Westover and Bournemouth Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
Westover and Bournemouth Rowing Club was founded in 1865 and is the oldest club in Bournemouth
. It competes in coastal rowing
regattas organised by the Hants and Dorset Amateur Rowing Associationon on the South Coast of England. Located next to the Central Pier on the West Beach the club is the only sporting community visible to residents and tourists alike in Bournemouth.
within the real meaning of the word had not yet started.
At the Annual Dinner of 1870 Cutler, the Captain of the Club referred to having two heavy Punts of unequal size and that racing was hardly practical even with a handicap. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff
who was then the Parliamentary candidate for Christchurch and Bournemouth
presented the club with a four oared racing galley called the Lothair, which was the title of a novel by the Earl of Beaconsfield
. This gift set an example, followed for many years by the Parliamentary candidate, to present a racing galley to the local club. These boats were usually built by Picket or some other expert at Southampton
, and though quite light, were designed for sea rowing and so much stouter than 'fine' boats
used at river Regattas such as the Henley Royal Regatta
.
1871 However, only one racing galley was not sufficient so a public subscription was raised to purchase a second, called the Adelaide. Cutler boasted that he had six men in the club that he would not be ashamed to put into a six-oared galley against any club in England. The first recorded season of races took place in on May 1, 1871 between he Lothair (crewed by Single men) and the Adelaide (crewed by Married men); the Singles won.
The Premier Rowing Club was formed in 1871 and were the proud owners of the galley Alice. Bournemouth had just purchased the Test so the challenge was out - a £20 stake placed for a four mile race to be rowed before the end of June. Bournemouth placed their faith on their own muscles and their new galley the Alice againstthe impudent youngsters in the test. The old Club's colours were Dark Blue and the Premier Club sported Blue and Magenta. The great day was on June 22 and it was raining hard with a chop - so the race was postponed by the umpire until the 29th. The race was a walkover for Bournemouth who won in 6 minutes and thus extinguished for the moment the vauntinng ambition of their rivals.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
. It competes in coastal rowing
Coastal and ocean rowing
Coastal and offshore rowing is a type of rowing performed at sea. Due to the harsher conditions encountered, the boats are wider and more robust than those used on rivers and lakes.-International competition:...
regattas organised by the Hants and Dorset Amateur Rowing Associationon on the South Coast of England. Located next to the Central Pier on the West Beach the club is the only sporting community visible to residents and tourists alike in Bournemouth.
History
1865 The first lease, a piece of Foreshore 20 feet square was given by the Clerk to the Bournemouth Improvement Commissioners in 1865. A boathouse was erected and rented at £1 per year, mainly for the storage of pleasure boats. There were less than 4000 residents in Bournemouth so a competitive rowing clubRowing club
A rowing club is a club for people interested in the sport of Rowing. Rowing clubs are usually located near a body of water, whether natural or artificial, that is large enough for manoeuvering of the shells . Clubs usually have racks to store boats and a dock to put them in the water...
within the real meaning of the word had not yet started.
At the Annual Dinner of 1870 Cutler, the Captain of the Club referred to having two heavy Punts of unequal size and that racing was hardly practical even with a handicap. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff
Henry Drummond Wolff
Sir Henry Drummond-Wolff GCB, GCMG, PC was an English diplomat and Conservative Party politician, who started as a clerk in the Foreign Office.-Background:Wolff was the son of Georgiana Mary and Joseph Wolff...
who was then the Parliamentary candidate for Christchurch and Bournemouth
Bournemouth East and Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
Bournemouth East and Christchurch is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It returned one Member of Parliament, using the first past the post electoral system from the United Kingdom general election, 1950 until the constituency was abolished in 1974.The seat was based upon the...
presented the club with a four oared racing galley called the Lothair, which was the title of a novel by the Earl of Beaconsfield
Earl of Beaconsfield
The title Earl of Beaconsfield in the peerage of the United Kingdom was created in 1876 for Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, a favourite of Queen Victoria. Victoria favoured Disraeli's Tory policies over those of his Liberal rival, William Ewart Gladstone. Disraeli had also promoted the Royal...
. This gift set an example, followed for many years by the Parliamentary candidate, to present a racing galley to the local club. These boats were usually built by Picket or some other expert at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, and though quite light, were designed for sea rowing and so much stouter than 'fine' boats
Racing shell
In watercraft, a racing shell is an extremely narrow, and often disproportionately long, rowing boat specifically designed for racing or exercise. It is outfitted with long oars, outriggers to hold the oarlocks away from the boat, and sliding seats...
used at river Regattas such as the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
.
1871 However, only one racing galley was not sufficient so a public subscription was raised to purchase a second, called the Adelaide. Cutler boasted that he had six men in the club that he would not be ashamed to put into a six-oared galley against any club in England. The first recorded season of races took place in on May 1, 1871 between he Lothair (crewed by Single men) and the Adelaide (crewed by Married men); the Singles won.
The Premier Rowing Club was formed in 1871 and were the proud owners of the galley Alice. Bournemouth had just purchased the Test so the challenge was out - a £20 stake placed for a four mile race to be rowed before the end of June. Bournemouth placed their faith on their own muscles and their new galley the Alice againstthe impudent youngsters in the test. The old Club's colours were Dark Blue and the Premier Club sported Blue and Magenta. The great day was on June 22 and it was raining hard with a chop - so the race was postponed by the umpire until the 29th. The race was a walkover for Bournemouth who won in 6 minutes and thus extinguished for the moment the vauntinng ambition of their rivals.