Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/223

 the winner swept the pool! No one dreamed of suggesting that this was in any way derogatory to the status of an amateur,

But as rowing became more popular, and more widely adopted as a pastime, it hegan to be felt that it was invidious ta leave the question ‘Ts he an amateur ?’ ta the local opinion of the regatta committee, before whom such a question might be raised. Oarsmen came to the conclusion that some written definition of the qualification was necessary ; some hard and fast rule, prospective, if not retrospective. ‘Till then, various executives had adopted various opinions as to what constituted an amateur. One year, about 1871, the Henley executive de- clined to recognise one of the local crews engaged in the ‘Town Cup’ as ‘amateurs ;’ and on this ground refused to allow them to start for the Wyfold Cup. Tt was not alleged that any of this crew had ever laboured as a mechanic, or rowed for moncy. The allegation of the Henley executive was that this crew were not ‘gentlemen amateurs,’ and as such they declined to admit them, A few days later another regatta executive freely admitted this same crew, and none of the re- cognised amateur clubs opposed to them raised any objection to the local crew’s status,

This variety of opinion led to consultation among certain old amateurs whose ideas were universally respected, and as a result, on April 10, 1878, a meeting was held at Putney, at which there were present—

FRANCIS PLAVFORD, L.R.C., Chazsman.

T. Epmunp Ifock1y, Secretary, C,U-B.C. T. C. Epwarpus-Moss, President, O.U.B.C, FP. S. Gutsron, Captain, London R.C, Henry P. Marriort, for Secretary, O.U.B C. C, GuRDON, President, C.U.H.C.

James Hasrib, Captain, Thames R.C.

M, G, Farrer, Captain, Leander B.C.

C, D. HeaTiey, Captain, Kingston R.C. RoperT W. Risiey, 0.U.B.C.

FRANK WILLAN, O.U.B.C.