The Washington herald., 1916-02-13

This prize. which Is known as the
Wingfield Sculls is to this day treasured
by English oarsmen more than any other
trophy offered for the sport. The winner
of this event Is considered the amateur
champion OF the world.
The first Oxford and Cambridge race
was held in 1929, oxford winning
easily. For the next six years these
crews did not meet, but in 1889 the
dual regatta was inaugurated and
has been held annually to date.
In 1888 the Henley Royal Regatta
was established. and is now considered
the rowing classic of the world.
Up to this time have dwelt only upon
rowing in England, but now will deal
with the sport in this country.
The record of rowing in America pre-
vious to 1852, at which time college racing
came into vogue, has not been well kept,
II Is reported that the first boat
race that took place here was held in
New York City in 1911.
This race might rightfully be called the
first international event, as one of the
crews was from an American frigate and
the other from an English man-of-war
then anchored in New York harbor The
English crew bowed its colors to the
better workmanship of the Americans.
was organized in New York
City and held its regattas annually up to
lS42. About that period an organization
known as the Independent Boat Club As
soCiation was formed in New York
Reports can be found OF a regatta
held about 1896 at Newbursh, N. Y,
which at that time was a great row.
ing center, where the winning crew
after the finish OF the race, rowed
back to their clubhouse in New York
City, distance of sixty nine miles.
1t Is not reported whether the win
ners had an easy time in their race
on that day and wanted to get a little
exercise before turning in for the
night, but one thing is sure, they
must have liked rowing.
I wonder II there are any of the crews
of today who would desire to take such
a little taunt after having finished a race.
The thing that impresses one who
delves into the history Of rowing is
that the prizes offered to the winners
of what were termed amateur events
were in cash.
1t is recorded where q successful
in 1912, where the prizes to the win
ners in some of the events amounted
to 500 each.
The oldest American rowing organi-
zatlon now in existence Is the Nara
gansett Boat Club. of Providnce. r. l.,
which was organized in 1888. 1t Is
member of the National Association of
Oarsmen and now has . mem
bership of 125.
The next Oldest club in existence is
the Detroit Boat Club, of Detroit,
which was organized in 1889. 1t now
has a membership of 1000 and is con-
sidered one of the largest boat clubs
in the United States.
The first college race was be-
tween Yale and Harvard and was
held on Lake Winnipiscogee in
1852. Yale entered two boats, the
Shawmut and the Undine, while
Harvard entered only one boat, the
Oneida. The boats were of the
barge type, about thirty-eight feet
long. without outriggers or sliding
seats.
The race was rowed over a dis
tance of about two miles, straight
away. The crews got of to an
even start and were close together
until about the halfway mark,
when the Harvard boat began to
pull away and finished two lengths
in the lead.
races between each other UP to 1871.
at which time Harvard, Brown. AM
herst and Bowdoin formed the Row
ing Association of American Colleges
and held their first regatta over
three-mile course on the Connecticut
River in the vicinity of Springfield.
Yale did not join the association nor
compete in the regatta of that year.
Quite a surprise was sprung when AM
herst defeated the field.
Again in the next year the same
school repeated, its crew throwing its
wash back on the crews from six other
colleges, which included Yale. who had
consented to join the association. t
The greatest regatta held up to that
time was rowed in 1873, when eleven crews
were entered. Yale won this event and
was close second.
The awarding of the prize to Yale
caused quite a controversy, Harvard
they had crossed the line first.
but the judges decided otherwise. The
largest university race ever held was in
1915 when thirteen colleges entered crews.
In this event Cornell registered Its first
big win at boat racing, her crew cross
ing tn line eleven seconds ahead of Co.
lumbia. who was second. Yale and Har-
ward were outclassed in this event and
finished in the rut
Cornell again defeated Harvard the
next year, winning the event from q
field of six crews. After having made
such poor showing in their attempts
at supremacy. over other college crews,
in 1871 Harvard and Yale withdrew
from the association and formed the
dual reUatta uchich ba. hoar bold