Rowing Against the Tide - A career in sport and politics by Brandon-Bravo Martin

Author:Brandon-Bravo, Martin [Brandon-Bravo, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bretwalda Books
Published: 2013-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 6

A HOLME PIERREPONT STORY

For some years from the late fifties and through the sixties, the Nottingham Rowing Clubs were looking for an alternative to the traditional regatta course which had run down-stream from the old Toll Bridge, round a fierce and unfair bend, to Trent Bridge. We tried a straight course from the Suspension Bridge, along the Victoria Embankment, to the Lady Bay Bridge, and also the reverse back upstream over that same course. Nothing really worked, though we managed, and the Regatta was always popular. Many of the trophies were outstanding examples of the 1800s, and the Gold Vase for fours became almost uninsurable. The Vase and the Turney Trophy, the latter an enormous and elaborate punch bowl, whilst still in the ownership of the Nottingham and Union R.C. are on permanent loan to the City and are on public display at the Council House. We have taken much the same security approach with the rest of the trophies, which are the property of the original Nottingham Rowing Club, now registered as NRC (1862) to distinguish it from the newcomers NRC(2007) who were once the Boat and Britannia Clubs. These are now on public display at County Hall along with NIR trophies held in trust by British Rowing. Both local Authorities insure the trophies under their Civic Silver insurances, and so are a good deal for the club, and British Rowing.

There was quite some publicity at the possibility that the Water Authority at that time, might consider dredging the straight stretch of water upstream of the Clifton Bridge, which would meet the sports needs, but the cost was prohibitive.

However back in 1968 I was fortunate to be elected to the Nottingham City Council, and at that time the City were developing the Colwick Park and Marina on the north bank of the Trent. I arranged to see the Chief Estates Officer, Mr Ned Evans, and we looked at the two planned sections of water in the park, which were to be separated by a narrow bund. I had hoped that the bund could be removed, and we’d be able to have at least a 1200m straight course on which to hold our regattas. Technically this became impossible because of the fall of the land for access for boats to the planned marina, and providing the second lake for general public recreation. This fall of course is why many find it difficult to believe that the course at Holme Pierrepont is nine feet higher at the boathouses, than at the start. So it is not only racing the 2000metres that makes it feel uphill !

Mr Evans however was good enough to recommend, and set up a meeting for me with his counterpart in the County Council. The Senior Officer there, Jack Long, was more than helpful and we looked at the then current and planned gravel workings. By happy coincidence Hoveringham Gravel had almost worked out the area of Holme Pierrepont, and were faced with the cost of a

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