Historic Rowing Oar, 1897 New College Oxford
Historic Rowing Oar, 1897 New College Oxford
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Antique Rowing Oar, 1897 New College Oxford, Grand Challenge Cup.
The full-length oar is an original traditional presentation rowing oar with gilt calligraphy and college insignias. It belonged to Robert Octavius Pitman who rowed whilst at New College Oxford, he also rowed for Eton and Leander Rowing Club. He was in the Oxford Eight that won the 55th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race of 1898. Robert was a member of the Pitman family who were partners in the legal firm of J & F Anderson of 42 Castle Street Edinburgh.
The rowing blade is made by Ayling & Sons, Vauxhall, London, it is a beautiful oar and in original condition. The calligraphy denotes the crew's names and weights with the crests of New College and Oxford.
The blade reads:-
New * College * Oxford * 1897
Winners of the Grand Challenge Cup
Bow J.J.de Knoop 11st.2lbs
2. G.O.C. Edwards 12.0
3. R.O. Pitman 10.9
4. A.O. Dowson 12.13
5. C.K. Philips 11st.8lbs
6. H. Thorpe 12.5
7. W.E. Crum 11.11
Str. A. Whitworth 10.12
Cox. C.P. Serocold 8st.12lbs
By 2 Feet, Time 6 mins. 51 sec: Equal Record
The two images of rowing photographs are of R.O. Pitman, one is the Eton 'Grand Challenge Cup Winners, 1895' taken from the 'Fifty Years Of Sport, Eton, Harrow And Winchester' book and the second is the '1898 Oxford Eight' taken from the 'Fifty Years Of Sport, Oxford And Cambridge' book. There is also an image showing four other full-length sculling oars that belonged to Pitman and are available to buy.
Henley Royal Regatta is an annual rowing event in Oxfordshire held on the River Thames. It is held over the first week in July and lasts for 5 days. The races are head-to-head knock-out competitions attracting local, national, and international teams and one particular challenge is the 'Thames Challenge Cup', a rowing event for men's eights.
As the oar is full length (12 feet) shipping can be quite expensive. We have come up with an ingenious way to cut the oar so as to make shipping cheaper, the oar can then be easily reassembled. One of the images shows different images of an oar that has been cut down. It is cut by the leather sleeve so the joint is less visible or obvious. The oar can then be bolted together to make the oar one solid piece.
Please do enquire about the different shipping options.
Dimensions:
1850-1899
1897
Pine
England
Robert Octavius Pitman W.S. was a member of the Pitman family who were partners in the legal firm of J & F Anderson of 42 Castle Street Edinburgh, later amalgamated into Anderson Strathern. After his rowing career for New College Oxford and Leander Rowing Club he settled at The Corner House, Gullane, with his wife Beatrice (née Sanderson). Robert was also part of the eight that won the 55th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race of 1898 and the Leander Eight that won the Grand Challenge Cup, Henley in 1899. Hence by decent to his son and now to the present owner.
Calligraphy very good, small repair to top corner of the blade (see images).
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 shipping can be quite expensive. We have come up with an ingenious way to cut the oar so as to make shipping cheaper, the oar can then be easily reassembled. One of the images shows different images of an oar that has been cut down. It is cut by the leather sleeve so the joint is less visible or obvious. The oar can then be bolted together to make the oar one solid piece.Please do enquire about the different shipping options.){kind=link}