BOAT RACING – Boat Race Round Saltscar Bouy.

The Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 10/09/1869

BOAT RACE ROUND SALT SCAR BUOY 

          On Friday, 3^rd, September, 1869, a two oared race for £1 a-side was rowed between J. Denny and H. Burnicle and J. and T. Picknett. The distance was about three miles, round Saltscar buoy and back. Burnicle’s boat was foremost at the start, and the distance between them and their opponents (in the Ocean Queen) was materially increased by the stroke oars in the latter boat jumping off and falling into the sea. By the time the oars were picked up, the Ocean Queen was about six lengths behind, but she soon got up to her opponents, and a fair level race was rowed until near the buoy, when the Picknett’s boat was slightly in advance. On rounding the buoy, the Picknett’s again lost their stroke oars. Burnicle’s boat by this getting ten lengths in advance. Notwithstanding this mishap, the race home was a very close one, the boats going side by side most of the way. On arriving at the “winning post” (a fishing coble moored at low water mark,) Burnicle’s boat was declared victor, it touching the amidships of the coble as the Ocean Queen arrived at the bow. Time – to the buoy 16 minutes and 40 seconds. from the buoy 7 minutes, and 35 seconds, the tide being in their favour in returning.

Accreditation The Redcar & Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 08/071870

ANOTHER BOAT RACE

     Some of the principles in Monday’s race, thinking that if the “young ones” had not been unfortunate they would have come off the victors, made another match, this time for £10 a side, and it was rowed over the same course yesterday. The day was altogether finer than on Monday, the wind being light and the sea calm, but there were not many spectators as on Monday. The betting was at the start 3 to 1 on the young ones. At 9.57 the signal was given to start, and the young ones in the “Swift” got the advantage, both going at great speed. When two and a half minutes had elapsed the “Swift” was a length ahead, and on rounding the first buoy they had increased this lead to one and a half lengths, “the “young one” rowing more steadily and easily than the “old ones.” Metcalfe had the same fault as before – he lifted himself too much at each stroke. After three and a half minutes the “Swift” was three lengths ahead, and when half the distance was completed four – the “old ones” rowing slowly and heavily. At seven minutes young ones were 5 lengths ahead. Betting 10 to 1 now offered. The old ones put on a spurt and made up considerably, but the “swift” crew always made quicker turns than their opponents, so that rounding the second buoy they gained again. They then seemed to play with the “Emma’s” crew, and when 200 yards from the goal they allowed them to come up to within a boats length, but, putting on a spurt, they again increased the lead to four boats’ lengths, which when they won they had made five lengths. Time was twelve minutes, but the young ones had only rowed leisurely, and could have done it in less time: the “Emma’s” crew however, exhibited signs of distress. The victors were cheered on landing.

GRAND ROWING MATCH AT REDCAR

     On Monday morning no little excitement was caused particularly among the seafaring fraternity, by the fact that a rowing match, between J. D. Burnicle and J. Metcalfe, in the “Emma” and W. Burnicle and T. Baker, in the “Swift,” was to come off. It was intended that the course should be from the Marsh House to Bath Street, a distance of two miles, but the stormy state of the waters in that part prevented it, and the course had to be chosen immediately below the town, with Mr. Bowron’s yacht, which rides off Moore Street as the starting point and goal. The stakes were £5 a side and the starter judge was Mr. Kean, of the Red Lion Hotel. At ten o’clock, – the time advertised for the start, – the beach presented the same appearance as the banks of the Thames do on somewhat similar occasion – the Oxford and Cambridge struggles. Visitors and natives lined the space between the town and the sea – the substitute for the towing path on the Thames – and betting was pretty general, though only small amounts were risked. Of late years, since the well known matches between our Staithes neighbours and the Blyth men, contests like the one now under notice, have not been infrequent, though they have hitherto been for small stakes. The weather last week was rather inclement and unseasonable, the sea rough and the wind high, so much so that on Sunday night it was feared that the match would not come off, but on the eventful day, the wasters had so moderated as to allow the competitors to contend, though not on the original course, which being a straight one would perhaps have made a difference in the result of the younger crew, Just before the start boats of all descriptions filled with anxious spectators were launched out and proceeded to the course, which had the appearance of a regatta. En passant we may suggest that, now that the town is full or nearly full of visitors, some influential residents or other gentlemen should attempt to get a regatta which would be much more in agreement, for many reasons, with the situation of the town than the annual horse races. For instance a regatta would take place at the height of the season, and would thereby afford some entertainment to those on whom the majority of the inhabitants of Redcar depend for their support, whilst our horse races are over before the season commences. In addition to this, the money prizes for horse racing go out of the town, whilst the regatta prizes would probably be bestowed on some “native,” and would cause a friendly rivalry to spring up, the fruits of which would be seen on some dark and stormy night when the lifeboat starts on its perilous mission. Once during the annual horse races there was a coble race, which afforded a great amount of pleasure, but though successful the experiment was not repeated. We have seen the day when the establishment of a regatta at Redcar would not have been a coupe of hours work, and now in more prosperous days, it ought to be done in less time. We leave the affair sub judice, and proceed to give details of the race. The betting was even before the commencement for the older boatmen in the “Emma” possessed the vis inertia, and the younger ones in the “Swift” counterbalanced that by having the lighter boat. We, however, heard a witty old gentleman offer a bet of ten to one on the younger crew, but it turned out that the bet was to be “10 small potatoes to 1 leg of mutton” – a bet which did not find much favour among the sporting brotherhood.

THE RACE  

      At 1043 a start was effected, and the “Emma’s” crew being readier got an advantage of a yard which when they traversed about 100 yards, the “Swift’s crew mad up, and one minute after the start they were still head to head. On rounding the first buoy, the “Swift’s crew, who had the inside turn, gained a little, and amongst the spectators they were now favourites, for the reason that they pulled in better form, and did not lift themselves so much as their opponents in the “Emma.” Three minutes after the start, the young ones, and those in the swift were termed, were a length ahead, gaining considerably for some time afterwards, and as they seemed to row “within themselves” it appeared that they could not but be “the winners. After seven minutes had elapsed the “young ones” were at least two lengths ahead, and on rounding the second buoy they gained a length and a half more. The competitors had now a straight run home, with wind however against them, but it was evident that the “Swift’s” crew – the young one – had overworked themselves hitherto, and the stamina of the “Emma’s” crew – the old ones – began to tell, for they began to creep up very quickly, so much so that nine minutes after starting they had decreased the distance between the boats to about a length. When about 150 yards from the goal, the “young ones” were about a yard in advance, but the “old ones,” drawing steadily up, won by a foot. Time, twelve and a half minutes – not by Benson’s chronograph, however. It was expected that the young ones would have won but for an unlucky circumstance:- when 100 yards from the gaol, and when nearly equal, one of the oarsmen in the “Swift” got an oar entangled with an opponent on the “Emma,” and this allowed the old ones, who were quicker in recovering themselves, to gain a couple of strokes. During the race the forward oarsman in the “Swift” unshipped an oar at least six times, which enabled the “Emma’s crew to decrease materially each time the distance between the boats.