14 May 2024
By Thomas Wigley
Rowing historian Al Mackenzie recently shared an intriguing image of a certificate published in Gordon Newell’s book Ready All! George Yeoman Pocock and Crew Racing. What’s the story behind the Certificate which records George Pocock’s victory in an Open Junior Sculls event at a regatta held somewhere in 1907?
We can easily make out the following on the certificate:
- Handwritten text “Won by G. Pocock, Eton” (super handwriting!),
- “HURC” as the awarding rowing club,
- 1907 as the date of the regatta.
Which rowing club is “HURC”? Could the ‘H’ be one of the old Thames Upriver clubs which put on regattas back then?
The conundrum was cracked by searching newspaper regatta articles for the summer months of 1907. Incidentally, while trawling, I spotted several articles about Lucy Pocock and her 2x partner Henry Wakefield who, seemingly, were enjoying a cracking season that year. Henry rowed for my club Eton Excelsior but more of him later.
Turns out that ‘HURC’ is Henley United Rowing Club “… founded in 1886, ‘to provide facilities for working men and youths’ and with a rented boathouse between the Little White Hart and the Brewery stables, amalgamated with Henley Rowing Club. This provided additional boats and members and the enlarged Club prospered.” (1)
The wonderfully detailed regatta reports in various newspapers of the time tell us how George progressed in the ‘Open Junior Sculls’ event. (2)
HENLEY UNITED R.C. REGATTA.
For this regatta, fixed for Saturday next, the following entries have been received: –
Open Fours. Lea Alliance (holders), Brentford Gas Works, Brentford Liberal and Radical Club, Reading Tradesmen’s Club, Henley United (Parrott’s crew), and Henley United (Lewington’s crew).
Open Senior Sculls. J Arlett, Henley United (holder); A E Hammerten, Twickenham RC; A Trimmings, Henley United; J Rough, Oxford; and A MacDonal, Twickenham RC. Open Junior Fours.-Henley United (Robson’s crew), Reading Tradesmen’s R. O, Henley United (Marshall’s crew), and “The Lads” Oxford.
Open Junior Sculls. T Marshall, Henley United; A Pocock, Eton: EJ Butler, Henley United: H Laws, Eton: A Parrott, Henley United; Shackleford, Reading T R C; H Longhurst, Reading T R C; and J Titcombe, Reading T R C
I think that the Sporting Life hack blundered in recording George’s initial, but we’ll move on.
HENLEY UNITED R.C. REGATTA.
This well-managed meeting had these finishes;
-Club Sculling Handicap: E. J. Butler, 30sec start, beat T. Marshall, 25sec.
Open Junior Sculls: G. Pocock, of Eton, beat Butler, of Henley United.
Open Senior Sculls: J. Arlett, Henley United, beat Rough, of Oxford.
Club Fours: J. Lovegrove, E. Hambridge, W. Rixon, W. S. Webber (stroke), J. Williams (cox.).
Open Junior Fours: The Lads of Oxford beat Henley United.
Open Senior Fours: Henley United beat Lea Alliance.
Open Junior Sculls (for challenge cup presented by the Misses Williams-Freeman). Heat 1: Eton-G. Pocock, 1; Reading T.R.C.-W. Shackleford, 2; Eton-G. Dew, absent. Shacklelord fell astern rapidly, and at the finish 20sec. parted them.
Heat 2: H.U.R.C. T. Marshall, 1; Reading T.R.C.-H. E. Longhurst, 2; H.U.R.C.-A. Parrott, jun, absent. Marshall appeared to be keen on this heat, for he pulled very differently at the start from what he had done in the handicap, and quickly slipped Longhurst, whom he beat by a dozen lengths.
Heat 3: 1.U.R.C.-E. J. Butler, 1; Reading T.R.C.-T. Titcombe, 2. Butler wiped out any chance Titcombe ever possessed early in the fray, yet as a local lad he should have known the value of the towpath station, and not permitted his craft to run away with him at Poplar Point. Anyhow, it mattered but little, for Titcombe soon threw up the sponge, and Butler paddled in.
Final heat: Pocock, 1; Butler, 2; Marshall, 3. Pocock had obtained so great a lead at time of entering upon last 200 yards as to induce the others to cease persevering. Thus Henley United lead off in possession of the cup.”
In our report of the Henley United R.C. Regatta we gave G. Dew (Eton) as the winner of the junior sculls. It should have been G. Pocock (Eton). Dew had entered, but did not scull, and Pocock took the boat numbered for Dew’s station, and sculled in the station drawn for Dew. This led to our representative being told by one of the officials that it was Pocock who was the absentee, instead of Dew.
I think that the best account of George’s progress to easy victory is presented in the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette of 6th September 1907. I’ve left out duller parts which describe speeches with all their applause, loud applause, hoorahs and hear! Hears! Dear reader I have read then so that you don’t have to!
George would have been sixteen in the Summer of 1907, and I calculate that the HURC Regatta where he won his certificate was held on Saturday 31st August 1907. Less than four years later, George and his older brother Dick sailed for Canada on 9th March 1911.
HENLEY UNITED ROWING CLUB
A SUCCESSFUL REGATTA.
VICTORY OF THE OXFORD “LADS”
“It is doubtful whether a greater degree of success ever attended a regatta in the annals of the Henley United Rowing Club as that which was held last Saturday. The weather was well nigh perfect, and there was a large and enthusiastic attendance of spectators on the bridge and on either shore. The regatta is most admirably managed, and the committee are to be congratulated on the splendid way in which everything passed off. Whilst the committee as a whole were responsible for the arrangements, there is not one of their number but who would ungrudgingly award a special and distinct mead of praise to their experienced and hard-working secretary, Mr. Charles Clark. He is a popular favourite with the members and officials of the club, and so long as he is actively associated with the affairs of the club there is every reason to rest assured that they will be successfully managed. A most interesting programme had been arranged. The heats of the club events having been rowed off during the week, the card had thus been reduced to manageable proportions. The racing started at one o’clock, and continued at regular intervals until six o’clock. Excellent time was kept, especially considering that one steam launch only was available for the use of the umpires during the greater part of the afternoon. Originally it was arranged that “Little Eva”, kindly lent by Mr. J. Morris, of the Royal Hotel, should accommodate the umpires for the open sculls, and another the umpires for the open fours. Unfortunately, however, “Little Eva” broke down, and, consequently, “Lodona”, which was very kindly lent by Mr. A. Palmer, J.P., of Reading, had to follow practically every event. The committee and all those connected with the club are deeply grateful for Mr. Palmer’s continued kindness in placing such an excellent launch at the disposal of the umpires, and also to Mr. Morris. The course for the open events was from a point above Fawley Court Boathouse, and a start was made from Bushey Gate in each of the club events. The winning post in every instance was against the Red Lion lawn, the latter being crowded with visitors during the afternoon.
“Representatives of the local club made a bold bid to win the Junior Sculls, but their efforts were unsuccessful. T. Marshall and E. J. Butler won their respective heats, but they were completely outclassed in the final by G. Pocock, an Eton lad. There were also three representatives from the Reading T.R.C., but they made rather a dismal display.
OPEN JUNIOR SCULLS
For challenge cup, presented by the Misses Williams-Freeman.
FIRST HEAT
Bucks Station: Eton (G. Pocock) – 1
Centre Station: Reading T.R.C. (W. Shackleford) – 2
Berks Station: Eton (G. Dow) – Absent
Pocock won almost as he liked, the Reading lad steering very indifferently. Dew, the other Eton representative did not turn up.
SECOND HEAT
Bucks Station: H.U.R.C. (T. Marshall) – 1
Berks Station: Reading T.R.C. (H. E. Longhurst) – 2
Centre Station: H.U.R.C. (A. Parrott, jun.) – 0
The Reading youth sculled rather erratically, and came from the Berks shore over to the Hart Street side. When Marshall passed the winning post his opponent was against the Little White Hart landing stage. A. Parrott, jun., did not start.
THIRD HEAT
Berks Station: H.U.R.C. (E. J. Butler – 1
Bucks Station: Reading T.R.C. (T. Titcombe) – 2
This was an exceedingly creditable victory, especially when it is considered that Butler was rowing in the previous race in the Junior Fours. He won very easily.
FINAL
Berks Station: Eton (G. Pocock) – 1
Centre Station: H.U.R.C. (R. J. Butler) – 2
Bucks Station: H.U.R.C. (T Marshall) – 3
An easy win for the Eton lad. Butler and Marshall were close together until reaching the Manor garden, where the latter gave up. Pocock had such a substantial lead as to induce his rivals to cease persevering.”
George sure showed the local a clean pair of sculls. Nicely done George; nicely done indeed.
Endnotes
(1) Henley Rowing Club web page retrieved 7th May 24 https://www.henleyrowingclub.co.uk/history
(2) Newspaper images courtesy of the British Library Board.