Boat Club

The Old Peterites, a refreshingly young side, in their turn collapsed unpredictably in the middle batting order after Ranson had clearly shown them the way.

With a lead of 57 runs on first innings, the School kept up the pressure and when Richardson (66 not out) made his second declaration, while his own innings was in full flight, he demonstrated clearly his appreciation of the tactical situation.

Left to score at the rate of 90 runs in the hour (exactly the same scoring rate by which the School achieved last year's success), a keen tussle followed between school bowlers and fielders on the one hand and batsmen readily accepting the challenge on the other.

All due credit then must go to the School for gaining the initiative and never at any time losing it.

A most enjoyable game, in which all players wished only that more time could be found for a less artificial solution.

The 1967 Regatta Season followed the pattern which seems to have taken shape at St. Peter's over the last few years : a promising Easter Term, an unimpressive month of May and a rewarding June—a yield this season of six cups. This pattern may result from our rowing calendar: seven weeks in January and February enable us to acquit ourselves well at York, Nottingham and Putney—Head of the River Races for which our fifteen miles of relatively calm river provide excellent preparation; two months away from boating set us back for York Spring and Nottingham Regattas, where our performance often fails to earn the number of races we would like to prepare us for the Triangular Match; and during the remaining four weeks, which conclude with York, Durham and Leeds, the crews develop some pace and reap their reward. In the last race in June the 1st VIII won the Junior-Senior Villa at Leeds, and in the flush of victory realised with some reluctance they must now renounce the regatta world to confront the General Certificate of Education.

For much of the season the 1st VIII rowed as IVs, being divided, not into a 1st and 2nd IV as in the past, but into two IVs of equal standard, one being of Junior, the other of Maiden status. Our 3rd IV was a Junior crew, so this division of the 1st VIII avoided the necessity of entering three Junior crews for each regatta. "A" IV, the Junior crew, repeatedly achieved better times over the full and half-course, but "B" IV, whenever stimulated by side-by-side competition, used to win by a length. This experiment produced healthy rivalry and proved a success, though it had at one time seemed a pity to break up the 1st IV who had trained together during the holidays. It was clear that the members of the former 1st IV, T. B. Ward and W. N. Marshall, and P. T. Summers and J. K. Park formed the nucleus of these two IVs.

For the Triangular Match it was unfortunate that the 1st VIII had to row with two substitutes. However, both A. S. Medlycott and A. W. H. Powell rowed well, and it is open to conjecture as to whether the result was affected. Tyne Regatta, on 10th June, was the turning point of the season. The atmosphere and organisation of the regatta as well as the prominence of the 'School crews contributed to the enjoyment of the occasion. There- 50

after each IV developed well: "A" IV was the lighter IV, smooth, with a high rating, while "B" IV was very powerful with a long and efficient stroke. At Leeds the 1st VIII reunited, and finding a Shell VIII refreshing after Clinker IVs, rowed gleefully to beat four crews. The rating 44i was a shade high in the first race, but in the second the crew had the confidence to lower it to 43i, taking a canvas in the first ten strokes off Bradford G.S. rating at 46.

The 3rd IV had the misfortune to be overshadowed by at least one other Junior IV throughout the season, and it is much to their credit that they developed a high morale, even to the point of challenging the 1st two IVs. They were a light and neat crew, fast over the first half of the course but lacking the stamina regattas demand. The 4th IV was unlucky not to win a cup, being powerful and undoubtedly fast, but they lacked consistency of form essential if four races are to be won in one afternoon. The 5th and 6th IVs trained together and beat each other alternately throughout the term. The 5th IV gained a short lead, and won the Schools' Cup at Durham, while the 6th IV acquitted themselves well three days later at Leeds.

The whole of the Colts year was coached by Mr. Duncan, with the result that no difficulty was found in producing a IV this year as well as the VIII. Both crews won more races than they lost. Though there are still too few Colts events in the North to make a satisfactory training programme, the situation is happily improving. Colts oarsmen made ample use of the University sculling-boats, and the effect of our arrangement with the University is already discernible throughout the club.

The House Races provided their usual excitement, there being no outstanding crews but several which were good. Dronfield, Temple and Queen's were between six feet and half a length down on School House by the Diving Board, but then School House went right away to win convincingly in all three races. In the Junior IVs, a young Grove crew improved with every race and beat Temple, the favourites, in the Final.

We are 'grateful to Mr. Duncan and Mr. Dixon for devoting much time and skill to boat and oar repairs, without which many training hours would simply have been lost and our results affected. Mr. Austin has left St. Peter's and we thank him for all the coaching he has done over his three years. In particular we shall miss his scarlet Lady Margaret scarf, which he always felt added a certain tone to the river scene.

RESULTS

6th May. YORK SPRING REGATTA. Schools IVs ist IV beat Consett G.S. lost to Sir John Deane's G.S.

loth May. NOTTINGHAM REGATTA. Junior IVs

A IV lost to Leicester R.C. 3rd IV lost to Nottingham University. Maiden IVs

B IV beat York University. lost to Evesham R.C. 4th IV beat High Pavement School. A mistake in Regatta organisation denied this crew further racing. 51

24th May. TRIANGULAR MATCH VERSUS DURHAM SCHOOL AND LANCASTER R.G.S. at Lancaster. Lancaster R.G.S., 5 points; Durham School, 4 points; St. Peter's School, 3 points. 1st VIII lost to Durham School by 6 ft. and to Lancaster R.G.S. by a length. 3rd IV beat Durham School by length. lost to Lancaster R.G.S. by 3 lengths. 4th IV beat Lancaster R.G.S. by 4 lengths. lost to Durham School by If lengths. Colts VIII beat Durham School by 3/ lengths. lost to Lancaster R.G.S. by length.

4th June. LANCASTER COLTS REGATTA. Colts VIII lost to George Watson's School. Losers' Competition: beat Chester City G.S. and Priory School to win the event. Colts IV beat Lancaster R.G.S. and Winsford Verdin G.S. and lost to George Watson's School in the Final.

loth June. TYNE REGATTA. Junior IV

A IV beat Newcastle University, Durham School and Talkin Tarn. lost to Durham A.R.C. and York City R.C. in the Final. 3rd IV lost to a Bede College/Durham A.R.C. crew.

School IVs

B IV beat R.G.S. Newcastle and Consett G.S. to win The Newburn Coronation Challenge Cup.

Maiden IVs 4th IV beat Newcastle University and R.G.S. Newcastle. lost to Bradford University in the Final.

t7th June. YORK REGATTA. Schools IVs

A IV beat Bradford G.S. to win the Bradford Challenge Cup.

Junior IVs 3rd IV lost to York City R.C. Maiden IVs

B IV beat University of Hull "A", Lancaster R.G.S., Hollingworth Lake "A" and Bede College to win Division Y of the John E. Gibbs Challenge Cup. 4th IV beat Grey College, Durham. lost to Lancaster R.G.S. 5th IV dead-heated with St. John's College, York. lost the re-row by 2 ft. 6th IV lost to Kingston R.C. Colts IVs

Colts IV lost to Hymers College 1st Colts IV.

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21st June. DURHAM REGATTA. Junior IVs

A IV lost to Hatfield College A IV.

B IV beat Hatfield College B IV, Peterhouse, Cambridge and Hatfield College A IV, and lost to Bede College by 3 ft. in the Final. 3rd IV lost to Rutherford College of Technology. Maiden IVs 4th IV beat R.G.S. Newcastle. lost to London School of Economics.

Schools IVs 5th IV beat Consett G.S. B IV, Consett G.S., A IV (disqualified) and Durham School to win the Vaux Challenge Trophy.

24th June. LEEDS REGATTA. Junior-Senior VIIIs 1st VIII beat Durham A.R.C./Bede College, Derwent R.C., Leeds University and Bradford G.S. to win The Sadler Challenge Cup. Junior-Senior IVs

A IV beat Tyne A.R.C. lost to Durham A.R.C.

Junior IVs

B IV beat Lancaster University, Lancaster R.G.S., Durham A R C /Bede College, and Bradford G.S., and lost to York City R.C. by 3 ft. in the Final. 3rd IV lost to Bradford G.S.

Maiden IVs 4th IV beat Hollingworth Lake, Bradford G.S. and Kingston R.C. lost to Bradford University in the Final. 5th IV lost to Lancaster R.G.S. "A" IV. 6th IV beat Rochdale G.S. lost to Bradford University.

14th June. THE SCHOOL REGATTA. Novice IVs

Winners: E IV (J. N. V. Nixon, G. S. Yule, R. D. MacLeod, I. A. Gill, Cox: R. E. Rowbottom).

15th, 17th, 19th July. HOUSE RACES.

Time to Winner Loser Distance Diving Board Finish

VII Is-6 furlongs ist Round Grove Manor 3i lengths 1.48 3.58 Semi- Finals School House Queen's School House Dronfield Grove Temple 34 lengths 1.42 3 lengths 2.14 24 lengths 2.07 3.45 4.42 4.29 Finals School House Queen's 2 lengths 5.55 4.10 IVs-5 furlongs 1st Round Temple Manor 3 lengths 2.01 3.32 School House Rise 24 lengths 2.02. 3.32 Grove Dronfield if lengths 2.12 3.45 Semi- Temple School House I length 2.35 4.42

Final Grove Queen's 2 lengths 2.37 4.24 Finals Grove Temple 24 lengths 2.16 3.52 53