South Shields Amateur Rowing Club

South Shields Amateur Rowing Club was based on the river Tyne, close to the North East Maritime Centre. The clubhouse and slipway still exist. The Club was founded in 1868 and folded in 1957. There was also a South Shields Working Mens' Rowing Club which may have been based at the same location.

4th June 1870
The Northern Echo reported: “LATEST SPORTING NEWS – The annual regatta of the South Shields Rowing Club has been fixed to be held on Monday July 29th, when prizes will be given for out-rigged fours, in-rigged fours, pairs, and cutter skiffs.”

4th July 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle reported: Durham Regatta. No SSARC representation at the regatta.

Tuesday 21st July 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle published: Notice of the upcoming SSARC regatta.

Monday 25th July 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle reported on the SSARC regatta preliminary heats.

Saturday 30th July 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle published a full account of SSARC regatta in which H. Chapman is prominent. The heading to the piece is SOUTH SHIELDS ROWING CLUB REGATTA. At this time the Chronicle doesn’t feel the need to spell out that the club is amateur.

Tuesday 2nd August 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle reported on a new fine four oared boat built by Robert Jewitt for Tynemouth RC, based on the model of the “Tyne”, which was the boat Jewitt built for Renforth’s crew in 1869 (Renforth book P75-80). This is relevant because he also built a very fine boat for South Shields RC, perhaps around the same time or soon after, which they later loaned to Renforth’s crew in 1871. See account of Tyne Regatta 1871.

Thursday 4th August 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle Account of delayed final race of the SSRC regatta – The Ladies Prize – won by H. Chapman (stroke) and his crew. The race was for coxed fours and was contested by three crews. Chapman and his crew won by a length and a half. The prizes were first, five silver tea caddies, second, five silver toast racks. The prizes were afterwards presented at the Golden Lion. This was Chapman’s third victory in the fours races at this regatta, with the Chronicle recording different coxes for each race, White, Forsyth and Reed. His obituary records “Mr Robert Purvis, the late magistrates’ clerk, being cox in each boat”, but the contemporary report seems to contradict this. Purvis’s role may have increased in significance over the intervening years! It is suspected that this is the Robert Purvis that was the stroke of the successful boat at York in 1877 and at Durham in 1882. Purvis is very much a Shields pilot family name but if this had been a pilot Purvis he would not have been allowed to race as an amateur.

Wednesday 10th August 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle account of York Regatta. No SSRC participation, but significant because Tynemouth RC won the LONDESBOROUGH cup, which was later won by SSARC in 1877.

29th December 1870
“AQUATICS -The Amateur Clubs of the Tyne” (Newcastle Daily Chronicle P4 col3) SSRC gets a good write up.
“……. Strong in numbers, and – if we may judge by the amount of money expended on the Club Regatta – strong in funds stands the South Shields Rowing Club. This is also an association of only two years standing, but under the able tuition of their tutor, George Wakefield, many of the members have made considerable progress in the art of rowing. As their rowing ground is on the sea their class of boats is much the same as that of the Tynemouth Club. I believe, however, an attempt is to be made to get a crew together for the Tyne Regatta, in June next year. Whether the plan commenced by the Tynemouth Club of having a branch establishment at Newcastle will be followed, or the members will be content to do their rowing at the mouth of the river, I cannot say. If the latter, they can hardly look for much success. There may be times when the river is sufficiently quiet to admit of a comfortable row in fine boats, but I should think that such opportunities will be very scarce. I would advise the members, therefore, if they wish to pursue fine boat rowing, to follow the plan which has been so successful with their neighbours.”…….. SCOTSWOOD.

The amateur clubs are treated in order of foundation:
Tyne Amateur Rowing Club - 1852
Tynemouth Rowing Club - 1867
St. Bede (Jarrow) - 1868
South Shields Rowing Club - 1868
Newcastle Amateur Rowing Club - 1869

16th June 1871
Newcastle Daily Chronicle. Detailed account of the first day of the Tyne Regatta. No SSRC participation in this day’s racing, but George Wakefield, the “tutor” of SSRC is taking part in the professional pairs race. He is not in the first rank of professionals but the practice of employing a professional as a coach is typical for the sporting/social arrangements of the time and continues to this day.

17th June 1871
Newcastle Daily Chronicle. Detailed account of second day of the Tyne Regatta, including H. Chapman racing and also SSRC lending their fine Jewett four oared boat to Renforth and his crew, who triumphed in the professional four oared race.

26th June 1871
Newcastle Daily Chronicle. Durham Regatta second day. SSRC win the Stewards Plate – a four-oared race for junior crews – with H. Chapman as stroke oar.
SSARC winners of Stewards’ Plate (Macfarlane – Grieve).

15th July 1871
Newcastle Daily Chronicle Notices of entries for Tyne Regatta on following Thursday and Friday. H. Chapman to stroke SSRC four in the Tyne General Ferry Cup.

17th July 1871
Newcastle Daily Chronicle Commentary on the following day’s Tyne Regatta. James Taylor is fitting out a four with a front loaded cox. The SSRC four used by Renforth’s crew in last year’s regatta is being used again by a professional crew. This time it is Harry Kelley’s crew and the boat is said to be a little small for them. The boat has a name – The Williamson.

20th July 1871
Newcastle Daily Chronicle Second day of Tyne Regatta. Exciting victory for H. Chapman’s crew in the Tyne General Ferry Cup.

26th July 1872
Newcastle Daily Chronicle Second day of York Regatta. H. Chapman and his crew defeated Stockton RC in the first heat of the WHITE ROSE CUP but lost to Newcastle Rowing Club in the second heat. Newcastle went on to win in the final.

13th August 1881
Bell's Life reported: The events left unfinished at the South Shields Rowing Club Regatta were brought to a conclusion on Friday week, over a half mile course on the Tyne, by the side of the South Pier, and favoured with fine weather, the proceedings were participated in by a large number of spectators. Mr. G.R. Potts was Starter and Mr. Andrew Harrison was judge. Results: Mackay Challenge Cup - final heat - J. Cook, R.D. Lawson, C.E. Bell and T.T. Anderson (Stroke), 1. D. McNeil, J.L. Stainton, F.F. Rennoldson and D.U. Law (Stroke), 2. With a little advantage from the inside station, Anderson's crew held the lead throughout and won a good race by half a length. President's prize - Heat 1. J.L. Stainton, R.D. Lawson, C.G. Bell, C. Rennoldson (Stroke), 1. A.E. Leete, J.D. Lawson, T.H. Morrison, T.T. Anderson (Stroke), 2. Won by a length. Heat 2 - R.W.C. Newland, W.A. Smith, Fred Rennoldson, John White Junr. (Stroke), a bye. Final Heat - Rennoldson's crew and White's crew - The former got away with a slight lead, which they held until 200 yards of the finish, when White and his mates spurted up to them and the two boats finished a dead heat. The decider was adjourned.