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 be 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 th' 3
victor in the Waterrnen'a Apprentices' Race, and which wr is
displayed in all its untarnished brilliancy from the summit
of a lofty pole. The Citizen Steamboat ChiMe Harold was
throughout the day in communication with the Venus, land
draughted its visitors away as each race began, so that they
might be spectatoes of the contest from the start to the
close. The regatta opened with the Champion Four-Oitr
Race, which was open to all coweri, the prizes being £ttO
far the first boat, £'2o for the second, and £'M for the third,
Per this race six boats were entered, and inasmu.clx as it
was deemed impossible, owing to the r.na:ay ob-
structions on the river, that they could all row at the
same time, it was determined that there should be
two trial heats, in each of which three out of 03y six
boats should compete; the first two boats in each he:lt
to he selected to row a final and decisive race. At a quarter
post 3 o'clock—the hour fixed for starting for the first beat,
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 Crew, Manchester—Green.
M. Abdy
G. Williamson
R. Abdy S. Butler

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

C. Messum, cox.

Tho Manchester crew set off from Putney bridge with
the lead, which they maintained without any apparent
effort to the close at Chiswick Eyot, winning by three or
four lengths.
In the next heat, also, only two boats started instead of
three, as was expected, and for the same reason ss 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 %the Thames Crew—White, red sleeves.
T. Hoare, Hammersmith J. IV. Tagg, Moulsey
I
H. Kelly, Putney G. Hammerton, Surbiton
IV. Hammerten, cox.
2.—Tyne Crew, Newcastle—White.
J. Taylor I R. Winship
T. /griffin M. Taylor
T. Harrison, cox.
Both boats rowed very evenly together for about 200 yards,
and then the Pride of the Thames drew slightly ahead,
and continued the lead to the end of the course. tTp to this
point the excitement was of a very mild character, but
when after the lapse of two or three hours, during which
time cccasion was taken to row the preliminary heats of one
er two minor races, the four crews 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? The Manchester crew,
too, were held in much esteem, nor did they show them-
selves unworthy the good opinion of their backers.

Tho 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-
lengedstrugglee crew
h ad succeededlost
in passing them. By this time the Richmond
the Tyne men, and after a gallantr
all chance, and the other three boats, after a splendid race,
came on in the following order:—
c
Pride of the Thames .. • • . • 1
Colleen Bawn • • • • • • .. 2
Tyne crew .. •••• . . .. 3
There was considerable cheering when tha result was
known.
. •
The next race was one open to watertnen's apprentices,
from Oxford to Gravesend inclusive, in outrigged boats, the
first prize being the coat and silver badge which wore ex-
hibited on board the Venus, the freedom of the Thames
end £2; 2d, £5; 3d, £3; 4th, £l. The winners of the pre-
liminary heats in this contest were T. wise, Hammersmith,
J. Biffen, Hammersmith; It. Piatt,
Thames-bank, and AV.
Spencer, Chelsea. In the final heat I'iatt got away with a
good load, an for about 200 yards contested every inch
most spirite ith. Wise. The latter, however, was ulti-
mately th ner by two lengths.
In the sculling race, which was open to all comers, the
preliminary heats were wen by E. Eagars, of Chelsea ; 11.
Kelly, of Putney ; Joseph Sadler, of Putney, and T. lioare
of Hammersmith occupying the second place and thus being
entitled to take part in the ft:lal beat, a chance of which H•
Cole, of Chelsea, who at the time was rowing guile even
with Kelly, was deprived, owing, to his having run foul of a
craft lying in the river.
Tho final heat was won with apparent ease by Kelly,
Sadler being second, Iloare third, Eagars fourth. The first
prize was £2O, 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 £25 was won by F. K.ilsby, Old Barge
Howe, and R. Cook, Oxford ; the second by A. Winship
and T. Mae, Newcastle; and the third by G. Hamerton,
Sarbiton, and J. W. Tagg, Moulsey.
Atter the races, which did not teriuinato till past S o'clock,
the distribution of the various prizes took place on board the
committee boat.

The Weather—Sun Office, Aug. 9, 1864.

TFIERMOMETER.
This day at Two o'clock BO
Barometer-29.81. '
WIND—W.; moderate breeze and rain, but very sultry.

——-—-- - - - - -
• HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tsis DAY.—Morning, sh. 52m.—Afternoon,; 6h. 12m.
0-moaßow.-Morning, 6a. 30m.—Afternoon, 6h. 50m.