AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1757, 7 October 1879, Page 3

AQUATICS.

DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE. The final struggle for this, the moat ancient of our annual aquatic contests, took place over the usual course, from London Bridge to Chelsea, four steamers heavily freighted accompanying the race. It may be remembered that the competition dates back so far as 1715, when Mr Thomas Doggett, a comedian of that period, bequeathed a sum to be invested for the purpose. The prize is offered to be rowed for by six young watermen out of their time, and of late years so numerous have been the applications to take part in the contest on the part of aspiring young oarsmen that a change has taken place in the arrangements. Formerly the custom was to draw half a dozen from the list of entries. This was, howeyer, felt to be an injustice, as the best men were often knocked out, and thus had no chance to show their powers. The measures taken daring the last few years have done away with that difficulty, all who send in their names before a certain time being allowed to row in three trial heats from Putney to Hammersmith, the first and second in each heat being eligible to take part in the final, which is invariably rowed on August Ist. Thus the best man, bar accidents, is pretty certain to carry off the prize. The Fishmongers’ Company, _ in whose hands the trust is invested, give 6gs to the winner beside the coat and badge. The second man receives sgs, obtained from various sources, the third 3gs, the fourth 2gs, the fifth Ugs, and the sixth £1 6s, the last three prizes being the gift of the Fishmongers’ Company. Mr Dards, as usual, umpired the men from an eight-oared cutter. The preliminary heats were rowed on July 22nd, and the following are the six men left iu, with their positions at the finish of the race : Henry Cordery, Putney... ... 1 J. J. Banks, Rotherhithe ... 2 Henry Hawkins, Putney _ ... 3 H. A. Blackmore, Greenwich ... 4 S. B. Taynton, Lambeth ... 5 F. J. Newton, Tower Stairs ... 6 When the time se,t for the race to commence

ning down like a millstream, and a tremendous pull was before the competitors, while T lynton, who started from the Surrey shore, had a lot the best of matters at the outset. Almost immediately the start took place Newton lost his stretcher and stopped, and Taynton, favoured by the station, took the lead at once, Blackmore coming next, and then Hawkins, Corderoy being fourth, and B inks, who went off from the Middlesex shore, fifth. In this order Southwark bridge was passed. Blackmore and Hawkins now drew up to Taynton, and all were in close quarters in the next hundred yards. The order was still the same at Charing cross, Hawkins being about two lengths behind Blackmore, third. Just after this Taynton fell away and Blackmore took the lead, but the latter was quickly passed by Hawkins, who was rowing remarkably well, and at Lambeth bridge he was leading by four lengths. Banks was third by this time, while Cordery was slowly creeping up in the slack water on the Surrey side. Shooting under Vauxhall bridge Hawkins went out too far into the stream, and as a consequence Blackmore drew up to him, and the pair fouled, and for a moment stopped rowing. Seeing his opportunity Banks put on a brilliant spurt, and dashed in front, Hawkins was once more in advance for a short time after this, but in passing Pimlico Pier the order was Banks, Hawkins, Blackmore, and Cordery, the last-named getting on terms with his leaders. The race continued to be of the most interesting description from here, and it yet looked anybody’s victory, as the leading quartette continued in close order" for some distance further. On approaching Chelsea, however, a foul occurred between Hawkins and Blackmore, which enabled Cordery to take second place. He then challenged the leader, who responded in the most determined fashion, and held his own for a while. Cordery was not to bo denied, however, as again he put in some heavy work, when he succeeded in getting in front, and finally he won, after a grand race', by barely half a length ; third man two lengths behind. The severity of the tide against which the men had to row may be imagined when we state that the distance, five miles and a quarter, occupied just upon 43min. Cordery rowed in a new boat made in stakes, but almost as light as a racing skiff, and christened the Edward Ayling, her builder being Mr J. Clasper, of Wandsworth, who has thus added another to his many successes as a fashioner of wager craft.—“ The Sportsman.”