comprises a good selection of Varsity oars. Want of practice and of combination usually outweighs individual skill, In 1875 and 1880 the Grand Challenge Cup was won by Leander under the jeader- ship of Goldic and Edwardes-Moss respectively, but since 1880 all allempts to carry off the much-coveted prize have proved futile.
Tt must have been a curions sight in old days to see a Leander erew rowing in front of the ’Varsity race in their ‘ cutter’ steered by Jim Parish, their waterman coxswain. The crew used to wear the orthedox top-hats on their heads, whilst the coxswain was arraye@ in all the glories of ‘green plush kneebreeches, silk stockings, ‘ Brummagem’” coat, and tall white silk hat?
The match between Oxford and Leander in 1831 had ended. in the defeat of Oxford, and when, six years later, Cambridge challenged I.cander, it was thought by the London division to be a rash yenture on the part of the Cantabs, But we read in the Brasenose B.C. records that in the opinion of some experts the Leander oarsmanship was observed to haye rather fallen off of late, and that there were not wanting good judges who were prepared for the Cantab victory in which the match resulted. This casual remark seems to show that Leander was a club of some years’ standing at the time of this match, There seems to have been a ‘scullers’ club, hailing from Wandsworth, even earlier than this, But if it had a name, the title is lost. ‘There must have been a fair amount of sculling among amateurs prior to 1830, in order to induce Mr, Lewis Wing- field in 1830 to present the silver challenge sculls which still bear his name, and which to this day carry with them the title of Amateur Championship. The University clubs, when once founded, rapidly developed strength ; new college clubs were founded, and eights were manned by colleges and halls which hitherto had not entered for the annual bumping races. But London oarsmanship gradually deteriorated between 1835 and 1855. ‘The cause of this decay is intelligible. The tide- way was churned up by steamers, rowing from Westminster was. no longer the pleasant sport which it had been, and railway facilities for suburban rowing had hardly developed. Leander made one show at Henley after its foundation and failed to score
