Chronology
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1834 |
Regular regattas started by
Durham University.
Durham Regatta
was founded by the
University with help of Squire
Lloyd Wharton of
Dryburn, after almost 20 years of aquatic festivities celebrating the victory at
Waterloo. Durham University
original Club raced in "Sylph"
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|
1835 |
Trophy from the 1835
Durham Regatta
won by R.B.Tower now hangs with E.Hastings'
painting "Procession of boats on the Wear at Durham to celebrate the
battle of Waterloo 1815 presented to University college by Lt-Col W.D.Lowe.
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1839 |
Durham Regatta
medal die presented to the regatta by some Gentlemen of the
University; medals were presented to the winning crews until 1870.
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1840 |
Sketch of
Durham Regatta
by M.Bouet shows crews racing upstream.
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1841 |
(June) Durham Regatta
- Harry Clasper won scullers race, but prize withheld.
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1842 |
(June) Durham Regatta:
H.Clasper won in the "Young Hawk"
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1847 |
(21/06/1847) Durham Regatta:
H. & J. Clasper won pairs.
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1848 |
(26/06/1848) Durham Regatta:
H. & R. Clasper won pairs, 3 Claspers and J.Wilkinson
cox G.Oliver won fours.
Procession of boats described by "Cuthbert Bede" in the book "Verdant Green" is
alleged to describe the procession at Durham as the author was a Durham student. [Ken
I will try to dig this out as we have the book]
(20/07/1848)Royal Thames Regatta: 3 Claspers won fours for £100. Harry Clasper
stroked the winning four.
Clasper won £150 in 4 matches in Durham and London.
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1849 |
(June) Durham Regatta:
H. & R. Clasper won Members' Plate for pairs and £10,
4 Claspers won Patron's Plate for fours and £30. Also George Hawks son of the Mayor
of Gateshead coached by Harry won the Challenge Cup.
"University Plate" presented to
Durham Regatta
later becoming the Wharton Challenge Cup.
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1850 |
Durham Regatta: H. & R. Clasper won Member's Plate for pairs and all-Clasper crew
won Patron's Plate for fours.
The Oswald Plate presented to
Durham Regatta
for single sculls also known as
Championship of the Wear.
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1851 |
Durham Regatta:
All-Clasper four won Patron's Plate.
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1853 |
Durham Regatta:
Fours - Taylors beat Claspers, H.Clasper won Wear Stake for singles,
Taylors beat Claspers in pairs, H.Clasper beaten by Winship and Bruce.
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1854 |
(June) Durham Regatta:
3 Claspers & Wood won fours for £20, H.Clasper won sculler's prize.
(June) Durham Regatta:
Grand Challenge Cup first raced for.
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1856 |
(June) Durham Regatta:
3 Claspers and Chambers won fours for £20, H. & J. Clasper won pairs.
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1858 |
(June) Durham Regatta:
H. & J. Clasper won pairs, fours Claspers beat Taylors.
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1859 |
(27/06/1859)
Durham Regatta:
H. & J. Clasper won pairs beating Chambers & Winship.
H. & J. Clasper, Chambers, Winship won fours.
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1860 |
(18/06/1860)
Durham Regatta:
H. & J. Clasper, Chambers, Winship shared fours' prize
of £23 with Taylor's crew. Harry Clasper was allowed to race a number of amateurs who
resented his presence and rammed him.
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1865 |
Durham Regatta:
Durham School win the Grand Challenge Cup for the first time.
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1868 |
(30/06/1868)
Durham Regatta
- James Renforth won the Brancepeth Castle Plate
defeating James Taylor and other local scullers. At same meeting was part of
Albion R.C. second crew which was beaten in a race for the Patrons' Plate by the
Champion Four.
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1870 |
(05/07/1870)
Durham Regatta
- James Renforth wins Brancepeth
Plate (scullers race) and Patrons Plate (as part of Champion Four). Tynemouth Rowing
Club win the Grand for the first time with a crew containing W.C.Fawcus. They retained the
trophy the following year.
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1876 |
Henley Royal Regatta: Newcastle ARC become the first North East crew to win at Henley
Royal Regatta in Wyfolds, having won the Grand at
Durham Regatta
for the first time for the club.
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1877 |
Hon. John Lloyd Wharton MP for Durham presents the Wharton Challenge
Cup to Durham Regatta.
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1879 |
Durham Regatta
- President's Sculls presented by Rev. W.Sanday of Hatfield to Durham
University Boat Club. Lost after 1893, a cup was presented for the race by Capt.
Macfarlane-Grieve in 1920. The Challenge Pair of silver oars and rudder presented to Durham
University BC by Rev.V.K.Cooper, replaced by a cup in 1913 presented by Rev.& Mrs Gee.
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1882 |
Durham Regatta
- Gabbett Sculls instituted and a cup presented later that year in memory
of W.E.Gabbett who died that summer.
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1887 |
Durham Regatta
- Lady Herschell Plate presented to regatta by the wife of Lord Herschell
MP for Durham to be raced for by fours in strake boats over the short course.
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1901 |
[Photo of Durham Regatta
officials on Baths bridge worth scanning in?].
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1947 |
Last professional event at
Durham Regatta.
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| 1972 |
(May 1973) The Regatta was held over Friday/Saturday and received 151 entries.
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| 1973 |
(16 & 17/06/1973) The Regatta moved to a weekend for the first time from Friday/
Saturday, and the course was shortened to 1000 metres for all races due to the
construction of the new road bridge at Elvet. The entry list of 187 was an increase
over last year of 151. The race of the day was the final of the Grand when Durham
School (Brass/Gray/McWilliams/Barratt, cox Mitchell) held on to a lead they built
up from their fast start, to win by a canvas.
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| 1974 |
A special guest at
Durham Regatta
was 'Hero', the steam launch featured in the
'Onedin Line' TV drama, and also the ATV series on Edward VII. Whitbread have reduced
the regatta sponsorship from £350 to £50.
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| 1983 |
Tees RC win Grand Challenge Cup at
Durham Regatta for first
time since 1907.
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