The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-06
THE AQUATIC DERBY.
The Historic Cup Which Ambitious
Yale Is After.
No More Coveted Trophy Known ca
the Rowing World.


disposed Of, the attention of tho rowing
community will be concentrated on Hen
Icy, where the annual royal regatta takes
place on July z, 8 and o. The carnival
Is by long odds the most important fix
ture on tho rowing calendar, and has such
classic associations that among sportsmen
IL Is generally referred To as "England's
aquatic Derby" The meeting has special
attractions for Americans this year, as i5
marks the occasion OF Yale's first try for
international koaors on the water.
Having failed TO get on race Of suffi-
cicnt importance at home, the sons OF old
Eli have sought another world 70 conquer,
and the amount of patriotic sentiment
aroused by their enterprise shows that the
sympathies and good wishes of their coun-
trymen arc with them, win or lose. Eng
lish oarsmen have hitherto monopolized
most OF the hopors at Henley but that
they are not inyincible was demonstrated
in 1878, when the Columbia college boys
went over and won the Visitors Challenge
cup
Tho Yale men are flying at higher game,
the object of their ambition being the
6rand Challenge cup, the most historic
and coveted trophy known to the rowing
world. Cornell tried for it last year and
failed 1t remains TO be seen how Yale will
fare, and the result Is looked forward TO
with universal interest. Daily bulletins
represent the New Haven cracks as doing
extremely well in their preparatory work.
They appear TO he standing the change of
climate and the arduous preliminaries
much better than the Ithacans did, and If
all goes well with them for the next eight
days they may be relied on To give good
account of themselves.
The trophy for which they will compete
is as old as the historic fixture itself Hen
ley regatta was instituted In 1889, but for
decade previous eight oar matches had
been In vogue on the same stretch of water,
and the interest aroused by these contests
was really what helped TO make the Henley
function an established fixture. The form
al opening was on a modest scale, the
only prize at stake being tho Grand Chal-
lenge cup, trophy described In English
rowing annals as unique in classical de-
sign and To this day the blue ribbon for
amateur clubs" Trinity college, Cam
bridge, captured the cup in the inaugural
year. The Leanders were victorious in
1910. Oxford and CamtWidgc crews were
alternate holders until 1S46, when the
Thames Rowing club surprised the rival
collegians and captured the blue ribbon.
Oxford then had a long run of luck, win
ming the cup seven times straight. Cam
bridge followed with two successive VIC
tories and the trophy was next carried off
by the Royal Chester Rowing club The
London Rowing club became prominent
factor in the competition at this stage and
defeated all comers in 1857, 1859 and 1869,
while the intervening years were signalized
by Cambridge victories. The Kingstons
came on the scene in 1864 and scored twice,
and the cup has since gone the rounds OF
nearly all the organizations named i'm
partially
One Of the most rcmarkablc incidents In
the history or the big annual race occurred
In fS43 between crews representing Cam
bridge subscription rooms and Oxford
university. 1he rivals had won their re-
spective trials but just before the start OF
the final heat +. Menzies, stroke of the
Oxford crew, tainted. The dark blues ask
cd for permission TO take in substitute,
but the Cambridge men objected to the in
PRODUCTION of a fresh man at such an ad-
vanced stage of the competition, and Ok
ford pluckily undertook to face the ordeal
with seven men.
The clements and fortune came to the
rescue of the gallant seven, n strong wind
the boat fairly trimmed and straight. Tho
men rowed as they had never done before.
The Cambridge men tried all they knew to
avert defeat under the extraordinary cir
oumstances, but they had stirred up hor
nets nest, and the Oxford men won, after
desperats race, by a length.
The victory Of tho Lcanders In 1891 was
also an exceptional performance, as they
covered tho course in 6 minutes 81 seconds,
which still stands as the fastest record for
the event. The Leandcrs again won in
1894, and were supposed To have royal
chance of repeating last year, but their
hopes were blighted at the start of the heat
against Cornell which has been this sub
ject of SO much controversy The Irinit,
Hall men were the winners, and they now
hold the trophy
Yale throws down the gauntlet in year
that promises exceptional competition.
There were only four contending crews In
1894 The entries last year numbered six,
while nine crews have fled entries for the
coming event. Of these seven are native
combinations and one is from tho Amster-
dam Rowing club, Holland The latter
candidates are regarded as doubtful start
ers, and should tLoy fail &c materialize it
will simplify the draw considerably. Only
two crews row at n time, so that an ac-
ceptance of eight will neccssitate n first
trial round Of four heats, u second round
of two heats and the all important final be-
tween the survivors.
The Trinity Hall men are working like
beavers and may be counted on TO make
desperate effort TO retain the cup. Cam
bridge has altogether three crews entered,
including the New college cracks, who
were rather unluoky in not finishing head
of the river" in the home humping trials.
Tho Leander boat is manned by past mas
tcrs at tho art, while the London and
Thames crews include some of the best
amateur watermcn 60 bc found In the Eng
lish metropolitan district. Should Yale
win even n heat in such an aggregation OF
seasoned experts she will be doing well,
but should she succeed in coming through
tho entire ordeal triumphantiy she will
have achieved something no foreign"
crew has ever donc before The Yale men
have been fortunate IN securing such ideal
quarters as are afforded by Marsh Mills
- 81. al