Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/260

252 Colony was in its infancy), under the name of the Victoria Regatta Club. The promotion of yachting races seems to have been the sole object of the Club. It appears to have

died a natural death in 1855, but was revived five years later, with a membership of seventy-eight. The difficulty of obtaining a suitable boat-house was met with in 1861, and this difficulty continued until 1907. The first regatta was held in 1849. the programme including sailing races and races for wherries. four-oared gigs, cutters, house-boats, &c., and thenceforward regattas were held continuously with the exception of those years mentioned in the section of this article devoted to yachting. Prizes were plentiful and valuable in those days. In the 1866 regatta they included the Norwegian Cup, $100; Ladies' Purse, £18; P. and O. Prize, £50; Mr. H. M. Gibbs, $150; Bankers' Prize, $160; American Cup, $250; Douglas Challenge Cup, $500; and two others at $100 and $50 each. Swimming races were instituted in 1866, and in the following year " scratch " rowing races were held occasionally — distinct from the regatta. In 1872 the amalgamation of the swimming, boat, and gymnastic clubs with the Victoria Recreation Club was brought about, and thenceforward the Club was known as the Victoria Recreation Club. The then Governor (Sir Arthur Kennedyl was the first president ; the Hon. Mr. J. Greig, chairman ; and Mr. R. Lyall. hon. secretary. The Club started with a credit balance of $82·69, but against this there was a sum of $1110·00 to be expended on repairs to the boat-house, &c. The club-house was situated close to the water front, and the typhoons of 1872 and 1874 did a great deal of damage to it ; the repairs consequent upon the 1874 typhoon costing over $5,000. Since this date the Club has suffered heavily from typhoons, the great typhoon of September 18, 1906. demolishing the Club premises at Kowloon and doing damage to the extent of about $11,000. A gymnasium class was started in 1882, and for a number of years this section of the Club prospered, assaults-at-arms being held annually, as well as other competitions, such as boxing, fencing, &c. This section has since been dropped owing to want of enthusiasm and lack of space, but an effort is now being made to revive interest, as the Club's new premises, completed in the early part of 1908, afford splendid facilities tor gymnastics. The first athletic sports in connection with the Victoria Recreation Club took place in 1895 and have since been held annually, being recognised as the premier athletic sports of the year.

In 1900-1 the club premises were removed to Kowloon, as the Admiralty required the then existing site in connection with the scheme for constructing large docks (since built), but a promise was given to the Club that a new site adjoining the docks would be granted at the completion of the work. In the early part of 1907, after considerable delay, the new site was handed over to the Club and a handsome building has been erected upon it, commanding a splendid view of the harbour and affording excellent facilities for the launching of boats, swimming, and gymnastics. The Club promotes swimming sports in the summer, athletics and rowing in the winter, and members of the committee are usually asked to lend their assistance in promoting sports organised by other clubs. Monthly swimming races are held during the summer, and the swimming season is closed with a three days' carnival, which is usually well attended, ladies being present in large luimbers. In addition to the swimming events promoted by the Club, there is an amuial race across the harbour from Kowloon to Hongkong — a distance of just under a mile. This race is promoted by the proprietors of the China Mail newspaper, and is the longest swimming race held in the Colony. It may here be mentioned in paren- thesis that the "China Mail" Company, Ltd., offer prizes (or yachting races, rifle sliooting competitions, running races, and other sports. Water polo, also, is fostered by the Victoria Recreation Club, and the annual competition is held under its auspices, although there is a Water Polo Association. This competition is open to any club, regiment, or man-of-war in the Colony, and it creates a good deal of interest. From its inception in 1898 it has been won by the Victoria Recreation Club team, with the exception of one year when the Hongkong Volunteer Corps secured the shield. On that occasion, however, the winning team HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI CRICKET MATCH.