The herald., 1896-07-08
HENLEY HISTORY
Interesting Account OF the Course and Races
Rowcd

on-Thames may be likened to the yearly
race meeting at EPSON when the Derby
stakes are run for and the grand chal-
lenge cup, for which Cornell competed
unsuccessfully in 1895. and Yale is COM
peting this year, may be compared with
the blue ribbon of the turf as being the
trophy of all. In its class, which oarsmen
are proud to take part in winning.
The regatta here was established in
| 1S39 when the present series of aquatic
| combats was inaugurated and the grand
| challenge cup, purchased by public sub
| scrption. was first raced for and won by
crew from Trinity college, Cambridge.
The blue ribbon of the river, allowing
| the grand challenge cup to be so called.
is handsome silver vase of Etruscan
shape. eleven inches high, thirteen inches
in diameter and weighing about 300
ounces. The cup proper rests upon a
! stem of bullrushes surrounded by richly
chased representations of waves, and the
body of the cup is decorated with water
lilies and other aquatic plants.
| Upon the adverse side of the grand
challenge cup is a reclining figure of Old
Father Thames holding in his hand an
urn from which is issuing water, indi-
eating the source of the river.
| The reverse side of the trophy is
shield bearing the inscription: Henley
Regatta Grand Challenge Cup, 1889"
| Finally, the handles are bullrushes,
merging into border of rushes and lily
leaves and around the body of the cup
| are inscribed the names of the crews who
have been it's temporary possessors, in
cluding Trinity college, Cambridge, $780,
Leander, 1910; Cambridge Rooms, 1S41
and 1852; oxford university, 1S43; Eton-
ian club, oxford, 1874; Cambridge uni
versity, 1S45; Thames club, 1S46; Oxford
university, 1S47 and 1S4S; Wadham col
lege. oxford, 1849; oxford university,
1885, 1861, 1852, 1858; Trinity college, Cam
bridge, 1854; Cambridge university, 1855;
Cheshire Rowing club, 1856; London
Rowing club, 1857; Cambridge univer-
sity, 1858; London Rowing club, 1859;
First Trinity, Cambridge, 1860 and 1861;
London Rowing club, 1862; University
college, Oxford 1861 Kingston Rowing
u club, 1864 and 1865; Etonian club, Oxford,
1856 and 1857; London Rowing club. 1868;
Etonian club, Oxford, 1869, 1870 and 1871;
London Rowing club, 1872, 1873 and 1874;
Leander club. 1875; Thames Rowing club,
1876; London Rowing club, 1877; Thames
Rowing club, 1878; Jesus college, CAM
bridge, 1879; Leander club, 1880; London
Rowing club 1881; Exeter college, OK
ford, 1882; London Rowing club, 1883 and
1884; Jesus college, Cambridge, 1885;
Trinity college, Cambridge, 1886 and 1887;
Thames Rowing club, 1888 and 1889; Lon
don Rowing club, 1890; Leander club,
1891. 1892, 1898 and 1894; and Trinity Hall,
Cambridge, 1895.
This year the Henley regatta stewards
have added to the beauty and value of
the Grand Challenge cup by placing 1t
on a base of silver and ebony.
The base was designed by H. T. Stew
, ard, a well-known architect of London,
is octagonal in shape, eighteen inches
high and eleven inches at it's base. With
in its eight chaste and rich Corinthian
| columns are eight bent silver panels
each bearing the names of the fifty-six
crews who have successfully competed
for the cup.
Beneath the columns are another set
of panels designed to be filled in with
the names of the victorious crews of the
future. The new base alone cost $1,000.
The entrance fee for the Grand, as the
cup is generally termed, is guineas
(about $3150), and upon receiving the
prize the captain and the successful crew
individually and collectively engage to
return it to the stewards on or before
June of the following year.
The regatta at Henley lasts three
kdays; begins each day at noon and lasts
until 6 or p. M, and, not unfrequently
ten races are rowed in a day. The presi-
dent of the regatta is Lord Camoys, and
among the stewards are Mayor Sim
mons of Henley, who gave such kind
welcome to the Yale crew; the Earl of
Antrim, Lord Ampthill and dozen other
well-known gentlemen.
The rules of the regatta are very strin-
gent. Under them no person is consid-
cred an amateur who has at any time
rowed or steered in any race for stake
or entrance fee; who has ever rowed or
steered against a professional for any
prize; who has ever taught athletics of
any kind for a profit; who has ever been
employed on or about boats for money
or who has ever been mechanic, artisan
or laborer or engaged in any menial
duty.
Several days before the regatta the
captain of each crew must deliver to
the secretary of the regatta committee
list containing the names of the actual
members of the crew selected to COM
pete to which list the names of four sub
stitutes, for an eight-oar race, may be
added.
Each competition at Henley must wear
complete clothing from the shoulders tc
the knees, including a sleeved jersey.
The Cornell men, in practice. appeared
in the usual American sleeveless jersey
merely a strip over the shoulders and
very wide armholes. This caused an out
cry, and all sorts of disagreeable para
graphs appeared in the newspapers.
On the other hand, the young men
from Yale, from the day they made their
first appearance on the Thames, have ap-
peared in the sleeve jersey which forms
on account Of the very great number ol
ladies present such an important feat
ure Of the Henley regatta.
At the start, every competing boa
must carry flag at it's bow, showing its
college or club colors, and any infringe
| ment of the rules Law the crews omen t(