Club History

The Story of Bideford Amateur Rowing Club
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This outline account of the club’s story is in “Time line style”.

For an extensively researched and detailed history of the club (up to 1982) which includes many photographs, details of Championship crews and of boats owned by the club over the years I would refer you to Chris Hold’s book “100 Years of Bideford Amateur Rowing Club” from which I have gratefully extracted the following:

The 1880’s

At a date in the early 1880’s, generally accepted as 1882 (the same year which saw the foundation of the Amateur Rowing Association), a rowing club begins to operate from Tom Pollard’s yard East the Water. Located just upstream of the bridge this is the infant Bideford Amateur Rowing Club.

William and Lewis Shute are two of the earliest and keenest members. William strokes the clubs six oar boats which beat all comers on the Torridge. They are also well known racing boat builders.

1887 - William introduces the sliding seat to North Devon.

The 1890’s

January 21st 1896 - the first written records of the club are made. Thirteen Committee meetings are held in two months. George Couch is appointed Secretary and the Rev H Mackworth Drake becomes the first recorded President.

The club continues to use the Pollard’s Yard Boathouse but holds its meetings at Bideford Football Athletic Club.

January 30th 1896 - a meeting passes the first set of rules.

April 28th 1896 - Bill Friendship gives notice of motion to consider the formation of a boating club. Permission is given to purchase a four oar outrigged boat and oars for £3.25 and a pair oar boat and oars for £1.00.

May 23rd 1896 - 30 members attend the Annual Meeting at which the Rev H Mackworth Drake is in the chair. It is unanimously agreed to form a “Boating Club”.

The officers of what is soon to be known as Bideford Amateur Rowing Club are: Chairman and President - The Rev H Mackworth Drake. Secretary - George Couch. Treasurer –-F A Searle. Captain - William Shute. Vice captain - H Vickery. Committee - Bill Friendship, F Stephens and F Colwill.

June 1896 - the Captain travels to Bristol Rowing Club to purchase another four oared boat. Training equipment is purchased including dumb bells and Indian clubs

Late 1896 - there is a falling out between the Rowing Club and the Rugby Club over the rent to be charged to the rowers for the use of a clubroom. Failing agreement the rowers are asked to vacate by Christmas.

The Club affiliates to the newly founded West of England Amateur Rowing Association only to find that their 42 foot boats may not be raced under WEARA rules. They order a 30 foot boat which is built at Hammersmith at a cost of £28 and is sent to North Devon by rail at a cost of £3.75p.

1897 - the club is holding meetings at the Town hall as well as at private addresses – and apparently renting a boathouse from the Council. M H Orr-Ewing takes over as Captain and M Friendship as Secretary.

1898 - The boats Ada, Lily, Nora and Queen of the Torridge are all launched and compete at Bideford Regatta

The 1900’s

April 1900 - The Rev Mackworth Drake is forced to resign the Presidency as he is called to serve in the Forces in South Africa. He is replaced by Tom Pollard.

1903 - Sir Hugh Stucley takes over from M H Orr-Ewing as Captain. This is the first link with the Stucley family who are to have an important influence on the progress of the club.

In the same year a Mr Taylor is appointed as the club’s first Trainer. Notices are posted to the effect that “failure to obey the orders of the Trainer will result in expulsion from the club”.

The first officially recorded crews to represent the club are the Senior crew of Short, Johns, C Taylor, C Blackmore and cox Harding, the first Junior crew of H Glover, S Curtice, Trott, F Clements and cox Abbott and the second Junior crew of Harding, A Dean, Shute, Blackmore and cox Taylor.

1904 - the club wins its first ever West of England Championship with their Junior crew of Stevens, T Dark, J Warton, C Morris and W Ford.
Sir Hugh Stucley is elected President – an office he is to hold for a total of 34 years. Fred Stephens takes over as Captain.

1905 - the club begins to look for their own meeting place premises.

1907 - the club receives notice to quit its premises. It would appear that replacement premises were found as in

1909 - the club, deciding there is money in skittles builds its first alley for £2. Money is still short and the suggestion to appoint a full time professional trainer is put to one side.

1911 - Funds appear to be in a healthier state as a Mr T Gibson from Nottingham is appointed the club’s first professional trainer. He is also a handy boxer and to raise funds he took on a Mr G Downing in a special match to raise money for the club. The result is not recorded but in

1912 - the cash situation is so poor that his services are terminated.

“The Lost Period” – Sadly the records for the next two years are either missing or damaged and with the outbreak of the First World war in 1914 rowing activities are suspended for the next five years.

To be continued............