Oct 1956

THE BOAT CLUB In most respects this past year has probably been the most successful in the history of the Club; at any rate, there are seven tangible pieces of evidence of this in the shape of seven cups won at Regattas.

Rowing coaches in schools and universities and the larger clubs must stop and wonder sometimes when they see how last year's novice, clumsy, lazy and ill-at-ease can turn into a useful oarsman, confident and tough.

So at the beginning to the Summer Term, 1956, a promising first crew seemed to stand head and shoulders above the rest, and yet it was the third crew which had the successes backed by the fourth crew.

The second crew was a good one, well stroked by Sharp, yet they seemed to be dogged by bad luck. At Durham Regatta they failed to settle in a borrowed boat; at Durham, against Durham School, they failed to appreciate the severity of the final bend of the long course and lost by a few feet; and at Lancaster there was a decision against them which bordered on the ludicrous, given first as two-and-a-half inches and, on protest, changed to two feet. The first four, compelled to row in senior events by reason of status met with tough opposition.

Nevertheless they succeeded in winning a number of races and the Senior Fours at Leeds Regatta. At the start of the season there was a lack of cohesion in the crew and only the personal intervention of Mr. Gregory, who took the crew out, first rowing stroke, then two, enabled the fault to be found. From that time on great improvement was seen which lasted until Durham Regatta. After that exams. seemed to weigh heavily on the crew and fitness suffered.

As usual the School Regatta was a great success and was rowed in three divisions; at the last moment C crew became the fifth School crew to row at Bradford Regatta and so three crews only took part in the senior division which was won by E crew . The intermediate division of seven crews was won by J crew and the junior division

by K crew.

In considering personalities one's thoughts must turn to the departure of Mr. V. B. Gregory who, in the course of three short years, had not only played a big part in coaching School crews but had also performed a useful function in cementing the friendship between York City Boat Club and ourselves. His enthusiasm will be missed; so will his unfailing readiness to do anything which would enhance the reputation of School oarsmen. He carries from the Boat Club its most sincere good wishes.

Heap, as Captain for the second year, has done notable things for the Club. He has displayed a knack of organising and controlling everything that has happened at the river and no greater proof of this can exist than the fact that no masters who have coached have felt any anxiety about the well-being of the boats and equipment. His quiet insistence on good rowing behaviour has done a lot to improve the rowing.

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