Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-13
LOCAL BOAT CLUB CREWS
FACE SUCCESSFUL YEAR
Organization Started In 1870 Has
Conc Forward by Leaps and
TtnnnIv


erecting the structure started. the
Virginia Boat Club faces tho most
successful season in It's history.
Coach Edward j. Brown has ar
lived and has had the candidates for
tho various crews out for tho last
two weeks getting them In shape for
the big regatta which Will be held at
Alexandria next month. The coach
is concerned mostly with the club
reEctta which viii take place on the
James River the 10Th Of this month.
The regc.ta VIII enable the coach 10
secure line on the men for the at
fair In July and several close races
are expected.
Plans o; tho club for the regatta
June % call for shell race between
the Intermediates and the junior
crews. also an -cight-oarcd shell race
for the junior oarsrnen. and a four
cared gig race between the inter
mediate oarsmcn. In addition to
these races there will be pleasure
race. tub races and SWIMMING races.
The entertainment promises TO
eclipse anything offered yet by the
club and the carnival has created "a
great deal or interest among the
members.
Coach rIcn--d with Material.
Coach Brown rs well pleased with
tho showing made 80 far this year by
great things from them. Dorsey Ty-
Ter. the old stroke. has returned and
goes out with the Intermediate every
day. Tho return OF Tyler has added
considerable power TO the boat
Announcement has been made by
officials Of the club that the members
% the organization Viii be divided
Into two groups on the day of the
water carnival. Andy Cavanaugh
known as the Reds" while ROY
sides are reported to be evenly
matched and the lnterclub regatta
promises To result in several close
races.
In rowing. the Virginia Boat Club has
grown IN membership and AT this
time the organization Is In a flourish
ing condition: So fat, has the club
enlarge the present quarters TO take
care OF It's needs. At this time the
club has 80 active and l2o lie mem
added TO this list in the next few
days.
Forty-Fourth season Higgins.
This scnson is tho forty-fourth for
the Virginia Boat Club. which is one
OF the oldest athletic and social clubs
in Richmond. The club was organ
lied in 1876 under the name OF the
Olympic Boat Club, with its boat
house on tho old canal.
Among It's organizers and earliest
hership may be mentioned. Richard
II. Smith. president OF Planters Ma
,!onal Bank: Judge Beverly r. Crump.
Oscar S~inciord. e. Lee Roden. a. S.
Peticolas. Edward "infrec. and
others.
large the facilities OF the club. and
the site OF the old mill on Mayo's Is
land was rented. and the old house.
which now is being used by tho club.
he he's 81
dalton walls OF the old mill. The
name was changed TO Virginia Boat
Club and the limit OF membership
In 1894 the club was Incorporated
and that year Judge Crumr was
elected president. which office he still
more than quarter OF n century.
In the Old Virginia Amateur Row
inS Association which existed prior
Norfolk. Petersburg. Alexandria, Uni
versi,y OF Virginia. and Richmond
Il leading part. and the old-timers
love TO tell OF the prowess OF such
oarsmen as Dave Edmund. a. S. Petit
coias. Billy Meade. George fegram
colors 10 victory in many hard
fought contests.
Club Crew Won French Cup.
The last regatta OF tho old assoc!a-
tion was held at Richmond in 1894,
q Lansbopras ii; Williams: James r;
Roden. with Haskell as coXwain. de-
featcd the. Richmond College crew.
a snd won Ihe ETeReh SIR hand
For several years after this. inter-
est in rowing was at an cbb; but
s RG rd yG starsd wnen isE
brought 10 Richmond number OF
men who had won distinction az oars
and creating new interest in the
sport. Chief among these was BILLY"
McGowan. Il scuiler of note. who un-
dertook the training Of the clubs
crew, and led them in several sue
cessful meets with crews from Bal
sity and elsewhere. Among the oars
Colonel Julien II. II Hll. ". F. Gordon Tsre
with W. b. Claiborne as coxwain.
Organization Grows Fast.
For the last fifteen or twenty years
In all directions. It's only drawback
being its limited accomm odations.
For this reason. new and more COM
contemplated 70 rseveral years, plans
having been submitted just before
I'M, o country entered the world wars
jcct had to be deferred Since the
war. the membership has Increased
10 nearly ouD. winch Is the limit
Gently established-and this has rem
dered larger house Imperative. Re-
Gently the club purchased the land
on Mayo's Island just below Mayp's
Bridgc. now occupied by it's house and
grounds. and work is now under way
on commodious house that will be
source Of comfort to the members
ana a credit TO the city.
the new house. which will be COM
pleted about the middle of July, will
nave ENLARGED space Gor the race
boats and the pleasure boats of the
club. as well as roo mfor canoes and
other private boats OF the members.
Nearly 400 lockers will be installed.
andn large reception and dance
nan. Dutch room. kitchen, enlarged
shower and spray baths. and ladies'
rest rooms. and bathing facilities will
be among the advantages TO be en-
joyed
Hand ball. which has proven
popular feature. will be encouraged
ana TWO new courts are now under
construction, in addition to tho two
which have been in use for several
years
Location Proves Excellent.
with Its convenient location
within few minutes walk of the
business center of the city-its shady
lawns. comfortable and attractive
house. fine boating euuipment and
Its diversified sports-rowinr' swim
ming, fishing. shilling motor-boatinr
canoeing and hand baI1-tho ai,,S