Competing Clubs

In 1861 London Rowing Club entered and won both the Open Fours and the Open Pairs, and from this time for many years the London and Thames Rowing Clubs figured constantly upon the programme. There came a time when the Tideway clubs ceased to visit Bedford and their place was taken by the many local clubs who still send their crews today.

Today the advent of multi-lane racing hasn’t helped this situation with Clubs such as London and Thames preferring to race at Dorney rather than Bedford. Having said that we have in the last few years welcomed back the University of London and Imperial College to the Regatta.

Many Olympian, Boat Race and International oarsman have competed at the Regatta often in the Junior events before going on to represent their country.

The 1933 Regatta was notable for the first demonstration of “syncopated rowing”, which was said to have much to recommend it. A trial match was rowed between a Bedford and Cambridge Crew and was won by the Cambridge Crew. In a four the cox sat in the middle of the boat, separating stroke and three and bow and two. Viewed from behind, the four oars striking the water in succession reminded one of a revolving watermill wheel. The successive striking was said to make for smooth running and better balance, by obviating the checks between the strokes.

In the 1955 Regatta Programme it was noted that entries had continued to grow since the ending of World War II. 1955 saw an entry of 39 eights, 48 fours, 4 pairs, 3 double sculls, 33 sculls competing – a total of 543 oarsmen and 83 coxes. Figures of the entries are available back to 1913. At that time there were no wight-oared events and the total entries in 1913 were 36 in all, and in 1914 24!. Entries in the inter-war year period ranged between 29 in 1920 to a record of 67 in 1937. The Senior VIIIs event was introduced in 1919, when two VIIIs competed. The maiden sculls were introduced in 1924, the coxless fours in 1932, the Junior VIIIs in 1934, and the double sculls in 1938. The number of VIIIs which ever compted prior to World War II was 10. After the war, entries immediately started to increaqse, being 60 in the immediate post-war year and rising to 102 in 1948. The following years saw a steady increase 135, 130, 139, 145, 133 and 148. Fast forward to 2014 the Regatta enjoyed an entry of circa 280 crews with 1,700 competitors.

Extract from Minutes of Bedford Regatta Committee – 30th May, 1876

Mr H Webber brought forward a proposition which was seconded by Capt GP Nash, “That clinkerbuilt boats be five streaks below the gunwale and open fore and aft”. After a discussion re steam launch, it was decided to nominate a small committee, viz. Mr Sargent, Nash and Webber, to make enquiries as to the cost of hire of boat if found suitable for use of umpires.

At the subsequent meeting on 20th June, 1876, there were present Mssrs Sarget, Thody, Bull, Webber, Piper, Glub and Gillons. Extract from the minutes: “The Committee who were appointed to see after the steam launch as to its being able to convey the Umpire near enough to judge the races reported that the steamer was not fast enough for that purpose”.

In July 1869, the Regatta was marred by a fatal accident which happened to a little girl named Ridge, daughter of the landlord of the Albion Inn in White Horse Street. The child ran in front of the gun with which the races were started just as it was being fired, and received such serious injuries to the upper part of her neck that she died soon after being taken to the hospital. The miniature cannon was at the time being looked after by Sgt. Hartley of the 82nd Regiment, who was in Bedford recruiting service. He was arrested shortly after the incidence and subsequently appeared before the Bedford magistrates. At the inquest it was stated that Hartley had been instructed to fire the shot by the official “gunner”, Sgt. Dyer, while the latter was absent. The jury returned a verdict of “accidental death”, and censured Dyer for delegating the duty of firing the cannon to another person. Sgt. Hartley, who was obviously traumatised by the turn of events and was discharged..

During the 100th Regatta the Bedford School 1st VIII achieved the rare feat in the Senior-Junior eights event of lowering the event record in all three rounds of the competition. The subsequent record stood for a number of years.