T.B.B. & Q.S.S. boat race
This race was returned this year, & resulted in the victory of the Town Boys by 10 lengths. It was rowed on Wednesday July 31st, which fortunately was a beautiful day, & a large number of fellows went up by train & boat, etc., to see the race, as well as several masters. The eights went up to Coates’ wharf, Battersea, in the launch, with Mr Bovill, Mr Gibson, Rev. W.B. Gray, & Rev. W. Failes, and one or two of the senior non-rowing fellows. They got into the boats there, and paddled up to the starting place at Putney Bridge. The start was just on the turn of the tide, if anything on the first of the ebb. The boats went off very well together at the start, which was given by Mr Gray & kept fairly level for the first 200 yards or so.
The Q.S.S. has the better station for turning the Point at the Palace, but the T.B.B. began to draw away here, & gradually increased this lead.
At the Crab-tree we were leading by a good length, & the distance between us gradually increased, till we rowed under Hammersmith Bridge, winning easily by 10 yards lengths.
The crews were-
| Surrey station | Middlesex station |
| T.B.B. | Q.S.S. |
| 1. H.S. Westmorland | 1. W. Bury |
| 1. F. Learmouth | 2. A. A. Sikes |
| 2. J.C. Frere | 3. J. Langheike G. Godfrey |
| 3. J.M. Stuart Edwards | 4. F.E. Cobby |
| 4. W.G. Bell | 5. H. Lowry |
| 5. A.M. Hemsley | 6. F.R. Clarke |
| 6. W.H. Ritchie | 7. H.W. de Sausmarez |
| Str. C. Campbell | Str. W.A. Cuppage |
| Cox. W.H. Burridge | Cox. S. Bere |
The Town Boys were greatly elated at this result, as it is the first victory for four years; & the crews were thought rather equal.
After the race, the crews rowed back to Coates’s, & adjourned for a “liquer” to the Swan, Battersea. An arrangement had been made for having a dinner for the crews, but it came to Scott’s ears, and the old blackguard would not allow it!
Water has got on very well this year, as well indeed as any one could expect, after the interval of two years. The steam launch had been a great convenience. Only the Scratch Fours & the Under Elections gigs have been rowed of the usual races, as it was thought better this year to practise, without many races, as a great many of the fellows were quite new to rowing.