Stourport Regatta and Athletic Sports ... 1900

The Annual Regatta and Athletic Sports promoted by the Stourport Boat Club have once more proved successful. For many years the Regatta was held on a Monday. Last year the day was changed to Saturday with satisfactory results and this year the committee decided to make the popular event a two days? one. The experiment met with sufficient encouragement to justify repetition. On Saturday the programme consisted of athletic sports, and on the river workmen?s races, swimming contests, and races for Grammar School crews. About 4000 people paid for admission to the grounds which were as last year on the Areley side of the river. This was not quite as large an attendance as the committee has anticipated, but the weather was dull and threatening, and this no doubt deterredmany from patronising the meeting. On Monday the Regatta proper was held, with the additional attraction of open and local horse jumping competitions. The weather was again dull and rather cold with occasional showers, but the attendance was large and taking the two days together the total attendance established a record for a Stourport meeting.

The Hon. Secs., Messrs. S. M. Glover and David Ross, made excellent arrangements for both days, and not a hitch occurred to mar the pleasure of the visitors. The entries for the Regatta were not quite as numerous as could have been desired and the intervals were consequently somewhat long. The keen contests which took place in the horse jumping fairly covered the slowness of the aquatic contests. During the afternoon the river was lively with steamers and small crafts, and the new electric launch was an object of interest to many. The Band of the Worcestershire Artillery (Kidderminster Division) under Bandmaster Osborne played a capital selection of operatic and other music. The racing on the river was on the whole good, and as no crew succeeded in securing two prizes there was not that ?sweeping of the decks? which has once or twice been at Stourport. Much satisfaction was expressed that the Stourport crew were able once more to gain possession of the handsome Boddington Challenge Vase. Burton was a good crew but not good enough for the Glover family. In Collett, the new member of the crew, Stourport has a good bow, though comparatively light. Evesham pulled finely for the Baldwin Vase, and while the Worcester men did well, they were not in such good form as the representatives of the Avon. While it was a disappointment to some to see the city men go down, pleasure was expressed that the vase would remain in the county.

The prizes gained in the contests on Saturday were, in the unavoidable absence of Mrs Broome of Areley Court, distributed by Mrs E. M. Southwell of Bridgnorth; and on Monday the Member for the Droitwich Division distributed the handsome prizes to the successful competitors. Mr Cecil B. Harmsworth, the Liberal candidate for the Droitwich Division, had expressed the strong desire to present on Monday, but at the last moment he was unable to leave London and wrote Mr Ross that he was exceedingly sorry not to be able to come to Stourport, contributed £5 to the Regatta Fund, and hoped that the meeting would be in every way successful.

The officials of the Regatta were as follows: Starters and umpires: Messrs. D. T. Allum, H. C. Crawford, J. M. Harding and W. H. Harrison. Judges: Rev. P. C. Thomas, Messrs. F. E. Burcher, W. Dorsett, D. C. Martin, A. D. Capel Loft, E. M. Southwell (Bridgnorth), R. C. and F. C. Boon (Nottingham BC). Competitors? stewards: Mrs T. Jones and J. T. Orr. Messrs. S. M. Glover and David Ross, hon. secretaries.

The Regatta
The County Members? Plate - for Maiden Fours. Winners to receive prizes value £10. About three-quarters of a mile.
First Heat: Birmingham RC bt Hereford RC. Birmingham, who looked much the better crew paddling down, were on the Areley side and had an established lead at the bridge. Easily holding their own, they finished a length and a half to the good. Hereford were badly steered over the latter half of the course.
Second Heat: Nottingham RC bt Stourport BC - G. Tottman (bow), R. G. Smith (2), J. C. Lister (3), E. Beakbane (stroke), H. Smith (cox). A close race all the way. Nottingham on the town side, though they steered wide round the last corner, managed to hold a slight lead and Stourport were beaten by three parts of a length.
Third Heat: Burton RC bt Bridgnorth RC (Grammar School). A procession. Burton took their opponents? water soon after passing the bridge and won easily.
Fourth Heat: Birmingham RC bt Nottingham RC. Birmingham, on the Areley side soon led and, maintaining a lead of about a length all the way up the course and finishing well, won by a length and a half.
Final: Burton RC bt Birmingham RC. Burton, on the Areley side, showed in front under the bridge and obtained a length lead, which they maintained all up the course.

The Baldwin Challenge Vase - for Junior Fours. Winners hold the vase one year and receive prizes value £12. About three-quarters of a mile.
First Heat: Worcester RC bt Cardiff ARC. Cardiff, on the Areley side, got away at the start but Worcester soon overhauled them and at the bridge were a length in front. From the bridge Worcester came on with a good steady swing and, taking their opponents? water before the enclosure, won easily by four lengths.
Second Heat: Evesham BC bt Stourport BC - G. Tottman (bow), R. G. Smith (2), J. C. Lister (3), E. Beakbane (stroke), H. Smith (cox). Stourport (the same crew that lost their heat in the maiden race) were no match for Evesham, who, on the town side, led from the start and won easily.
Final: Evesham BC bt Worcester RC. A capital race. The city men went away with a light heart, and kept a good lead for a considerable distance. At the bend, however, the Evesham crew put on a fine effort and pulled in front. Messrs. Shrimpton responded and were pulling up well when the judge?s box was reached, only losing by half a length. Both crews were warmly cheered as they left the river.

The Boddington Challenge Vase - for Senior Fours. Winners to hold the vase for one year and receive prizes to the value of £25. About one mile.
First Heat: Bridgnorth RC bt Nottingham RC. Burton had the advantage of station. An even race to below the bend, where Nottingham came across into Burton?s water and a foul occurred. Nottingham stopped rowing and Burton paddled home. Burton looked the better four and would probably have won without the foul.
Final: Stourport BC - F. L. Collett (bow), S. M. Glover (2), P. D. Glover (3), F. C. Glover (stroke), P. Hopcroft (cox) bt Burton RC. This was beyond doubt the most evenly contested and popular event of the day. It was known that the local men were old oarsmen and knew the river well. They started with a dash. Then the Burton men pulled up and just passed them. A fine spurt was put on by Glover and his men well responded. The boat leapt to the front and a capital lead was maintained till the end, the local boat passing the judge?s box a good length in advance of the Burton boat. The result was hailed with loud cheers and as the successful competitors left the boat for the dressing tent they received quite an ovation.

The Severn Plate - for Pairs with coxswain. Winners receive prizes value £5. About half a mile.
Bradford-on-Avon RC bt Bridgnorth RC. This event was decided in one heat. It was a close race until the encloseure was reached, and then the Bradford men, who had plenty of reserve left, pulled away from the Salop crew and won with comparative ease.

Grammar School Race - Quarter Mile.
First Heat: King Charles School, Kidderminster - H. J. Dawes (bow), R. A. Bland (2), R. Thompson (3), G. E. Reeve (stroke), H. Smith (cox) bt Wolverley Grammar School - F. Hellaby (bow), A. Jones (2), C. J. Wilcox (3), L. Munn (stroke), H. Fisher (cox).
Final: King Charles School, Kidderminster bt Hartlebury Grammar School - L. Southall (bow), H. Mytton (2), H. Wragg (3), P. Jackson (stroke), H. Dorsett (cox).
Workmen?s Contests

Workmen?s Race (open to representatives of any public body of works in Kidderminster, Bewdley, Stourport, or within seven miles? radius of Stourport Town Hall): half a mile; first prize value £5, second, £2.
First Heat: E. O. and W. Baldwin Ltd: J. Barnett, C. Newnham, E. Palmer, J. Foster (stroke) bt T. B. Worth and Sons Ltd: A. Wainwright, W. Bowcott, H. King, F. King (stroke).
Second Heat: Birmingham Vinegar Brewery Co Ltd: A. Blunn, S. G. Wainwright, F. Preece, A. Griffiths (stroke) bt C. Harrison and Sons Ltd: A. Bouckley, J, Reynolds, J. Horton, H. Horton (stroke).
Third Heat: Anglo-American Tin Stamping Co: W. Hutton, S. Hickman, W. Baker, J. Wakeman (stroke) bt Areley Football Club: D. Greenwood, A. Jasper, H. Milner, W. Underhill (stroke).
Fourth Heat: Baldwin, Son and Co Ltd: A. Morris, G. James, J. Rowley, J. Baldwin (stroke) bt Waterworks, Bewdley: R. Bull, T. Jones, H. Smith, W. Smith (stroke).
Fifth Heat: E. P. and W. Baldwin Ltd (Foster?s Crew) beat Stourport Unity FC: G. Middleton, E. Milner, H. Pardoe, A. Hutton (stroke).
Sixth Heat: Birmingham Vinegar Brewery Co. bt Anglo-American Tin Stamping Co: C. Gwilliam, J. Lancett, J. Griffiths, T. Rowley (stroke).
Seventh Heat: Anglo-American Tin Stamping Co (Wakeman?s crew) bt Bewdley Victoria FC: T. Bond, A. Bond, W. Field, S. Bond (stroke).
Eighth Heat: E. P. and W. Baldwin Ltd: H. Joyner, J. Buckley, A. Dounton, E. Breeze (stroke) bt Baldwin Son and Co Ltd.
Ninth Heat: Birmingham Vinegar Brewery Co bt E. P. and W. Baldwin Ltd (Foster?s crew).
Tenth Heat: E. P. and W. Baldwin Ltd (Breeze?s crew) bt Anglo-American Tin Stamping Co (Wakeman?s crew).
Final: Birmingham Vinegar Brewery Co bt E. P. and W. Baldwin Ltd (Breeze?s crew).

Swimming Race (Handicap)
For boys under the age of 15 years residing or attending any school in Kidderminster, Bewdley, Stourport, or within a seven mile radius of Stourport Town Hall. The contest was a keen one and the first prize was won by Lloyd of the Wolverley Grammar School, and the second by Dorsett of the Hartlebury Grammar School. The race open to adults was also won by a reptresentative of the Wolverley Grammar School, Mr Partridge.

Distribution of Prizes
It was rather late on Monday evening when the prizes won in the Regatta and the horse jumping were distributed from the committee tent by Mr R. Biddulph Martin, MP for the Droitwich Division.

The Rev. Penson Thomas, captain of the Stourport Boat Club, briefly introduced the hon. member, and said Mr Biddulph Martin had travelled from London on purpose to be present. They were all glad to see the Stourport crew once more to the front, and they would be the holders of the Boddington Vase for the year.
The Hon. Member then distributed the awards, the Stourport and Evesham crews coming in for the heartiest recognition from the spectators.
Afterwards, Mr Thomas proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Martin for his kindness in rendering help to the Club and Regatta. The hon. member had long been a warm and generous friend of the Club. They were all glad that the Club had once more had a successful Regatta and the experiment of holding the event on two days had been attended with success.
Mr Dorsett seconded the motion and acknowledged the kind help so long received from the member for the Division. As one of the objects of those Regattas was to cultivate a good feeling between rowing clubs of the Midlands and Stourport had always been successful in that respect.

The motion was received with applause and Mr Biddulph Martin MP, in reply said it was usual for a lady to be asked to distribute the prizes but when he came to the grounds and saw so many pretty girls and charming women present, he felt sure that the combatants would not lack those to encourage them in their contests. The Stourport course fully deserved the reputation it enjoyed as being a first class place for a Regatta. Evesham and Worcester area were represented that day, but he was wondering why Tewkesbury and one or two other towns on the Severn were not represented by crews. They had had a very enjoyable day, some excellent sport, and he was convinced that Stourport Regatta ought to be the regatta of the county; for the course was the finest, and the regatta was so well managed.

On the motion of Mr Livesey, hearty thanks were tendered to the officials, special mention being made of the hon. secretaries, Messrs. Glover and Ross.
The vote was carried by acclaimation, and Mr Ross, in reply, said the success of the Regatta was in a great degree due to the support given to it by the subscribers in providing prizes. That fact was sometimes overlooked by the great British public. They were greatly indebted to those generous friends who contributed to the prize fund, and he desired to publicly recognise the club?s indebtedness to the subscribers.

The evening was spent in a pleasant manner, dancing being indulged in to the strains of the military band.