THE SPORT OF ROWING “The last hope of England went with the defeat of Jesus College by the Mainzer Ruder-Verein of Germany. The race produced a magnificent struggle, and the manner wherein the Germans fought led the rowing men to prophesy the final will be contested between them and Harvard.”1535 “The London papers give unstinted praise to the American successes, employing such headlines as ‘An American Henley‘ and ‘Stars and Stripes Day.’ “‘The Harvard-Leander race,’ says the Pall-Mall Gazette, ‘stands out as one of the best and most thrilling performances ever witnessed on the river. It is the best showing that an American eight has yet made at Henley.’ “Anyone who doubted the deterioration of English Orthodoxy in the first decades of the 20th Century would have had to be convinced by the heats of the 1914 Grand. “For the first time in the history of the Henley Royal Regatta, not a single English crew reached the semi-final of the Grand Challenge Cup, the most coveted prize in the world for eight-oared crews. “All four English eights were defeated today, and the cup will be rowed for by one Canadian, one German and two American crews. Rowing experts declare this the greatest setback the English oarsmen have ever received at Henley.”1536 There were mitigating circumstances, however. In the summer of 1914, the heavy cloud of the Great War hung over British rowing. As an example, almost a hundred members of The London Rowing Club were already on active service.1537 1535 American Oarsmen Win Henley Races, The New York Times, July 3, 1914 1536 Harvard Now Favorite, Associated Press, July 2, 1914 1537 Dodd, Water Boiling Aft, p. 117 Friday, July 3: “The races were rowed in miserably wet weather with a strong wind, but the conditions did not cause either of the American crews to vary the almost perfect watermanship they had shown since their arrival here, which has called forth the admiration of English experts. “The race between Harvard and Winnipeg, which came first, was a hard one and was rowed in the best time recorded at this year’s regatta. “Winnipeg went away at 42 strokes, while Harvard struck 38 to the minute. The Canadians gained a slight lead at the start, and at the quarter-mile were a quarter of a length in front. Harvard then came up and got the nose of their shell in front, but Winnipeg caught them again. “At the half-mile the boats were level, but before the halfway mark was reached Harvard had pushed a little ahead again. “The Canadians then spurted, and Harvard replied. Harvard then went in front and at the mile were leading by three- quarters of a length. They were rowing 36 to the minute and retained their advantage to the end, although the Canadians made a last great effort to overhaul them. “On crossing the line, Harvard seemed perfectly fresh. They had maintained their form throughout and had rowed a perfect race in a drizzling rain and a strong following wind. “On the other hand, Winnipeg showed signs of faltering after passing the half-mile post and were rowed out at the finish, when they were just able to raise a feeble reply to Harvard’s cheer. “When the second semi-final started, excitement was keen. The American spectators, stirred to enthusiasm by Harvard’s victory, cheered the Unions (also Harvard oarsmen) as they left for the starting line. “The shells got off to a good start. The Germans began with 41 strokes to the first 410
