South Shields Working Mens' Rowing Club

Not a lot is known about the "South Shields Working Mens' Rowing Club" but it was mentioned in Bells Life of 9th April 1881;

"A match in open boats for a gold medal and a bet of £5 was on Saturday afternoon brought off on the Tyne, from the Tyne Dock Coal Jetties to Jarrow Quay corner, a distance of about 3/4 of a mile between John Jones and James Butcher, both of South Shields Working Mens Rowing Club. The event excited some interest amongst the members and friends of the latter association, and the Coquet steamer, which had been chartered to accompany the race, was well patronised. The river was in excellent condition for sculling and the competitors had a good tide underneath them.

The lads had undergone a course of training for the match, Jones having been under the care of J. Lawton, while W. Carr has looked after Butcher and both were well forward in condition. There was a limited amount of speculation on Jones at 6 to 4 and as the result proved, the layers of the odds were in the right. James Fawcett was the Starter and Mr. John Vickers the referee".