Tynemouth Regatta
Tynemouth Regatta is promoted by Tynemouth Rowing Club. Established in 1867, it has been held at many locations, but predominantly at Priors Haven in Tynemouth, alongside the North Pier. Other locations have included Killingworth Lake over a 480 metre course and at Newburn, utilising the premises of both Newcastle University Boat Club and Tyne Rowing Club depending on which side of the river the regatta was run from.
8th August 1868
Bell's Life reported: The annual competition among members of this Club came off on Saturday at the Priors Haven, Tynemouth. The Club is one of comparatively recent origin, but through the zeal and activity of its members it has made considerable progress, and is now on a footing with the leading amateur rowing Clubs in the north. The programme consisted of five events, the first of which was a four-oared race for gold medals (presented by Mr. H. Taylor), silver-mounted horns being offered as a second prize, and in the first heat Messrs B. Avery, J. Howron, J.W.F. Grant, J.F.F. Common and J. Eltringham as cox won on a foul with Messrs A. Adams, J.F. Spencer Jnr., H. Raynor, C. Bushell and W. Blackwood (cox); Mr H. Berkeley, G.J.H. Hogg, W. Crichton, S. Kewney and R. Wallace (cox) also rowed, but were never in the race. In the second heat, W. Fawcus, S.A. Morrison, J. Morrison, J.L. Browne and J. White (cox), beat Messrs J. Pickering, R. Park, T. Anderson, T. Charlton and W.T. Richmond (cox) by two lengths; Messrs R.H. Harrison, R.C. Derry, W.C. Cottton, G.A. Laws and G.A. Dodds (cox) finishing third, nearly six lengths behind. The final heat lay between Browne's and Common's crews and the former coming away at 300 yards won easily by four lengths. The second competition was a four-oared ships gig race between Tynemouth boatmen for a sum of money, and resulted after two heats in Moore's crew beating Ferguson's crew by three lengths. A cutter skiff race for a silver cup valued £8, presented by Mr. Rennison of North Shields, brought W. Fawcus one length start and S. Kewney scratch to the post for the final heat and teh latter breaking his oar after the first few strokes left Fawcus to walk over. A Pair-oared race for juniors resulted in E. Bushell, J. Eltringham, J. White (cox) beating A. Dodds, W. Fawcus, W. Blackwood (cox) by two lengths; and a four-oared race between the married and single gentlemen of the Club won by the former (G.A. Laws, J.L. Browne, J.F.F. Common, T. Charlton and S. Milburn (cox) concluded the day's racing.