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 neighbouring Berwick ARC. Tweed A.R.C. 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.


1st December 1882
The Berwick Advertiser reported:
The Annual General Meeting of the Tweed ARC was held on Wednesday night in the Waverley Arms. The Treasurer's Statement of Receipts and Expenditure was read and found to be more satisfactory than the previous two years, owing principally to the increase in membership. Lieutenant Colonel D. Milne Home was elected President, H.F.H. Jerningham Esq. MP and Sir M. White Ridley MP, Vice -presidents for the ensuing year. Captain Mr. T. Garvey.

20th July 1885
The Berwick Advertiser received a letter:
Sir, in your issue of yesterday's date, you state in your introductory remarks to the Tweed ARC Regatta "that two Tyne crews had entered for the races but had scratched owing to some vexed question, the status of some of the members of the Tweed Amateur Rowing Club in the sporting world, it being held that because some of them had rowed for money in gigs at previous regattas at Tweedmouth Feast they are virtually "professionals" and therefore ineligible to race with amateurs, who have never competed for anything other than prizes of any kind. It is true that the Tyne crews scratched on this misunderstanding but it is not true that any member of Tweed ARC ever rowed for money at any Tweedmouth Feast Regatta and I must ask you to give publicity to this fact, in order that the interests of the Tweed Amateur Rowing Club may not be damaged in the sporting world. It is a fact that the Club is now purely amateur, with the exception laid out in the 5th clause of the 21st section of the rules issued by the Amateur Rowing Association and if this question was properly looked into, it is doubtful whether there would be any of the Clubs on the Tyne or the Tweed left as amateurs. It may well be mentioned here that the Tynemouth Amateur Rowing Club (one of the two who scratched) has since come to the conclusion that the Tweed ARC is not a "professional" Club but owing to their inability to get their men together again after ceasing training when they heard the "professional" report, they could not send a crew down and were therefore compelled to retire. To confirm this, they have given us an invitation to compete in their regatta on the 15th proxime. I therefore beg of you in all fairness to the Tweed Amateur Rowing Club and the public alike, to insert this in your first issue. Jas. R. Dickinson, Hon Secretary, Tweed ARC

2nd August 1892
The Berwickshire News and General Advertiser reported:
It must be admitted, however much it would be otherwise desired, that silence reigns over matters aquatic as far as the Tweed is concerned. That the regatta has had its palmy days is patent to every townsman, who need no far recollections to call up the names of many who, in the manipulation of the sculls, could bid defiance to the talent of the Tyne, and establish a sport on Tweedside which at that time gave promise of a long and successful career. But slowly and surely, matters have been on the ebb tide, and save for a fitful burst now and then, the rowing prowess of the Tweed ARC has been relegated to a back seat on favour of athletics. The sport of this Club on Monday were no exception to the general declension, the affair being poorly managed and the racing itself of a very poor order. The course was from Ballast Quay to Castle Vale. Mr. Jas. Young acted as Starter and Mr. Jno. Cavanagh and Mr. T Hariday as Judge and Referee respectively.