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.

Heap has been assisted in a secretarial capacity by Walker, who was in the fortunate position of having passed the stage of senior exams. He did this onerous job with complete confidence.

Probably no senior member of the Boat Club would like this occasion to slip by without a reference to the tragic death of last year's bow of the first boat, M. W. Bolton. All will know how he was drowned in the Firth of Forth when the dinghy in which he was sailing capsized; none will know the exact circumstances, but all will realise from this bitter event how respectfully the world of water must be treated.

In conclusion all members of the School crews will remember with gratitude the tremendous enthusiasm of Mr. Portlock and Mr. Whitmore in taking crews to Regattas and giving them such wholehearted support. Our warmest thanks to them.

RESULTS

23rd May. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd IVs beat St. John's College 1st, 2nd, and 3rd IVs. 26th May. 1st IV lost to R.A.F. Cranwell at home. NOTTINGHAM REGATTA, 2nd June. 1st IV lost to Hollingworth Lake R.C. 2nd IV lost to Derby School in the final of the Schools' Fours, having beaten Priory School, Shrewsbury, and Henry Mellish School. LEEDS REGATTA, 9th June. 1st IV beat Leeds University and York City B.C. to win the Senior Fours. 2nd IV beat Leeds University and Bradford A.R.C. to win the Junior Fours. 3rd IV beat Lancaster R.G.S., Leeds University, St. John's College, and St. Peter's School 4th IV to win the Maiden Fours. 4th IV beat Leeds University, Lancaster R.G.S., and Hatfield College, and lost to St. Peter's School 3rd IV in the Maiden Fours. YORK REGATTA, 16th June. 1st IV beat Tyne A.R.C. and lost to St. Andrew B.C. (Edinburgh) in the Senior Fours. 2nd IV lost to Hollingworth Lake in the Junior-Senior Fours. 2nd IV beat Bradford G.S. and King's School, Chester, to win the School Fours. 3rd IV beat Newark R.C., Northwich R.C., and University College to win the Junior Fours. 4th IV beat Manchester University, King's College B.C., Hatfield College and lost to Nottingham Britannia R.C. in the final of the X Division of the Maiden Fours. DURHAM REGATTA, 20th June. (Our first visit for 30 years.) 1st IV lost to Blyth A.R.C. in the Senior Fours. 2nd IV lost to Talkin Tarn B.C. in the Junior-Senior Fours. 3rd IV beat South Hylton A.R.C., University College B.C., and Hatfield College to win the Lady Anne Lambton Plate. 4th IV beat Johnston G.S., Tynemouth R.C., St. Chads R.C., Durham School, and Hatfield College to win the Lady Herschell Plate. 82

23rd June. 3rd, 4th, 5th IVs beat Bradford G.S. 1st, 2nd, 3rd IVs. BRADFORD REGATTA, 7th July. 1st IV lost the final of the Seniors to Liverpool Victoria B.C. 4th IV lost to Bradford G.S. in the semi-final of the Junior Fours. 5th IV lost to Hollingworth Lake in the Maiden Fours. LANCASTER REGATTA, 21st July. 1st IV lost to Hollingworth Lake in the Senior Fours. 2nd IV lost to Agecroft R.C. in the Junior Fours. OLD PETERITE RACES, 28th July.

The School 1st, 4th, 5th IVs beat the O.P. crews. No O.P. crews were found to race the 2nd and 3rd IVs.

CREWS :

1st IV. Beckitt, Portlock, Welsh, M., Heap; Wilson, I. 2nd IV. Bywater, Stephenson, Hopwood, Sharp; Beresford, 3rd IV. Walker, Wilson, M. B., Burden, Stubbs; Jose. 4th IV. Turner, Whitmore, Bytheway, Wilkinson, J. B.; Macdonald. 5th IV. Hall, Taylor, Kirby, F. A. L., Wheeler, R. M.; Wright. "E" Crew. Holt, Hancock, Morrison, Loadman. "J" Crew. Barry, Cook, House, Wilson, D. A. "K" Crew. Howard, Hodgson, Field, Bradford.