THE WINGFIELD SCULLS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 77, 27 September 1924, Page 19

THE WINGFIELD SCULLS

JACK BERESFORD'S FINE RECORD.

Instituted in 1830 as a championship trophy for "gentlemen scullers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland," tiie Wingfield Sculls were competed for last month over the- championship course, of 4i miles from Putney Bridge to the Ship at Mortlake, arid won by J. Beresford, jun. (Thames 8.C.), very easily in ;24min 36sec. Beresford completed a- great1 record for thej year in winning all races in which- he has competed, including Open Sculls at Ostend and Bruges, the Diamonds at-Henley, and the Olympic.Sculls in Paris.' Three entries were received for . this year's race,, but E. R. Carter (Kingston 8.C.) scratched, leaving the issue '.to Berosford, winner of tho championship in 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and \K. N. Craig (Leander Club). The latter, who rowed in tho Cambridge eight in 1922 and 1923, was making lib first bid for the Wingfields. Although he won the Colquhoun Sculls at Cambridge in 1921, he did not take- up sculling seriously unthis year, when he trained under WG. E.ast, and entered for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, in which he reached the final, but was then beaten by Beresford. There was a very\strong north ,wind blowing when tho race started for the Wingfield Sculls, making almost a sea in Putney Reach, and severely testing the watermanship of the sculloi'B. Mr. W. D. Kinnear (Kensington R.C.), the Wingfields winner of 1910, 1911, and 1912, umpired, and Mr. P. Adcook (Lon-don-8.C.) was judge.

Tho start was a good one, and Beresford sculling 28 to Craig's 27 soon led. Ho kept steadily along in tho shelter of the Middlesex station, and led by a length at tho Boathouses. Craig camo in behind Beresford who drew away so rapidly that he led by three lengths at tho mile, reached in smin 25sec. Craig kept his form well, but lacked pace in the rough water. Beresford went through Hammersmith Bridge Bsec in front of Craig in 9min 53sec, and, with tho conditions better, showed excellent stylo at a slow strong stroke past Chiswick. Beresford led by 16scc at Barnes Bridge, where he \noarly fouled a buttress, his time there berne 20min 28sec, and ho won very easily. Sir. F. I. Pitman, C.U.B.C, presented tho sculls to the winner at Putney after tho race. Beresford received many congratulations on his fifth successive win, which equalled the record that has stood since the 70's of Mr. F. L. Playford, London R.C., who witnessed this year's race.