James Boyd

1868
Bells Life reported: Half-mile handicap - The opening heats of a sculling handicap, promoted by R.Anderson of the Half Moon Inn, Moseley Street, for a silver cup and other prizes, were rowed on the Tyne Saturday last, from the gap in the Annie Island to the boat landing at Elswick. There were 50 entries, 34 of which were accepted, but a number being absent the handicap was deprived of much of its interest. The following won their heats: James Boyd of Gateshead 4 lengths start, B.Winter of Newcastle 7 1/2, J.Richardson of Gateshead 8 1/2, H. Nichol of Newcastle 6, W. Elder of Gateshead 7, J. Watson of Gateshead 6, B. Hall of Newcastle 7, J. Bell of Newcastle 9, William Taylor of Ouseburn 4 1/2, M. Lamb of Gateshead 4 1/2, H. Miller of Gateshead 7, E. Lee of Newcastle 8 1/2, W. Hornsby of Gateshead 5, J. Edgington of Newcastle 8, J. Turnbull of Newcastle 8, H. Kirton of Gateshead 7, J. Hepplewhite of Dunston 7. Mr. J. Blenkinsopp was Starter and John W. Elder was Referee. The concluding heats are fixed to come off this afternoon.

1868
Bell's Life reported (8th August): The Great Northern Regatta - the concluding heats of the handicap open skiff race, which stood over from this regatta on July 18th, were decided on Saturday last on the River Wansbeck, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The competitors left in for the keel boat race were E. Barnes scratch, J. Cochrane 20 yards start, and J. Tait 10, and Barnes, on whom 2 to 1 was offered, won a well-contested race by 30 yards, Cochrane being second. The handicap open skiff race lay between R. Heddon two lengths start, Smith of Sourfield scratch and J. Boyd one length, and after rowing half way Sourfield and Boyd fouled, which thus allowed Heddon to get some distance in advance and won easily. The prizes in both contests were £1 13s for the winner, 10 shillings for the second and 5 shillings for the third.