caught a crab. At the bridge the Hereford men led by two lengths. The Faithful City men pulled up steadily, contesting the race all the way up, and the Western men won by a length and a half.
The Town Plate - Four spirit frames and coxswain's prize value £15. For four oar boats.
First heat: Burton Rowing Club bt Hereford Rowing Club. An easy win for the brewery men.
Second heat: Stourport Boat Club, W. Rowley (bow), S. M. Glover (2), D. T. Allum (3), A. E. Oakley (stroke), H. Jones (cox) bt Birmingham Rowing Club. It was a gallant struggle right into the straight. Then the 'Forward' men lost a little ground and the local crew won by a length.
Third heat: Burton Rowing Club bt Shrewsbury Pengwern Boat Club. An easy victory for the Burton men.
Final Heat: Stourport Boat Club bt Burton Rowing Club. This was beyond doubt the contest of the day, and it excited immense interest. The local men pulled grandly, and led a short length most of the way. When 200 yards from home thay put in a dashing stroke. Burton responded with desparate energy, but failed to get nearer, and the home team won by a length and a half amid loud cheering. This victory carries with it the splendid Boddington Challenge Cup, presented by Mr J. S. Gibbons, and will be held for the year. The victory was a decidedly popular one.
Tradesmen's Plate - Maiden Fours. For competitors that have never won a rowing prize at an open regatta. Four timepieces and coxswain's prize value £10.
First Heat: Birmingham Rowing Club bt Shrewsbury Pengwern Boat Club.
Second Heat: Stourport Boat Club, W. Rowley (bow), S. M. Glover (2), D. T. Allum (3), A. E. Oakley (stroke), H. Jones (cox) bt Stratford-on-Avon Rowing Club. Won easily.
Third Heat: Stourport Boat Club, H. E. Hinton (bow), R. L. Evans (2), T. Jones (3), G. Jones (stroke), F. Collett (cox) bt Worcester Rowing Club.
Fourth Heat: Stourport bt Birmingham. The local men pulled in grand style and won by a length and a half, amid loud cheering.
Final Heat: As can be seen, the final lay between the two local teams, and as Rowley's crew had secured the valuable Town Plate, it was arranged that Hinton's crew should take the Tradesmen's Plate without a contest.

Athletic Sports
The athletic sports which were held in the centre of the spacious meadow attracted a good deal of interest and as some of the events were very closely contested much excitement prevailed. The committee had had the course well staked out and excellent time and order were maintained. The officials: Handicapper - Open events, Mr C. Wheelwright, local events, Mr J. Pritchard, Kidderminster. Starter - Mr F. Tandy. Judges - Rev. F. D. Richardson, Rev. S. J. Sykes, Dr Martin and Mr E. W. Hopewell. Clerk of the course and umpire, Mr F. F. Giles. Referee - Mr Thomas Clules. Stewards - Messrs. E. Osborne and S. Williams. Details: .....

There were numerous other attractions both on land and water. The greasy pole contest and the water polo excited the keenest interest, but none of the competitors were able to secure the flag at the end of the greasy pole, despite the gallant efforts which were made. The programme of music performed by the band of the 1st Worcestershire Volunteers (Stourport Company) under the leadership of Mr Irving Glover afforded delight to the visitors and many indulged in dancing.

The prizes which were very handsome and supplied by the two local jewellers Mr Bickerton and Mr Pratt of High Street were distributed by Mrs E. Arthur Baldwin, wife of the vice-president of the Stourport Institute Boat Club, and hearty thanks were tendered to the lady for her services.