Percy Amateur Rowing Club
The Percy Amateur Rowing Club was formed in 1872 and they were granted the lease of a boathouse at the Low Lights area in North Shields, close to what is now the Fish Quay. The boathouse was formally used as a "Salmon Hatchery House" before the Duke of Northumberland's Estate granted the l;ease for it to be used a Boat House. The main mover behind establishing the Club seems to be a Mr. Tulloch. It is not known how long the Club existed but it is suspected only a few years owing to the lack of references.
Original lease dated 1872 for the Percy ARC Boathouse at the Low Lights, North Shields. (Reproduced courtesy of Northumberland Estates office.)
5th September 1874
Bell's Life reported:
On Monday afternoon two youths, named Joseph Felton and Samuel Dobbyn, members of the Percy Rowing Club, North Shields, rowed a match on the Tyne, the prize being a silver cup. valued at £15. The course was one mile extent, the start being at Redheugh Bridge, and the finish at the River Commissioner’s Dredger, about quarter of a mile below the Meadows House. The weather was stormy, and very unfavourable for rowing, a westerly gale blowing down the river, and when Dobbyn won the toss, and chose the sheltered side, odds of 2 to 1 and 5 to 2 were laid on him. Pelton got half a length the best of the start ; but the wind catching his boat on the quarter, drove him right across the river, and before could get fairly straight again, Dobbyn was in possession of a lead of two lengths, Pelton, rowing in slightly better form than the favourite, made up his lee-way when about half the journey had been traversed, and a severe struggle to the finish was witnessed. At one time the boats were almost level, but in the last 200 yards, Dobbyn, who is the bigger and stronger of the two, drew away from his man, and won by three-quarters of length. T. Winship. the well known oarsman, officiated as referee.
27th December 1923
The Northern Whig reported:
Ernest Barry, ex-champion oarsman of the world, was at scratch in the Christmas half-mile handicap held at Newcastle yesterday. Conceding 19 seconds start to J. Clark, of the Percy Rowing Club, he was beaten half length.
1st January 1925
The Sheffield Daily Telegraph reported
In the final of Tyne Christmas Half-Mile Rowing Handicap, for 100 guineas in prize money yesterday, T.English, 17secs., beat J.Hand 16secs., by two lengths. Both are members of the Percy Rowing Club.
3rd February 1931
The Shields Daily News reported:
Joseph Pelton of Cleveland Road, North Shields celebrated his Golden Wedding. As a young man was an enthusiastic sportsman, and was particularly keen on rowing. One the big rowing events in which he took part occurred in 1874, when he was matched against Samuel Dubbyn of North Shields in a mile race (from Redheugh Bridge) in connection with the Percy Rowing Club. Both young men were noted oarsmen, and public interest was very keen, the steamboat "Providence" being chartered to follow the race. The encounter was very keen, Dubbyn winning by three quarters of a length.