Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-03-21
AMERICAN HENLEY.
The Wachusetts Favor Worlds
Championship Regatta.
ANN UAL EVENT AT THE LAKE
Committee Appointed to Confer
With Citizens.
Ned Ten EYck and High School Eight
Ready to Enter-Chances of Race
Between Waehusett and
High Schools.
ANNUAL EVENT AT THE LAKE

High Schools.
Preliminary steps looking to the es-
! adjustment Of an annual regatta at
Lake Quinsigamond on nearly the same
lines as the Henley royal regatta were
taken Sunday afternoon at a meeting
Of the Wachusett Boat Club. The meet
ing was well attended by the boating en-
thusiasts of the club, and when the plan
was preached by President Meagher. the
sentiment was unanimous in it's favor.
| President Meagher stated that he had
talked the matter over with several men
interested in rowing, and they were of
the belief that the time was ripe for a
rousing regatta at the lake Since Ten
Eyck's victory at Henley, last July,
there has been considerable said and
written in regard to the establishment
of an American Henley No place is bet
ter adapted for such regatta than
Worcester, which has the finest race
course in the world, and where are To-
Gated many men who are rated high as
scullers and oarsmen.
President Meagher believed if properly
handled the affair could be made annual,
and that the amateur single scull cham
pionship of the world could be decided at
the regatta. This year at least, President
i Meagher believed, it would be an easy
matter to secure support for a regatta.
In his opinion, If the committee in
charge of the dedication of the city hall,
and of the observance of the semi-cen-
tennial of the city, were approached,
they would decide to make the regatta
a part of the celebration. The plan out
lined was to have a number of races,
but to make the single scull race the
i feature of the program, and have the
prize given for the victory emblematic
of the championship of the world. This
year it should be an easy matter to get
the strongest field of amateur scullers in
the world to enter such a race. Ten
Eyck would enter, and it ought not to
be hard to get entries from Mcguire and
| Whitehead of Boston, Juvenal of Phila-
delphia and Schultz of Providence. The
expression of she members was asked in
regard to the scheme.
John e. Sullivan, Esq, spoke at some
length on the matter and outlined a
plan, which, in his opinion, would prove
successful He spoke of the Henley re-
gatta where the winner of the Diamond
/ scull race is regarded as the champion
amateur of the world, but who cannot
Justly lay claim to the title on account
of the restrictions placed on entries for
the event Here ia this country the def
milton of an amateur is much broader
than in England, and on this account the
championship Of the world should be de-
cided on this side of the water. No place
is better fitted for such regatta than
Worcester, and in his opinion Worcester
people would support and maintain an
| oil W0I1In
one championship decided at the regat-
ia. as in case it was attempted to decide
others the National Association would
interfere
He suggested perpetual prize for the
championship race, and besides, would
give the winner each year an individual
prize. What, for the want of better
name. he designated as the American
Henley. could be pulled off each year
during the first week of June. Then
it would interfere with no other regat-
tas. and would be held sufficiently early
to allow men to get in shape for the
national regatta, after a short rest. This
wear esDecially. it should be an easy
matter to pull off the regatta in connec-
tion with the semi-centennial of the
CITY. Mr.. Sullivan gave the members
of the club assurance that II the re-
gatta were held this year, Ned Ten Eyck
would be a positive entry, and would
| be DleaSeu TO HledSulC plet0C9 VIII VIZ
guire Whitehead, Juyenal, Schultz or
any other amateur in the world VINO
chose to enter. He would have the re-
gatta governed by a board made up OF
leading citizens of which the mayor of
the city would be chairman. The du-
ties of this board, like the stewards OF
the Henley. would be to have general
supervision of the regatta, receive all
entries and care for the prizes
Several other members spoke on the
scheme. and all agreed to do all they
could for the success of the regatta II 1t
is to be held. 1t was finally decided
to appoint a committee to look into the
scheme and confer with leading citizens
who are interested in aquatics, and to
Law the plans before the committees in
charge Of the city observances SO that
they may make the regatta part of the
program The committee consists of:
President j. H. Meagher, Vice President
A. F. Turner, Capt. G. A. Lewis. Dr. M
p Higgins, p, H. Hurley, J. II. sullivan
and M. W. Gerrity.
1t is possible that the high school-Har-
ward freshman eight-oared race which
will be an annual affair, could be pulled
off each year at the proposed American
Henley, provided it was held early in
lime as planned by the promoters. Capt.
Kerns of the high school crew was seen
In regard to this matter last night, and
said personally he would be willing to
row the race at the American Henley,
Inf feared 1t was a little too late for the
Harvard crew to row in Worcester. as
their annual freshman race with Yale
comes off the latter part of June. No
date has yet been set for the high
school-Harvard race this year, but it
will probably take place May 81. In re
gard to entering crew in the American
Henley. Kerns said he would be anxious
to enter two school crews this year, and
believes both would make an excellent
showing.
In speaking of another race with
the Wachusett crew. he said II a race is 4
: held this year, overtures will have to
come from the Wachusetts. as the high