William Lumsden

William Lumsden was a professional sculler from Blyth, Northumberland.

24th March 1877
Bells Life reported:
William Lumsden competed in and finished 3rd in the Newcastle Sculling Challenge Cup

April 1877
Bells Life (Jan 1878) reported in their review of 1877:
The early days of April were not marked by any great stir in the rowing way - in fact fourteen days of the showery month had been allowed to elapse before before a match of the slightest consequence took place. It was not until April 14th that the professional element of the rowing world began to stir and the scene of action was the coaly Tyne, where within the space of four days, which included Sunday, no less than four races were set down in the in the list of fixtures for decision.

The "piece de resistance" of this rowing festival was the meeting of Blackman of the Thames and Lumsden of Newcastle (misreported, should be Blyth) who rowed on the following Monday over the full Tyne course and the race will be forever memorable in the minds of all who witnessed it. The stakes were £200 and for a time Lumsden was favourite, though before the moment of starting, even money was the quotation. For some days the weather had been exceedingly cold and the wind high, therefore the practice of the scullers had not been carried on with the greatest comfort imaginable, and on the eventful day, although it looked fair enough at the starting point, the upper reaches of the Tyne were in a most turbulent state due to the high winds which prevailed. Before this race, Lumsden had the repute of being one of the fastest starters ever known, but to the great surprise of his friends, and no doubt himself, the northerner who most persons acquainted with rowing thought would take the lead at starting was nowhere, for Blackman was slating away at 40 strokes per minute and by the time they had gone half a mile, was two lengths in front. The Thames man was allowed to be a stayer and bar accident, the race seemed as good as over.

However, the "white horses" had long been visible up ahead and Blackman being on the outside, met the rolling breakers before they affected Lumsden and the consequence was that he began to come back. He rowed on steadily notwithstanding, and his opponent, who was in comparatively smooth water, crept up, the struggles of both being terrific for fully half a mile. Once when the leader was carried by the force of the waves into his opponents water, it looked very much as though the race would be decided on a foul. Blackman managed, however, to get his boat's head straight and soon drew out of harm's way. The effort evidently cost Lumsden for he fell off again and at the lower end of the slag heaps at Sir William Armstrong's manufactory, some four lengths separated the scullers. Truly, they might have said:

The torrent roared, and we did buffet it
with lusty sinews; throwing it aside,
and stemming it with hearts of controversy

though to little purpose for the surging waters broke over both men with unrelenting force and every moment a catastrophe seemed imminent. Somehow, Blackman got the head of his boat over towards the southern bank, at the lower end of the Meadows, and try all he knew, he could not stop her from coming broadside across the stream and once or twice completely lost all power to his frail craft. Such a row as Blackman had along the Meadows was never seen, as he had to use all his strength in his right hand to prevent his boat being blown high and dry on to the shore, where the waves were dashing and foaming as if on the sea beach. In the meantime, Lumsden had kept to the northern bank and if he had not been dead beaten, must have taken a long lead, but he was completely exhausted and when Blackman had got out of his difficulty, he only led by a length. As soon as the young Thames man had cleared the upper end of the Meadows, he made over to Lumsden and finding the water smoother, he went by, soon took a long lead and won the race with the greatest of ease by 300 yards, Lumsden having fouled a small pleasure yacht just above Paradise Quay.

This, to my mind will always be considered one of the most remarkable boat races ever rowed, either on the Thames or the Tyne. The result was a surprise to the northern division, who had great faith in their representative.