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Cup (To be rowed for by amateur)

to be rowed for by amateur crews in eight-oared boats, open to all. Thus was the prototype of English rowing regattas founded. Before this time there had been rowing races at Henley and elsewhere, but they had been of the nature of matches. In 1829 the earliest Inter-University contest took place from Hambledon Lock to Henley, when Oxford, assisted by a No. 5 who weighed 14st. 10lb., defeated Cambridge for the first time. The Wingfield Sculls had been founded in 1830, and in 1837 Queen's College, Oxford, rowed against and beat St. John's College, Cambridge; but March 26th, 1839, is the first we hear of the definite founding of a rowing regatta. At first there were only the two challenge cups above alluded to to be competed for; in 1840 the District Cup for four-oars was added, but withdrawn in The F. Fenner, H. T. Steward, J. H. D. Goldie, and T. C. Edwards-Moss, was appointed to consider the question of the course. result of the committee deliberations was that in 1886 the course was altered, the start being made from a little below the tail of the island to the winning post at the upper end of Phyllis Court wall, the same length of course being maintained. The course was piled out 150 ft. wide with the view of three boats rowing in a heat, but at the request of the principal clubs, who were consulted as to the alteration of the course and other matters, only two boats were placed in a heat. The course was made as straight as possible; the piles on the Bucks shore being only some 20 ft. from Fawley Court Boathouse, and as close in under the wood as practicable, so as to preserve a straight line. There were two slight angles in the course, the upper one at Fawley Court Boathouse, and the lower one some distance below Remenham Rectory, not far from the top of the island.

In 1887 the course was narrowed to 135 ft., and kept further from the Bucks shore.

ROWING] In 1888 the course was reduced to 120 ft. in width, and kept still further from the Bucks shore.

No further appreciable alteration was made until 1897, when the width of the course was still further reduced to IIO ft., and kept further from the Bucks shore. The upper angle pile was moved some 150 yds. lower down.

Owing to the increasing number of boats which made it nearly impossible to keep the course clear, it was deemed expedient to place booms from pile to pile on the Oxon. and Bucks side of the course from the judge's stand to below Remenham Rectory, and on the Berkshire side from the winning post down to the gate at the lower end of the first meadow.

Openings were made with sliding booms to allow the pleasure boats to pass on and off the course between the races.

From 1900 booms have been added year by year.

In 1908 foreign entries were barred, owing to the Olympic Regatta taking place during the same month.

While the interest in metropolitan regattas has somewhat fallen off, an increase in the number and importance of provincial regattas has taken place. The following is a short list of some of the better-known courses, together with the official rules for regattas, and laws of boat racing :- LENGTH OF RACING COURSES.

Agecroft (Manchester), 1 mile.