3-017-171 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sculling match for £250 between Kelley, Chambers, and Cooper, in the Eau Brink Cut, King's Lynn, [Norfolk], 1865. Engraving from a sketch by Robert Elwes. 'The great aquatic sweepstakes for £250, between Robert Chambers, of St. Anthony's, the champion of the Tyne; Henry Kelley, of Putney, the champion of the Thames; and Robert Cooper, of Redheugh, near Newcastle, came off on Friday, over the Ouse championship course, in the Eau Brink Cut, King's Lynn, a distance of 3300 yards...The championship course is a beautiful piece of water for a boat-race, being perfectly straight for two miles, and 350 ft. wide. Being above the bridge, no steamers can interrupt the course...At the mile and a half, Cooper, about half clear, tried to take Kelley's water, and fouled. Kelley at once gave way, and, taking the middle of the stream, toiled gallantly along, Cooper passing the judge a length in front of Kelley, who was three lengths before Chambers. The referee disqualified Cooper for the foul, and Kelley was therefore declared the winner - a result that was hailed with great cheering by the Londoners and their party...The match excited very general interest, and the day was observed, to a considerable extent, as a holiday at Lynn'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.