Historic Rowing Oar, Grand Challenge Cup, Henley 1895
Historic Rowing Oar, Grand Challenge Cup, Henley 1895
29730
Eton Rowing Oar, Grand Challenge Cup 1895.
The full-length oar is an original traditional presentation rowing oar with gilt calligraphy and Eton college insignia. It belonged to Robert Octavius Pitman who rowed whilst at Eton, New College Oxford and for 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, the Eton College crest made up of three lily-flowers, fleur-de-lys & lion, the coat of arms of Eton College was granted in 1449 by the founder King Henry VI.
The blade reads:-
Thames R.C * New College, Oxford
Henley 1895 - Eton College crest
Ladies Plate. Lady Margaret Boat Club. Radley College Boat Club. St. Johns College, Oxford
Bow. D.O. Dunlop 10.0
2. J.A. Tinne 11.6
3. R.O. Pitman 9.12
4. A.G. Anderson 11.3
5. W. Dudley 11.3
6. R. Carr 12.4
7. J.J. de Knoop 10.11
Str. H.G. Gold 10.10
Cox. R.A. Blyth
The two images of the rowing photographs are of 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 last 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 foot) shipping can be quite expensive. We have came 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
1895
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, slight loss to some paint. Small crack to bottom corner of the blade.
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 shipping can be quite expensive. We have came 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}