The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-23 00:00:00

GRAND AMATEUR ROWIXG MATCH.

The lovers of aquatic sports bad a high treat yesterday,l
in witnessing a match for 200 sovereigns, rowed by gentle-
men amateurs, picked from the varilus crack clubs on the
river. The wager was to be contended fur by six pair of
oars, in wherries, and to start from off the Red House at
Battersea, and to row to a boat moored at the new
bridge at Hammersmith, the first boat passing that
point to be declared the winner. The time appointed
for starting was half-past four o'clock, and before
that hour all the club galleys and other private
boats, with a great many others, hail assembled at the
starting point. The weather was beautiful, and the scene
gay and aniinated. The placing and starting of the boats
was regulated by a gentleman appointed with the consent
of all parties as umpire, and lots were cast for the several
stations.

The contending boats were all private property, and were
thus distinguished

COLOUILS.
Green
Light Blue
Tartan

OWNERS.
ItAinhiidp
. I; dford
Holmes

COLOU RS.
Yellow
Pink -
11'hi,e

owxcrts.
Slater
Attwood
Well 4

At twenty minutes past four the signal for getting ready
war given by the umpire, and the boats took their Imrel
stations at 'buoys placed for that purpose. At half-past
four a pistol was tired as the signal for starting ;
but it did not seem to be generally understood, as some
hesitated before they commenced pulling, and Mr. Wells's
boat, white, did not start at all. The rest had rowed a
few hundred yards, when all seemed in confusion, and
there was a general cry of " a false start." The umpire
decided that it was so, and the boats returned to their re-
sprctive station!. They were soon again in readiness, and
started at five o'clock in fine style. AVltitc, at first, took the
lead, and Mr. Wells and his partner in this boat, a beauti-
folly constructed wherry, weighing only about 130 pounds,
palled with so much strength and steadiness that the
general opinion seemed to be that they would win. Green,
however, by great exertion, passed white, and was first
boat through Battersea-bridge ' • white being second, light
blue third, closely followed by tartan, and the other two
close astern, nearly abreast of each other. From this
point light blue and tartan gradually gained ground,
and, from being third and fourth, became first and second
boats. The great contest was now between these two
boats, and a more determined struggle has seldom been
witnessed. Each man pulled as though he had
"Set his life upon the mg."
_ _

and it was for a long time flOnbtful which would be suc-
cessful ; but white kept the lead, and eventually won the
match, but with very little distance linked to spare.
Green came in third, and was closely follower] by the others.
An immense barge, superbly fitted up, and decorated with
a profusion of colours for the occasion, was stationed off
Hammersmith Bridge, and was filled with elegant com-
pany ; and from this, and numerous other parties on the
River and its banks on either shore, the competitors
were warmly greeted by cheering' and waving of handker-
chiefs as they respectively reached the goal. None of the
gentlemen appeared to he particularly fatigued on coming
in. The distance (six miles) was rowed exactly in 39
minutes, and, upon the whole, a better contested match, or
one exhibiting a better display of manly strength and
grace, and thorough knowledge of the art of rowing, could
scarcely occur. A great numbet of bets were depending f.n
the match.

The River above Putney-bridge was literally covered
with boats, and the shores lined with well-dressed specta-
tors, chiefly females. The scene was extremely interesting.
The gentlemen who contended fur the prize were conveyed,
nn their arrival, on board the barge before mentioned
(called the St. George), which then dropped down abreast
the Star and Carter, at Putney, where she was again
moored ; and they and the other members of the Clubs to
which they belonged sat clown to dinner on hoard.
The Star and Garter, and the other houses of entertain-
ment at Putney, were tilled with elegant company. There
were several bands of music in attendance, and numerous
salutes were tired from the opposite shores during the

evening. -
Other matches, arising out of this, were made, which
are likely to create a good deal of interest amongst the
aquatic sportsmen.