An important piece of Scottish sporting history is coming up for auction soon. This superb silver rowing trophy was awarded at the first Glasgow Regatta in 1829, held on the River Clyde. It was won by a boat called The Glasgow, belonging to James Hunter, which took part in the race of 'Four Oard Gigs pulled by Gentlemen'. The trophy apparently turned up when a couple were clearing the house of an elderly uncle who had died, and it has been consigned to McTear's in Glasgow for their fine silver sale on 25 June. No estimate price available yet, but it is the kind of thing that I hope our national museum will pull out all the stops to bid for. See www.mctears.co.uk for further details.
The City of Glasgow Regatta is one of the oldest annual sporting events in the country, and is now at about the 185th edition. I am no expert on rowing, in fact it seems to have little recorded history in Scotland, but in the 19th century this event was a major attraction in the city and drew huge crowds to the banks of the Clyde. 1829 was, of course, also the year the Oxford v Cambridge boat race started, which gives some idea of the Glasgow Regatta's antiquity and importance.
Footnote: the trophy sold for £1,000 at McTears. See this link for a full description.
The City of Glasgow Regatta is one of the oldest annual sporting events in the country, and is now at about the 185th edition. I am no expert on rowing, in fact it seems to have little recorded history in Scotland, but in the 19th century this event was a major attraction in the city and drew huge crowds to the banks of the Clyde. 1829 was, of course, also the year the Oxford v Cambridge boat race started, which gives some idea of the Glasgow Regatta's antiquity and importance.
Footnote: the trophy sold for £1,000 at McTears. See this link for a full description.
The trophy may relate to this undated handbill in the Glasgow University archives. The first item is a rowing match for four-oared gigs, the prize being a silver bowl presented by John May Esq.
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