SHANGHAI ROWING CLUB.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Winner's trophy from the 1878 autumn regatta. A piece recording the triumph of the Blue eight in the eight-oared race, the crew led by the club's veteran captain, A. C. Westall, at stroke. The club was inaugurated in 1863, and its races were a highlight of the expatriate calendar, drawing large crowds who lined the banks at Soochow Creek.The 1878 autumn regatta was an extravagant affair, and multiple races were held across two days between 25 and 26 October. As reported by the North-China Herald, "the first race was announced to commence punctually at one o'clock. It would be contrary, however, to the reputation of boatracing, or any other pleasurable enterprise in Shanghai, for punctuality to be considered the soul of business; and, as usual, the first race was fully half-an-hour late." The Blue eight was drawn from across the Shanghai business world. In the bow was A. J. Pollock (Chapman, King & Co.), and his fellow oars included J. C. Hughes (Holliday, Wise & Co.), C. H. King (Nichol, Robert), T. S. Smith (T. S. Smith & Co.), H. J. Such (Hewett & Co.), W. S. Sach (Olyphant & Co.), R. P. Hunter (maritime customs, given on the trophy as "R. T. Hunter"), and Westall. The boat was coxed by A. Hinkling of Turner & Co.

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