NORHAM BOAT RACE

GOOD WEATHER FAVOURS SUCCESSFUL MEETING

A quarter of a century ago Norham Boat Races were the chief event in the sporting calendar of the village, but some eleven years ago for some reason or other this popular event was allowed to lapse. Since then it has been the grumble of the fishermen that while all other sports can be catered for, that of the boat pulling and quoiting which is more in keeping with the sporting inclinations of the villagers has been passed over. Immediately after the Norham Horse Show, a few local gentlemen heard these murmurings and immediately made the sporting offer that if a small committee could be got together and local support was whole hearted, the Boat races would be again restarted.

The result was seen on Saturday when under ideal conditions the boat races, foot handicap and quoit main came off on the river and riverside below Norham bridge, a large gathering being in attendance. The preliminary heats in the boating events were started in the early forenoon, and thought they were run off smartly, reflecting great credit on the committee; it was five-thirty before finals were decided, and seven-fifteen before the quoiting was completed.

The beautiful weather had brought quite a large gathering of visitors to the village and from mid-day onwards the grassy bank of the river presented an animated appearance. To add to the attractions for the day too, there was a good variety of shows, shooting galleries, hoopla, and round-abouts on the village green, and here at night a pleasant hour or two was spent after the races.

The course, which was over a good 400 yards straight, reach of the river had been early marked off with flags fixed in both river banks, and it proved to be an excellent idea to have two anchored boats at the starting point, against which competitors had to back their boats preparatory to being slipped like a whippet when the gun went. By this means a great deal of time was saved, boats competing never needing to be manoeuvred to be brought into line. The running track was staked off on a flat stretch on the river side and with a high bank at the side of it spectators had no difficulty in following everything which went on. The quoiting ground, which was in close proximity was the centre of great interest during the day.

Refreshment and ice cream venders, as well as a stall selling all kinds of fruit, were on the ground and some of these enterprising people appeared to do quite a good trade.

During the afternoon music was provided by the Duns Branch British Legion Pipe band and the pipe music sounded very well on the waterside. A collection, to which a generous response was made, was taken in the course of the afternoon, the money going to help the funds.

Through the generosity of Mr N. Currie a handsome silver cup was offered this year for the championship, and handsome prizes in money were also offered in this and all the other races, while in the races on the flat for school children useful prizes wee given by the Committee.

THE BOAT RACES

None of the preliminary boats in the Championship were of a very close order, rows over being the usual thing owing to competitors at a distance not being forward. Once the first heats were embarked upon however some good races were seen though in one or two cases a rower gave up. Green Bell, Norham, won by a boat length after a stiff tussle with Murray Gregor, Norham, and John Steppard, also a local, only got the verdict by inches after a great race with T. B. Purves, Horncliffe.

In the second ties P. Elliott, Berwick, never put up a fight against Green bell, and J. Turnbull also gave up after being well left by John Steppard. J. Robson too also tired half way down the course and was badly beaten by T. Robertson, the Horncliffe champion. The best race in this tie was between G. C. Purves and Jas. Sheppard. It was a great race the crowd following along the bank to the winning post, cheering both men. Purves won by inches.

In the semi-final Green Bell had a stiff task to beat Jno. Sheppard, but he did it and won by half a length, while T. Robertson finished alone owing to G. C. Purves giving up. The final proved none of the most exciting races ever rowed on the Tweed. Bel land T. Robertson came down the course practically level, and the Horncliffe man had a yard lead seven yards from the wining post. Bell finished strongly, his boat fairly lifting out of the water, and he crossed the line a dead beat with Robertson. After a breather the men rowed over but this time Green bell led Robertson home and won by a length amid scenes of great enthusiasm.

In the young men’s race, A. Robson, Morris Hall, rowed well in his heat, and in the final against J. Strother, Horncliffe he pulled a plucky race only being defeated by half a length. The veterans had quite a field day and put every ounce into their heats in the veterans’ race. The preliminary heat between T. turner, Norham, and Tom Purves, Horncliffe, was a very close one, being decided on a question of inches. “The prince” who got the decision fully deserved it, and when he fell against A. Sheppard, Norham, in the second heat he was never seriously troubled to win. Bill Malcolm made him go for it in the final, and it was only in the last ten strokes that Quinn pulled ahead to win by a length.

If Malcolm had to take second place in the veterans’ race, he made it up in the quoiting match when he defeated the famed Fairbairn of Ednam, and then outed White, of Royalty by 15-9 in the final. Not a bad performance for a man of 62 who has never thrown a quoit for nearly eleven years.

The 400 yards foot handicap produced little sensation, most of the heats being won fairly comfortably. There was a good race in the semi-final between R. Strother, Norham (4) and A. Russell, Twizel (20, inches only dividing the runners, but in the final Russell left little to chance, beating Watson, of Swinton (4 yds) by a yard, and Strother by two yards.