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

Thames National Regatta,

This regatta took place yesterday at Putney under the
management cf 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 ite 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 :rem the start to th
close. The regatta opened es ith the Champion Four-Oar
Race, which was open to all cornero. the prizes being £".00
fer the first boat, C2O for the second, and LIO for the third.
Fer this race six boats were entered, and inasmuch an it
was deemed impos'ible, owing to the many 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 the six
boats should compete ; the first two boats in each heat
to be selected to row a final and decisive race. At a quarter
post 3 o'clock—the hour fixed for starting for the first heat,
however, it was found that only two out of the three boats
entered were at their posts, and these two we 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 Bann Crew, Manchester—Green.
M. Abdy G. Williamson
R. Abdy f S. Butler

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

C. Messum, cox.
The Manchester crew set off from Putney-bridge with
the load, 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, aswas expected, and for the same reason as operated
in the previous heat, their respective crews did riot find it
necessary to exert themselves in order to secure a place in
the final struggle. The boats engaged in the second heat
wore—

I.—Pride of the Thames Crew—White, red sleeves,
T. Hoare, Hammersmith I J. W. Tagg, Moulsey
H. Kelly. Putney G. Hammerton, Surbiton
W. Hammerton, cox.
2.—Tyno Crew, Newcastle—White.
J. Taylor I U. Winship
T. Matfia 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. 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 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 tho 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.

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
caallmcehanoncion,
theand
the other three
following
rder boats,:
Pride of the Thames .. 1
Colleen Bawn •• •• • • .. 2
Tyne crew .. • . •••.• • • • .. 3
order:—
after a splendid race,
There was considerable cheering when the result was
known,
The next race was one open to watermen's apprentices,
from Oxford to Gravesend inclusive, in outrigged boats, the
first prize being the coat and silver badge which were ex-
hibited on board the Venue, the freedom of the Thames
and £2; 2d, £5; 3d, £3; 4th, £l. The winners of the pre-
liminary heats in this contest were T. Wise, Hammersmith,
J. Biffen, Hammersmith, R. Platt, Thames-bank, and W.
Spencer, Chelsea. In the final heat Platt got away with a
good lead, and for about 200 yards contested every inch
moat spiritedly with Wise. The latter, however, was ulti-
mately the winner by two lengths.
In the sculling race, which was open to all corners, the
preliminary heats were won by E. Eagars, of Chelsea , H.
Kelly, of Putney; .E.seph Sadler, of Putney, and T. Hoare
of Hammersmith occupying the second place and thus being
entitled to take part in the final heat, 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 ease by Belly,
Sadler being second,
Hoare third, Lagers fourth. The filet
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 opea to the world. In this
the first prize of £25 was won •by F. Kilsby, Old Barge
House, and R. Cook, Oxford; the ascend by A. -Winship
and T. Maffin, Newcastle; and the third by G. Hamerton,
Surbiton, and J. W. Tagg, Moulsey.
After the races, which did not terminate till past S o'clock,
the distribution of the various prizes took place on beard the
committee boat.

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14441Wi11. a Witt,
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