An attempt was made in 1820 to have a match against Westminster; the
challenge from them was accepted, and an eight chosen, but the
authorities forbade it. The first race between the two schools was rowed
on July 27, 1829, from Putney Bridge to Hammersmith and back, and was
won easily by Eton, and Westminster were beaten at Maidenhead in 1831,
at Staines in 1836, and at Putney in 1843 and 1847. Eton were beaten by
Westminster at Datchet in 1837, and at Putney in 1842, 1845, and 1846.
From 1847 till 1858 there were races only against scratch crews, and
Oxford or Cambridge colleges. In 1858 a match, which was thought a grand
event at the time, was rowed on the Henley course against Radley and won
by Eton. In 1860, 1861, 1862, and 1864 the Westminster race was revived
and was rowed from Putney Bridge to Chiswick Eyot, and Eton was so
easily the winner that it has not been thought worth while to continue
this match.
In 1860 Mr. Warre came to Eton as an assistant master, and at the
request of the captain of the boats assisted him to arrange the
Westminster race, and engaged to coach the eight. It was with his
assistance that Dr. Goodford was persuaded to allow the eight to go to
Henley Regatta in 1861, and the tacit understanding was made that if the
authorities would allow this, and also the boating bill by which two
long boats might escape six o'clock absence and have time to row to
Cliefden, the boats would give up Oppidan dinner and Check nights. Mr.
Warre, with the greatest kindness and with unremitting zeal and energy,
first coached the eight for the Westminster races, and then continued
coaching for the Henley Regatta evening after evening during their
training every year for twenty-four years, until he was appointed
headmaster. The Rev. S. A. Donaldson has since undertaken the coaching.
University men at first disliked the appearance of Eton at Henley. Old
oarsmen thought it would ruin the regatta, as men would hate to be
beaten by boys. Masters predicted that the coaching by a master would
spoil the boys, but time has dissipated these objections, and the
Regatta has flourished better than ever.
It will be seen that Eton has on several occasions beaten trained
college and other crews without winning the plate, and we may fairly say
that her place on the river is about equal to that of the best colleges.
After all, the boys are boys of seventeen and eighteen, and if they are
not as strong or heavy as men a year or two older, they have the
advantage of practically always being in training, are easily got
together, and are living a regular and active life.
RESULTS OF HENLEY REGATTA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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