The herald., 1896-07-08
The width of the course, between the

fleets or Households which are ranged
on the Bucks side of the river, and which
extend to all intents and purposes from
Temple island at the start to Phyllis
court, which is almost opposite the fin
ish.
Phyllis court is a beautiful and pictur-
esque place. having a velvety lawn.
shaded by magnificent elms, which eX-
tends house itself to the river side where
1t is about eight or ten feet above the
water. The lawn of Phyllis court on re-
gatta days, is one of the most attractive
sights, as it IL occupied by crowds of
gaily dressed ladies' who, with their
escorts. stroll about beneath the shade
of the old elms and witness the boat
racing under conditions which naturally
excite the envy of the less fortunate
eXcursionists.
Above Phyllis court is the Isthmean
club, to which the majority of the row.
ing men belong. They have charming
quarters and the grounds are bright with
many colored tents and garden seats.
Further on Is a delightful institution
known as Clubland to which members
of any recognized London or wellknown
out-oftown club are admitted 1t has
a reserved lawn for ladies and is very
popular during regatta week.
From Clubland on up the course, the
| houseboats, made wonderfully beautiful
with floral decorations. some of them
being actually floating flower gardens,
are moored or anchored, side by side.
| painted in the brightest of colors and
having over them awnings and iron
rods to which are attached lines of col
ored lamps, which are lighted at night,
| and which transform the river into de-
| lightful Illuminated spectacle. On the
| largest houseboats bands of music do
| their best to make matters still more in
| teresting, and on board the smaller ones
| amateur musicians succeed in making
| their friends happy or unhappy, accord
| ing to the circumstances and the skill
of the performers and the endurance of
the gay parties within hearing.
On the Berks CBerkshire) side of the
Thames in this vicinity there is a wide,
fiat plain which extends from the river
for about half a mile, at the end of which
distance beautifully wooded hills, al
most rivaling those about Cliveden
now the residence of William Waldorf
Astor, rise picturesquey grand. forming
a most pleasant contrast to the lower
surroundings
The grandstand at the finish only
holds about 500 people, but it is COM
Portable, attractive, admirably situated
and is enclosed by an iron railing. 1t
has lawn, upon which military band
plays, and a convenient refreshment
tent. The name of the winning crew
and that Of the winning oarsmen are dis
played at the end Of each race on the
umpire's launch, on the telegraph at
the winners float and at the grandstand.
There are one judge and two umpres
as rule, veteran Oxford or Cambridge
oarsmen, who have won fame on the
Thames in former years, and whose de-
| cisions and orders are entitled to the
greatest respect and obedience.
For the press, a nice little enclosure is
provided near the grandstand. 1t con-
sists of a stand and lawn. at the back
of which is a special telegraph office
with instruments for some thirty ope-
rators.
Before and between the races, the river
is mass of rowboats and launches, but
prior to the starts in the different events
bells begin ringing and continue so do
is allowed for clearing the course A
the end of that time, if there are an!
stray boats in the way, the police take
a hand in the proceedings.
A gun is fired when each race is start
ed and all races are started without ref
erence to absentees. Consequently il
behooves all crews to be at the start.
ing post on time.
} The following are the events decided
! yearly at the Royal Henley Regatta, tc
give the meeting it's full title:
The grand challenge cup, for eight
oars, open to any crew of amateurs who
are members of any university or pub
lie school, or who are officers in the Brit
ish army or navy, or are members Of any
amateur club established at least one
year previous to the day of entry
The stewards challenge cup, for four
oars; competitors must have the same
qualifications as those who enter for the
grand challege cup.
The ladies' challenge cup, for eight
oars, open to any crew of amateurs whc
are members of any Of the boat clubs
of colleges, or non-collegiate boat clubs
of the universities, or boat clubs Of any
,
dom only; but, no member of any college
, or non-collegiate crew is allowed to row
for this trophy, if he has exceeded fou,
years from the date of his commencing
residence at the university, and eacI
member of public school crew entering
must be bona fide member in statu
pupillari of such school.
The visitors challenge cup, for foul
oars; same conditions as for the ladies'
challenge plate.
The Thames challenge cup, for eight
oars; the qualifications for this cup are
the same as for the grand challenge
cup, except that no one. coxswains
excepted may enter this event who has
ever rowed in winning crew for the
grand challenge cup or stewards chal-
lenge cup, and no one may row for the
Thames challenge cup and for the grant
challenge cup or stewards challenge cur
at the same regatta.
; The Wyfold challenge cup. for foul
oars; qualifications the same as for the
stewards challenge cup; but no one
can enter for this cup who has ever
rowed in winning crew for the stew
ards challenge cup, and no one may
row for the Wyfold challenge cup ant