The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-09 00:00:00

Thames National Regatta.

This regatta took place yesterday at Putney under the
management of the Thames Subscription Club. The wea-
ther was all that could he desired for the purpose, for
although the heat was intense, it was tempered by a re-
freshing breeze, which played throughout the afternoon
along the surface of the river. Crowds of persons thronged
the banks on each side of the prescribed :course, which lay
between Putney and Chiswick, and small craft of every de-
scription plied about it as busy as bees. A little above the
Star and Garter, the pretty little steamer of the Regatta
Committee, the Venus, lay moored, and as each race was
decided the colours of the winner were hoisted on board.
Conspicuous above them all, however, was the scarlet coat
and the silver badge which was to be the reward of the
victor in the Watermen's Apprentices' Race, and which was
displayed in all its untarnished brilliancy from the! summit
of a lofty pole. The Citizen Steamboat Childe Harold was
throughout the day in communication with the Venus, and
draughted its visitors away as each race began, so that they
might be spectators of the contest from the start to the
close. The regatta opened with the Champion Four-Oar
Race, which was open to all comers, the prizes being Lieo
for the first boat, L'2o for the second, and -.P.010 for the third.
Fer this race six boats were entered, and inasmuch as it
imn0.41,10, nwirir, to tits, many ob-
structions on the river, thit they .found all row at the
same time, it was determined that ;here should be
two trial heats, in each of which three out of the six
boats should compete; the first two boats in meth heat
to be selected to row a final and decisive race. At a quarter
post 3 o'clock—the hour fixed for starting fur the first heat,
however, it was found that only two out of the three boats
entered were at their posts, and these two were started, but
as they, having no competitor for either first or second
place, must, in accordance with the conditions laid down
be eligible to take part in the deciding heat, the race though
fairly rowed was not so keenly contested as would other-
wise have been the case.
The competitors in the first race were :

I.—Colleen Bawn Crow, Manchester—Green.
M. Abdy
G. Williamson
B. Abdy f S. Butler

W. Davill, cox.
2.—Confidence Crew, Richmond—Pink.
J. Callas W. Harper
H, Hartlebury I J. Glover

C. Messum, cox.

The Manchester crew set off from Putney bridge with
the lead, which they maintained without any apparent
effort td the close at Chiswick Eyot, winning by three or

four lengths.

In the next heat, also, only two boats started instead of
three, aswas expected, and for the same reason as operated
in the previous heat, their respective crews did not find it
necessary to exert themselves in order to secure a place in
the final struggle. The boats engaged in the second heat
were—

I.—Pride of the Thames Crew—White, red sleeves.
T. Hoare, Hammersmith J. W. Tagg, Moulsey
I
11. Kelly, Putney G. Hammerton, Surbiton
W. Hammerten, cox.
2.—Tyne Crew, Newcastle--White.
J. Taylor
R. Winship
T. Moffitt. M. Taylor
T. Harrison, cox.
Both boats rowed very evenly together for about 209 yards,
and then the Pride of the Thames drew slightly ahead,
and continued the lead to the end of the course. Up to this
point the excitement was of a very mild character, but
when after the lapse of two or three hours, during which
time occasion was taken to row the preliminary heats of one
or two minor races, the four crows already mentioned
brought themselves into line for the final heat, there was
considerable speculation as to the result. The Tyne boat
had many warm admirers, but the Pride of the Thames crew
were clearly the favourites, for did they not number among
them that veteran oarsman Kelly who had so often tri-
umphed on those waters before ? Tho Manchester crew,
too, were held in much esteem, nor did they show them-
selves unworthy the good opinion of their backers.
The start was effected in admirable order, the Tyne boat
after the first few yards taking the lead, which, however, it
maintained but for a very short distance. Gradually, but
surely, the Pride of the Thames gained upon her, and when
Hammersmith-bridge was reached Kelly and his crew were
more than four lengths ahead. Here, too, the Manchester
crew, which hitherto had occupied only third place, chal-
lenged the Tyne men, and after a gallant struggle succeeded
in passing them. By this time the Richmond crew had lost
all chance, and the other three boats, after a splendid race,
came on in the following order:—

Pride of the Thames
Colleen I3awn .
Tyne crew • . • •
•3
There was considerable cheering when the result was
known.

.. 1
.. 2

The nest race was ono open to watermen's apprentices,
from Oxford to Gravesend inclusive, in outrigged boats, the
first prize being the coat and silver badge which wore ex-
, the freedom of the Thames
,eisVe3ontest were T. Wise, Ilarmner6lni thy
e*,llu4;ll, ;El. The winners of the pre-
liminary3ettrhhlsmith, IL Piatt, Thames-bank, and W.
eaot:znsassrciindn;a. In the final heat Piatt got away with a
moat
spiritedlylead,
Niv'oirthalblo7ui
Wise.
.2,00 Theyards
la
Spencer,
pi
a.i ex-
hibited ti
xcef
red2erno,nhc2Hdehba,
ttecr°,nhteeswteavere,vNevras)* inch
ulti-
mately the winner by two lengths.
In the sculling- race, which was open to all comers, the
preliminary heats were won by E. Eagars, of Chelsea; H.
Kelly, of Putney ;
Joseph Sadler, of Putney, and T. Hoare
of Hammersmith occupying the second place and thus being
entitled to take part in the final beat, a chance of which H.
Cole, of Chelsea, who at the time was rowing; quite even
with Kelly, was deprived, owing to his having run foul of a
craft lying in the river.
The final heat was won with apparent case by Kelly,
Sadler being second; Hoare third, Eagars fourth. The first
prize was LA, the second £lO, the third £5-
The only other race was a pair oars race, which like the
majority of the preceding, was open to the world. In this
the first prize of V. 5 was won by F, KilsbYy, Old Barge
House, and IL Cook, Oxford; the second by A. Winship
and T. Alaffin, Newcastle; and the third by G. Hamerton,
Surbiton, and J. W. Tagg, Monlaey.

After the races, which did not terminate till past 8 o'clock,
the distribution of the various prizes took place on board ta
committee boat.