St Edward's 150 Years - by Nicola Hunter

St Edward’s: 150 Years

Chapter 7 / Sport and Outdoors

Right: The boathouse, c. 1930. Below: The opening of the new boathouse, 1927.

ROWING For the past tenth of the School’s existence, I have had the honour to coach the VIII, oversee Boat Club activities as Master in Charge or both. On my arrival in 1998, Peter Middleton was running a well-equipped Boat Club, amply supported by the School and the Martyrs Boat Club. Under coach, Bill Sayer the 1998 crew had won the Schools’ Head and his departure left a huge gap. Much to my surprise I found myself trying to fill it and build on that legacy. The transition from rower to coach was a bumpy journey but made possible and all the more interesting by the reassuring presence of the legendary, Mike Rosewell. Mike oversaw the dominance of Teddies rowing in the 1970s but returned as guide and mentor. The Henley victory of 1999 was a tribute to him as well as the titanic efforts of the crew. With sincere apologies for the absence of detail, many exceptional rowers and personalities have since come and gone, not

Left: R.D. Hill and the 1954 1st VIII. Below left: 1st VIII winning the Henley final vs Oundle, 1959. Below right: Tony Snell (far right) has been with the Boat Club since 1965 – approaching 50 years.

for example arrived at Teddies in 1931 and was fundamental to the post-war success of the Boat Club. He oversaw the first Eight to row at Henley (1932). His return from the war coincided with the arrival of Desmond Hill. 1946 saw major advances for school rowing and Teddies in particular; the Martyrs Boat Club was formed at the same time as the introduction of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup (PE) at Henley. In 1947, while the Boat Club recorded its first open regatta trophy, Junior Eights at Reading Regatta, Desmond Hill created the Colts and Third VIIIs Regatta at Godstow. The event moved around the Thames Valley and grew to become

the National Schools’ Regatta (from 1964), now offering over 50 events for around 3,500 boys and girls. In 1979 the VIII won the Queen Mother Challenge Cup. Henley Royal Regatta is the highlight of the rowing calendar and often the pinnacle of a rower’s career. Teddies’ first win in the PE was in 1958, a feat repeated in 1959. Maitland Emmet had left the School in 1957, handing the coaching of the VIII to J.J. Vernon, who undoubtedly was the key to this success. R.D. Hill records that, for the 1958 victory ‘the entire school made the pilgrimage to the final and saw Oundle led from the start’.

least in 2003 (National Schools’ Regatta (NSR) Bronze and Henley Royal Regatta (HRR) finalists). It has been a privilege to finish with a Henley final in 2013 from our fastest and finest ever VIII coached by the rare talent of Jonny Singfield. Teddies rowers have had the benefit of some exceptional coaches and visionary Masters in Charge. Maitland Emmet

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