150th Anniversary

Chairmans Speech

It is a great honour and privilege for me to be Chairman of Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club in this our 150th Anniversary year.  Having been a member of the club for 53 years I have seen many changes and witnessed the club grow from strength to strength, including a record breaking year in 2007 with a total of 108 wins.  

 

It all started many years ago; however an exact date when competitive rowing first took place on Talkin Tarn is a mystery.  We do have records of the Club being established in 1859 and it was always assumed that the inaugural Talkin Tarn Regatta was held in 1849, however in 2005 a tankard was found in an attic in Australia and is engraved “Talkin Tarn Regatta 1834 -  Corby Castle Prize -  won by Fred Myers”.  This is a genuine

                                                      photograph taken by myself and witnessed by Jimmy Harrison.  The tankard

                                                    was bought by a neighbour of mine who was working in Australia.  The question

                                                    is, “was this the first Talkin Tarn Regatta or were there regattas before 1834”.

                                                    All the club Minute books mysteriously disappeared during the 2nd World War

                                                    when a purge on paper collecting was in operation for the “War Effort”.

 

 

 

 

 

1850 June - Tarn Regatta: -     All Clasper crew, won Fours.

                                                H&R Clasper won Pairs.

                                                H Clasper lost to Candlish in Sculls.

 

1851 August - Tarn Regatta: - H Clasper won Singles.

                                                Clasper and Hawks crew won Fours for £20.

                                                Taylor beat Clasper in Pairs.

 

1852             - Tarn Regatta: -  Taylor again beat Clasper for £10.

                                                 All Clasper crew, won Fours for £20.

                                                  Candlish beat Clasper for £8 after Clasper                                                               

                                                  mistook a buoy.

 

1853                                          Tarn has a Clasper keeless Four.

 

1854             - Tarn Regatta: -   Harry Clasper wins Fours, Pairs and Single.

 

1858                                          One amateur match on the Tarn.

 

1859 – In this year Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club was formed and the seven founder members were: - William Milburn, J. B. Lee, T. Cheesborough, G. Rowntree, J. Armstrong, W. Holmes and G. Carrick, and several held Office for many years, none more than William Milburn who served as Captain, Chairman and President.  After his death a Cup was presented by his family in 1902 and is now the premier trophy at Talkin Tarn Regatta.

 

The first Club boat (The Lady Mary Howard) was presented by Lord Carlisle to the Club and the first boat purchased by the Club was in 1861 for the sum of £15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An extract from the Carlisle Journal 5th August 1859, advertises this “Aquatic and Athletic Fete” with prize money for wrestling of £60 and Presentation of Medals for amateur rowers, valued at thirty guineas.  A cash prize of £5 for a Skiff Race was offered for watermen (a forerunner of the professional rowing at the Tarn).  Brass Band contests were a feature of early regattas with such names as the Accrington Rifle Volunteer Band, The Blackhill Teetotal Band and nearer home the Belted Will Rifle Band taking part. It is recorded that in the late 1800’s  bands often played in the evenings after the regattas on illuminated floating platforms and a precession of illuminated boats rowed round the Tarn prior to the final firework display.  Regattas in those days could last for two or three days and as well as rowing there would be running races, Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling, Tug of War, Pole Leeping, Greasy Pole, Hound Trails, Dog Walking and other attractions.  Past records show special trains running from Carlisle and the North East with “streets of tents” set up to accommodate tradesmen, visitors and competitors.

 

1860      – James Renforth walked to Talkin Tarn to take part in a swimming                                      

                 race, but lost.

1861      – Bad year for Talkin Tarn, L. P. & E. D. Brickwood winning the                                         

                 Corby Castle Cup for the second year in succession and retained   

                 the trophy, as did Tyne A.R.C. with the Naworth Castle Cup.

 

1866       - 15th & 16th August --- Two day Talkin Tarn Regatta.

 

1867       - Tarn Regatta:-   James Renforth won Open Boat handicap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although mixed racing in Pleasure Boats was introduced in 1891 it was many years before females were accepted into this male domain.  In 1921 it was still noted that females could subscribe to the Club but could not be a member.  The post-war years saw ladies beginning to have tentative outings in racing craft but it was not until 1977 that the first female success was recorded when Karen Mark coxed a male crew to victory at Glasgow.  Now females are regularly seen on the Tarn and are very successful.

 

At the annual meeting of the club held in St Martins Hall, Brampton, on Tuesday 2nd April 1920, the chairman Mr W.R Milburn proposed that, because golf had not been played in the area since 1916, the Rowing Club should assist in the formation of a Golf Club, as they had been offered ground at Tarn End at a rent of £25.

The membership of the club in 1920 was 380 Gentlemen at 10s each and 102 Ladies donating 5s each. The Boatman’s wages amounted to £44  2s including bonus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to the early 1950’s travelling being somewhat restricted, the Club competed at about five regattas a year, in the Tarn, Tyne, Tees and Tweed areas.  Then transport became easier and more regattas were attended, rising to approximately fifteen a year in the mid 1960’s where in 1965 the Club won the National County Eights Championships representing Cumberland.

1967 saw the end of an era when the mile race, which required the negotiating of a buoy at Tarn End, was discontinued. The following year saw the introduction of Eights racing. Previously it had been felt that the Tarn was too small, but now Eights are a feature of the regatta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For many years the club had leased the Tarn from Boothby Estates, employing the boatman, administering and controlling the Tarn and surrounding woods. With the sale of these areas to the Cumbria County Council in 1975 the club relinquished the lease, sold the pleasure boats and began to operate purely as a user of the Tarn.

Following its increase in popularity a sailing section of the club was introduced in the early 1960’s but eventually broke away to form the now Brampton Sailing Club.

Among the many fruitful years were the lean and sad years and none more so than 1930 when two members of a Tarn crew were drowned when their boat swamped while racing in a re-row at Middlesbrough Regatta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Our area of competition now extends from Scotland in the north to the river Thames in the south and we have had members competing in International Regattas, World Rowing Championships, Olympic Games and World Masters Rowing Championships in various countries throughout the world.  In recent years the Club has been very strong in junior and veteran class and has achieved numerous successes with well over four hundred wins at Open Regattas, medals at the World Masters Championships and the British National Rowing Championships.

 

The early years had thrown up many recordable members of note such as The Rev Falle, vicar of Brampton who was captain for 10 years in the late 1800’s and became Dean of Jersey.  

The earlier mentioned William Milburn.

William Brown a top oarsman and athlete in the early 1900’s holder of all main offices of the club and was president when he died with over 60 year’s membership.

Cyril  Ritson who actively competed from around 1910 until 1948 and was mainly responsible for steering the club following the war years. In 1948 in one of his last races he competed in the same eight as his two sons, Colin and Derek. Cyril was captain of the club for 12 years.

 

In the last 60 years there have been many successful oarsmen and scullers, some still actively participating in the club and in my opinion have contributed in their own way to the history of  Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club.

 

Eddie Carruthers :- Rowed in the successful Elite Four in the 1960’s and later in the successful Veteran crew. Eddie was Club Captain for 5 years and Chairman for 12 years but sadly died in the boat after completing a ½ mile course during a training session.

 

Derek Ritson :- An outstanding member of the club from 1946 until his death in 2006, also rowed in the successful Elite Four in the 1960’s and successful Veteran crew, in fact he won events during 7 decades. Derek won the Sculling Championship of the Tarn 8 times, was a qualified umpire, was Chairman for 6 years, Captain for 9 years and Regatta Secretary, Welfare Officer and a Vice-President.

 

Brian Armstrong :- A member of the club in the 1950’s before moving to Tyne R.C. and eventually down onto the Thames  where he coached several crews to World Championship Medal positions and became a Great Britain selector and later International Rowing Manager. Brian has been a Vice- President of the club for many years.

 

Ray Mark :- Joined the club in 1948 and won his first pot a year later, rowed in some very good crews including the successful Veteran Four. He was Vice-Captain in 1953 and 1954, Assistant Secretary in 1957 before taking over as Secretary a year later, a post that he held for the next 37 years. Ray was mainly responsible for acquiring about £45,000 for the club through various lottery grants and he was made a Life Member in 2006.

 

Alan Beveridge :- Probably the most successful sculler in the North of England since the second World War. He started his sculling career at the Ebchester club before moving to Tyne R.C. and eventually coming to Talkin Tarn. Alan has won many trophies during his illustrious career and  sculled in the prestigious Diamond Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in the 1950’s.  He rowed in the successful Tarn Veteran crew and can still be seen sculling on the Tarn most weekends.

 

John Graham :- Rowed in the successful Junior crew in the 1960’s with Peter Thompson, Neil Corrie, Harold Hodgson and cox, Billy Davies. This crew formed half of the eight that won the National County Eights Championship in 1965. John was Captain of the club for 6 years and has been a Vice-President for many years. In 1986, he and his wife, June, helped to bail the club out of financial difficulties.

 

Andrew Sinton :- In 1982 Andy had 10 wins from Junior to Elite class, the following year he won a Bronze medal at the National Championships and an England junior vest against France. Andy moved south and his rowing improved steadily culminating in his selection to represent Great Britain in the World Championships from 1991 – 1995 and the Olympic Games (Atlanta) in 1996.

 

Joyce Telford :- A member since 1948 and elected onto the committee in 1950, Joyce’s late husband was one of the best strokes that the club has ever produced. Joyce has continued to support the club vehemently over the years and has been President since 1994.

 

 

Jimmy Harrison :- Now 77 years of age, began his Tarn membership in 1948. He has been one of the most successful oarsmen the club has ever produced, winning over 100 trophies from Novice to Elite status. He was in the crew winning the National County Eights Championship in 1965 along with Derek Ritson, Eddie Carruthers, myself , cox Dennis Mutton and John Graham’s junior crew, he has competed in World Masters Championships and can still be seen regularly in a boat out on the Tarn.

Jimmy is a first class joiner and has spent many an unpaid hour doing repairs to the boatshed and racking, and over the years has become quite an expert on boat repairs, saving the club thousands of pounds. Jimmy, a qualified umpire, was also responsible for the early coaching of Andy Sinton and is still enthusiastically helping with coaching and supporting the club at regattas. He was Captain in 1964 and 1965 and has been Club Treasurer since 1986.

An honour bestowed upon Jimmy at the Cumbria Sports Awards in 2004 was the Cumbria Special Sports Award for his outstanding service to the sport of rowing.

 

Graeme Mark :- Rowed in the very successful and feared junior crew in the 1970’s with Derek Carruthers, David Scott, Paul Scott and cox Kelvin Carruthers, they missed out on a medal at the National Championships by 4/100th of a second.

Graeme has been Captain of the club for the past 18 years and mainly responsible for the success and quality of junior rowing within the club. At the National Rowing Championships of Great Britain in July 2008, he was awarded an Amateur Rowing Club Volunteer of the Year Award for his work in coaching junior members of the club.

In 2004 he was awarded the Junior Coach of the Year Award for the North East of England Region. He also received recognition from our governing body, the Amateur Rowing Association, for all the success and development in junior rowing at club level.

In recent years, Graeme has coached Silver and Bronze medallists at National and Regional level.  In 2003, he coached Jodie Mark and Kayleigh Warwick who gained Silver medal at the National Championships and again at Junior Inter Regionals.  2004 saw him coach Danny Mark and Carl Maw to a Bronze medal at the National Championships. At the National Championships in 2007 his crew of Jodie Mark and Kate Brown won a Bronze medal in Women’s Junior 18 Pairs, after only being coached in this particular boat for two weeks.  

 

 

Mike Dodd :- I would like to think that in my own way I have contributed a little towards the history of Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club. As I said at the beginning I have been a member for 53 years, I was lucky enough to row in the successful Elite crew in the 1960’s and managed to win the Sculling Championship of the Tarn a record 12 times. I have been Captain of the club 8 times and Chairman since 1998.

 

Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club is now looking to the future and has embarked on an ambitious project to building a new boathouse as the club requires larger premises to enable it to function effectively and to ensure its future for the next 150 years.  Kim Warwick & Mike Bareham have both showed extreme dedication and have worked tirelessly on the planning of this £300,000 project also on sponsorship and fundraising ideas.

I am extremely passionate about this club and feel that with the commitment and team spirit that is evident within the club I am convinced that this huge undertaking CAN AND WILL be achieved.

We have got this fundraising year off to a fantastic start with Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, agreeing to being our patron for the duration of our fundraising, we look forward to welcoming him to Talkin Tarn Amateur Rowing Club on 10th February 2009.

 

 

Mike Dodd.

Chairman.

 

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