A Victorian silver Prize Oar for Rowing.
£275.00
A Victorian unmarked silver Prize Oar for Rowing, in its original retailer’s case, for Rowell’s of Oxford, engraved : ‘R.A. Boyle, No. 4, Henley June 26th 1858.’
Richard Alexander Boyle rowed in the first race between Eton College and Radley School in 1858. He was number four oarsman in the Radley boat. Eton won the race. Jackson’s Oxford Journal for July 3rd reported:
‘Eton and Radley Boat Race. On Saturday last an eight-oared match took place over the regatta course, between Eton College and Radley School. Hope were entertained when the match was made that it could have been rowed upon one of the days of the regatta, but this was not permitted by the respective authorities; but had it so occurred, these juvenile oarsmen would not have suffered by comparison even with the best crews of the day; as it was, it became a very excellent termination to the regatta week.’
Boyle left Radley in that year and went on to Pembroke College, Oxford, before becoming an Anglican clergyman. He was vicar of Wallington, Surrey from 1880.
Description
Condition:
Good overall with surface knocks.
Dimensions [excluding the case]:
Length – 22.10 cm.; Width – 1.30 cm.; Weight – 39.10 gms.
