Bourne | -- | |1882| F. E. Churchill | Won Ladies' Plate, after interval of| | | | twelve years | |1883| H. S. Close | Won first heat Ladies' Plate; lost | | | | with broken stretcher in final | |1884| H. McLean | Won Ladies' Plate | |1885| C. Barclay | Won Ladies' Plate | |1886| C. T. Barclay | Beaten by Pembroke College in final | | | | for Ladies' Plate | |1887| Lord Ampthill | Beaten by Second Trinity Hall in | | | | final for Ladies' Plate | |1888| Lord Ampthill | -- | +----+------------------------+-------------------------------------+ [15] Now Lord Gloncurry. [16] Changed his name to Mason. CHAPTER XVI. WATERMEN AND PROFESSIONALS. The London waterman is the oldest type of professional oarsmanship. He was called into existence for the purpose of locomotion, and race-rowing was a very secondary consideration with him in the first instance. Just as in the present day credentials of respectability are required by the Commissioners of Police of drivers of cabs and omnibuses (and none may ply for hire in these capacities within the metropolis unless duly licensed), so in olden days great stress was laid on the due qualification of watermen. An aspirant was and is required to serve seven years' apprenticeship before he can be 'free' of the river, and until he is 'free' of it he may not ply for hire upon it under heavy penalties for so doing. This regulation is in the interests of public safety. If apprentices exhibit special talent for rowing they can win what are called 'coats and badges,' given by certain corporate bodies, and by so doing they can take up their 'freedom' without paying fees for the privilege. We believe that no such restrictions exist on our other British rivers. The rule survives on the Thames because in olden times the Thames was a highway for passenger traffic in 'wherries.' In those times, where a passenger would now go to a thoroughfare or call a cab, he would have gone to the nearest 'stairs' and have hailed a wherry. London had not then grown to its present dimensions, and the Thames lay conveniently as a highway between Westminster, the City, and the docks.