Walter Woodgate

1841 - 1920

Walter Bradford Woodgate was a British barrister and notable oarsman and sculler. He won the Wingfield Sculls three times (1862, 1864 and 1867) and various events at Henley Royal Regatta. He was twice in the winning Oxford crew in the University Boat Race, the first was the 19th University Boat Race on 12th April 1862, winning by 10 lengths with a time of 24 minutes and 34 seconds (in the Bow seat). The second, a year later 1863, on the 28th March winning by 15 lengths with a time of 23 minutes and 6 seconds (in the No. 4 seat).

Woodgate was educated at Radley College before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1858. Already developed into something of an oarsman, young Woodgate found a place in the Brasenose College Eight (known as the Childe of Hale). In 1868 he created the first coxless four at Henley's Stewards' Challenge Cup, this caused a huge controversy. He concluded that a coxed four could be steered using a wire and lever attached to an oarsman's footrest. Woodgate persuaded the Brasenose's cox to jump overboard after the start of the Stewards' Challenge Cup, thus lightening his Brasenose coxed four, and his home-made steering device triumphed by 100 yards. The outraged Henley committee disqualified the Brasenose four and passed a rule that henceforth all crews must finish with the same number they started with. This was the second time the committee had had to change the rules because of Woodgate. Two years earlier he ... show more

Walter Bradford Woodgate was a British barrister and notable oarsman and sculler. He won the Wingfield Sculls three times (1862, 1864 and 1867) and various events at Henley Royal Regatta. He was twice in the winning Oxford crew in the University Boat Race, the first was the 19th University Boat Race on 12th April 1862, winning by 10 lengths with a time of 24 minutes and 34 seconds (in the Bow seat). The second, a year later 1863, on the 28th March winning by 15 lengths with a time of 23 minutes and 6 seconds (in the No. 4 seat).

Woodgate was educated at Radley College before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1858. Already developed into something of an oarsman, young Woodgate found a place in the Brasenose College Eight (known as the Childe of Hale). In 1868 he created the first coxless four at Henley's Stewards' Challenge Cup, this caused a huge controversy. He concluded that a coxed four could be steered using a wire and lever attached to an oarsman's footrest. Woodgate persuaded the Brasenose's cox to jump overboard after the start of the Stewards' Challenge Cup, thus lightening his Brasenose coxed four, and his home-made steering device triumphed by 100 yards. The outraged Henley committee disqualified the Brasenose four and passed a rule that henceforth all crews must finish with the same number they started with. This was the second time the committee had had to change the rules because of Woodgate. Two years earlier he

entered the Silver Goblets twice, once as W. B. Woodgate (and won), and again as "Wat Bradford". After the regatta the Henley Stewards changed the rules so competitors could not row under assumed names.

Whilst an undergraduate at Brasenose College, he founded Vincent's Club in 1863 (named for the landlord who let the rooms) in reaction to the Union Society. The Union at the time barred smoking and drinking so he and his friends made Vincent's selective (100 members to give prestige) and offered beer, tea, and coffee, all for free.

He helped coach numerous Oxford crews and was president of Kingston Rowing Club. In 1872 Woodgate was called to the bar. He practised for forty years but took neither the law nor anything else save rowing too seriously and it is as a first-class oarsman and journalistic critic of rowing that he is remembered. As well as providing the rowing coverage in Vanity Fair for most of the years there was any to speak of, Woodgate had several books published, he also contributed to The Field for half a century.
A lifelong bachelor, Woodgate died in Southampton at the age of 79.

Rowing achievements at Henley Royal Regatta

1861 - Silver Goblets (with Weldon Champneys)
1861 - Wyfold Challenge Cup (Brasenose College Boat Club)
1862 - Silver Goblets (with Weldon Champneys)
1862 - Stewards' Challenge Cup (Brasenose College Boat Club)
1862 - Visitors' Challenge Cup (Brasenose College Boat Club)
1863 - Silver Goblets (with R Shepherd) (Brasenose College Boat Club)
1863 - Visitors' Challenge Cup (Brasenose College Boat Club)
1864 - Diamond Challenge Sculls (after a dead heat two years previously)
1865 - Grand Challenge Cup (Kingston Rowing Club)
1866 - Silver Goblets (with Edward Corrie)
1868 - Silver Goblets (with William Crofts)