Bedlington Furnace Regatta

There are records of professional boat racing taking place on the river Blyth under the name of the Bedlington Furnace Regatta, promoted by Mr. George W. Trotter of the Rose and Crown Inn. The course was from the railway bridge to the Cowpen Stile, a distance of one mile. The Newcastle Daily Chronicle of the 21st September 1896 refers to races between Double Keel-boat handicaps and Single Boat-keel handicaps.