00:00 This was advertised as a splendidly humorous film of the Kingston Rowing Club at practice
00:13 on the 3rd of May 1902. Filmed on the River Humber, it features members of the rowing
00:19 club in a variety of coxed four boats and single skulls. The rowers share the river
00:24 with a spot of industrial as well as recreational traffic. Boating lakes were a feature of later
00:39 Victorian parks and by the Edwardian era, rowing was part of the recreational scene
00:44 and also a popular amateur sport, enjoyed by members of gentleman's clubs like this
00:49 one in Hull.
00:56 The
01:21 humorous scene occurs part way through the film when an unfortunate rower falls into
01:26 the river capsizing his boat before valiantly swimming ashore with his dignity, if not
01:32 his boat, still intact. He poses for the camera in what appears to be his underwear. This
01:42 in fact was normal attire for rowers at the time. The camera then cuts to a shot of the
01:50 club members whose smart attire, complete with club ties, caps and blazers, emphasises
01:56 the gentlemanly requirements of the club. After much malarking for the camera, the rowers,
02:03 some holding their oars aloft, go down the bank to be filmed standing in boats and generally
02:08 carrying on in a hilarious fashion, so more scenes of merriment can be filmed.
02:27 The film is a great way to capture the humorous side of the film. It is a great way to capture
02:54 the humorous side of the film.
03:00 The second sequence commences in more dignified fashion as the various crews launch their
03:04 boats from Stone Ferry. The rowers maintain their momentum with the serious business of
03:11 practice for the annual meet. The film was exhibited two nights later at the Circus Building
03:17 on Anlaby Road, Hull, where the audience much appreciated the splendid prowess of the rowers
03:23 and applauded loudly when one of them became immersed in the muddy waters of the river.
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