Swimming

The School 2nd IV and Leeds 3rd IV rowed first. Leeds won the toss and chose the far side. The School boat gained steadily from the start and, helped by the current under the bridge, won easily.

After Leeds 2nd IV had replaced the fixed pins on their boat by swivels, the second race started about 3-30. The School won the toss and took the far side. Both crews started well, and the School gained a slight lead round the first corner. The boats were almost level along the straight past the School Boathouse, but the School increased their lead by a " ten " opposite York Boathouse and further by another "ten " under Scarborough Bridge. Already well ahead, the School increased their lead at the take-in and won by three and a half lengths.

1st June. 1st IV v. Nottingham High School 1st IV, at York. 2nd IV v. Nottingham High School 2nd IV, at York.

The first crews rowed first. Nottingham won the toss and chose the School side of the river. The School started very well and gained a lead of half a length. They slowly increased this lead to over a length at York City Boathouse. A " ten " through Scarborough Bridge put them 3/ lengths ahead and the take-in made the lead 4 lengths.

For the 2nd's race, St. Peter's won the toss and chose the far side. Disaster befell both crews soon after the start. Although bow came off his seat the School kept a slender lead; then 3 in the Nottingham crew caught a crab which lost them three or four lengths. In spite of their plucky efforts, the Nottingham crew were unable to reduce this formidable lead, and the school increased it at the take-in to win easily.

12th June. 1st IV v. Leeds University 1st IV, at Leeds.

This was rowed on the River Aire at Swillington Bridge. There was to have been a number of races, but owing to exams. and holidays, many crews were unable to attend and there were only two races, St. Peter's v. Leeds and Oundle v. Leeds. The Leeds shells were very fine and difficult to sit, but aften an outing in the morning the School crew felt more comfortable. Leeds won the toss and chose the far side. Both crews got a good start and were level to the first bend, where Leeds, on the inside, drew ahead. The School were about a length down at the Boathouse, but caught up with a " ten," gained the lead in the last furlong, and won by three-quarters of a length. Cox, who had a difficult task on such a winding river, steered very well.

13th June. 2nd IV v. Oundle " A," at York.

This race took place in a heavy shower. Oundle won the toss and chose the Boathouse side. The start was level, but Oundle, a more powerful crew, drew away steadily and won easily.

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15th June. York Regatta.

This was the first Regatta held by York City R.C. since 1940, and there were a large number of entries from all over the North. St. Peter's entered 4 crews ; the 1st IV for the White Rose Challenge Cup, the 2nd IV for the York Regatta Challenge Cup, and the 3rd and 4th IV's for the John E. Gibbs Challenge Cup.

The 3rd IV, which had a bye into the second round were beaten by Manchester University B.C., but the 4th IV was more successful. They too had a bye into the second round, and by beating a York City crew reached the semi-final, in which they, too, were beaten by Manchester University. The 2nd IV also met their fate in the first round at the hands of a Manchester University crew, the ultimate winners.

The 1st IV was more successful in the White Rose Cup. They were drawn against a crew from King's College, Newcastle, in the preliminary round and beat them easily, and therefore met Durham University 2nd IV in the semi-final. In a very hard race, and after being a length down at York Boathouse, the School won the race by just under half a length. Meanwhile, Leeds University had beaten York City R.C. in the other semi-final. T. F. Morris, Captain of St. Peter's Boats last year, was stroking the Leeds crew. Thus we met Leeds in the final at 4-30. The two crews were level for some time, then we drew slightly ahead just before York Boathouse. On the corner one of the Leeds crew caught a crab, which put them over two lengths behind, and the School was able to win by 31 lengths. The School IV was on the Boathouse side in all three races, but cox steered so well throughout that its disadvantages were cancelled out.

Tyne Regatta.

On 13th July the 1st IV took part in the Regatta on the Tyne, held at King's College Boathouse. The School crew entered for the Palmer Grand Challenge Cup and was drawn against Durham University Medicals B.C. in the first round. Stroked by Hugh Brown, an O.P., they gave the crew a very good race, but lost their lead in the last furlong and were beaten by a quarter of a length. The School then met Durham A.R.C. in the semi-final ; a stronger and fresher crew, who won by over two lengths. 27th July. 1st IV v. O.P.'s. 2nd IV v. O.P.'s.

Although the Old Peterites had some difficulty in forming two crews from eight oarsmen who all preferred to row stroke side, both races were very close.

The 1st crews rowed first. The School led at the start and were two or three lengths ahead before Scarborough Bridge. The O.P.'s caught up very well through the bridge, but lost by a length and a quarter. The O.P. crew was : A. J. Shardlow (Bow), P. G. R. Dench (2), H. Brown f(3), T. F. Morris (Stroke), G. E. K. Reynolds (Cox). 59