Tweed Amateur Rowing Club

The Tweed Amateur Rowing Club existed at Berwick and their boathouse was located at the end of the Lovers Walk in the town, approximately 100 metres downstream from the Berwick Amateur Rowing Club. Permission was given to build their boathouse in March 1872, three years after the formation of Berwick ARC. The club was an amateur club but there were some long-standing issues and confusion with the definition of "professionalism" and whilst gentleman amateurs engaged in non-manual labour generally rowed for Berwick ARC, those whose status was not so defined would row for Tweed ARC. Neil Wigglesworth wrote in "The Social History of English Rowing" that the Tweed Club had written to London Rowing Club for advice on a constitution and came to the inescapable conclusion that the London rules would require some modification for our use, the modification being that 'amateur' was defined as 'one who has never rowed for money'. This meant that the Tweed Rowing Club members were excluded from the purely gentlemen amateur events at the annual Berwick Amateur Rowing Club regattas. We know the Tweed Amateur Rowing Club was defunct by 1933.

Location of the boathouses of the Tweed ARC and the Berwick ARC

A record of a Tweed A.R.C. Regatta was reported in Bell's Life (28th July 1877):

Tweed Amateur Rowing Club Regatta 1877
This club held their regatta on the usual course, on the great border river, on Monday last, and but for the adverse state of the elements, it would have proved a most successful gathering. As it was, rain began to fall at around 11 0'clock in the forenoon and continued to fall, with little intermission, throughout the remainder of the day. A good programme was issued, and a pretty good muster of people were ready to face the unpleasant atmospheric influences to witness the sport, whilst some interesting contests were witnessed during the afternoon . The following was the result:

The President's Prize
a challenge cup with presentation prizes, presented by Captain D. Milne Home M.P., President of the club, for an open cutter skiff race over 3/4 of a mile.
Final: J. Hogg, Tweed ARC beat R. Neaham Hebburn ARC.

The Tradesmens Plate
a challenge cup with four presentation prizes and medal for coxswain, an open junior four-oared race held over a distance of about a mile.
Final: Tweed ARC (Richardson) beat Tweed ARC (Temple)

The Spittal Cup
A cutter skiff race for local oarsmen, over a distance of half a mile.
Final: Thompson (Tweed ARC) beat Robertson (Tweed ARC) and Garsey (Tweed ARC)

The Crossman Challenge Cup
presented by M.G. Crossman Esq., with presentation prizes and medal for the coxswain, an open foy four-oared race over three-quarters of a mile.
Final: Tweed ARC beat Hebburn ARC with Jarrow ARC in third place.

The Tweedmouth Cup
an open skiff race over a mile.
Final: J. Hogg (Tweed ARC) beat R. Temple (Tweed ARC)

The Coverhill Cup
presented by W. C. Coverhill Esq., - a skiff race for members of the club, over half a mile.
Final: R. Davidson (Tweed ARC) beat A.G. McLoughlin (Tweed ARC)

The Marjoribanks Challenge Cup
presented by Sir D.C. Marjoribanks, Bart, M.P., with presentation prizes and medal for the coxswain, a foy foared-oared race for members of the club over three-quarters of a mile.
Final: Thompson's crew beat Marshall's crew with Rennie's crew in third.

The Paulin Challenge Cup
presented by John L. Paulin Esq., two silver cups to become the property of the pair who may win it three times in succession, with presentation prizes. An open amateur pair oared race over three quarters of a mile.
Final: R. Marshall and R. Temple (Tweed ARC) beat A. Roberston and J. Douglas (Tweed ARC) with A.G. McLoughlin and R.C. Petterson (Tweed ARC) in third place.