The First Worcester Regatta 1845

A crew entered by the village of Kempsey, the mysterious "disappearance" of some of the oars of an eight about to race, the liberal placing of bets on the races. These are some of the interesting facts disclosed by records of the time when the first ever Worcester regatta took place in 1845 and when there were at least three separate City rowing clubs in existence.

In the more leisurely ways of that era the Regatta was a midweek two day event, attracting a large part of the population. The Grand Stand proprietors had specially prepared the top of their building for the ladies, where "Mr. Fish's excellent gossamer band provided the charms of music" and although there were a number of "equipages" on Pitchcroft and "gaily prankt out barges on the river" it was a matter of some concern that the local magistrates had seen fit to prohibit the sale of any intoxicating liquor on the ground. As the local press afterwards remarked of those responsible for the prohibition "they will have learnt from the regatta that it is possible for people to disport innocently and that there is nothing necessarily vicious, even in horse racing".

Concurrent with the regatta were punt races for the Diglis watermen and the conclusion of each day's racing was crowned by a luxurious banquet furnished by the Regatta Stewards at the Hop Market.

The present regatta course, which has existed for very many years now, is downstream between Dog and Duck Ferry and the Pedestrian Bridge, but 125 years ago competitors rowed their much heavier boats from Diglis to a point near the Dog and Duck Ferry - upstream. Times of around 20 minutes were recorded for this distance, which nowadays with the lighter racing boats and increasing standards of fitness can be covered in a fraction of this time.

Scullers, pairs, fours and eights took part (not all from organised Clubs), the best race of the first day apparently being between the Worcester Ariel pair, W. Davis and T. Hopkins and two privately entered gentlemen named Lea and Faulkner, which was won by the Worcester boat contrary to general expectation, "three to one having been offered against the winners before -the start, without takers". The Ariel pair went on the following day to win the final, even though their opponents had disposed of their coxswain in order to lighten the boat. In one of the four-oared events, the Harriet (Kempsey) crew were drawn against the Oxford Worcestershire Club (Worcester) but for some unaccountable reason declined to start at the last moment. They rowed well in a later event however.

In another four-oared race on the second day the Oxford Worcestershire boat gained upon a Bewdley crew, bumped them and claimed the race. In true partisan spirit however, a great number of local citizens testified that Bewdley had left their own water to gain the advantage of taking the central arch of Worcester bridge, the fifth (Bridge Street) arch being "blocked up by the Watermen's Church". Bewdley, highly dissatisfied with the subsequent award of the race against them, claimed to have the trophy and served the Stewards with notice not to give up the prize to their competitors.

The premier event of the Regatta was undoubtedly the eightoared race for the Grand Challenge Cup, eventually won by Unity, believed to be another Worcester crew, but not before the seeds had been sown of a bitter controversy which was to rage long after the regatta. In a cheat between Unity and Nondescript (Worcester) two of the oars belonging to the Nondescript eight "disappeared" before the start and as the Unity crew apparently refused to wait, the missing oars were substituted by two smaller ones. The oars which had disappeared were later found "hidden" under a barge. Accusations and counter accusations ensued and in one of the many letters subsequently written to the Editor of the "Worcester Herald" it was remarked that "a more thorough piece of blackguardism and blacklegism never was perpetrated - not even upon the turf" and it was suggested "that all bets laid on the event, other than between gamblers by trade, should be off".

The various challenge trophies and gold and silver presentation prizes for the winning crews far surpassed any of those seen nowadays and it is regrettable that their present whereabouts are unknown. The most valuable would be the Stewards Challenge Cup, the District Cup, the Severn Cup and the Grand Challenge Cup, all of which incorporated reproductions of the Cathedral, Worcester Bridge, the river and rowing scenes. The present Worcester Rowing Club have a detailed description of these first rowing trophies, an indication of their present day value being gleaned from the following description of The Worcester Grand Challenge Cup for Eights, "Open to the World" and valued then at 80 guineas: "a splendid piece of silver plate, on four massive silver feet, representing dolphins, with shells elegantly curled. On the upper part of the feet is richly chased in bold relief the waterlily. On the body is a vine leaf jutting out over a sea shell with, on its front a chased design in bas relief of Worcester Bridge, and in the distance is seen St. Andrew's Spire. To the right are the trees of the Severn embankment; and in the midst the Cathedral. In the river is seen the struggle between the contesting parties in eight-oared boats. On the reverse is engraved "Worcester Regatta Grand Challenge Cup" and surmounting the entire is represented a sailor, bearing a pair of sculls".

Despite the loss of these priceless trophies, which, have been replaced in course of time by other fine, if less ornate pieces, Worcester Regatta attracts crews from all over the British Isles and is still a major City attraction. For very many years now it has been held under the auspices of the successor to those earlier Worcester clubs, the present Worcester Rowing Club.