Will the Diamonds return to NZ after 16 years?

by Rob Bristow on 28 Jun 2006 New Zealand's elite crews rarely enter Henley Royal Regatta but when they do, they usually leave their mark. Murray Watkinson in the 60's, a rather outspoken cox of a four in the eighties who likened the regatta to a Walt Disney character, Mike, Barry if you are reading this!.

With the proximity of the regatta to the prestigous Lucerne regatta New Zealand's Elite team have been prevented form entering, hence the reason for the non appearance of Rob Waddell in the event or the twins in the the Princess Royal Challenge Cup. It is, therefore, appropriate that this year another West End member will follow in the footsteps of Murray when Mahe Drysdale will compete for the coveted single sculls title, The Diamonds.

The Diamonds is one of the oldest event in rowing's history. First established in 1844 it was the domain of 'Gentlemen' (non-tradesmen) who did not work with their hands, which, according to popular belief, is the reason the regatta refused to allow future Olympic champions John B. Kelly, Sr., who was a bricklayer, to row in 1920 and Bobby Pearce, who was a carpenter, to row in 1928. Later John Kelly's son, John Kelly Jnr would win the title in 1947 and 1949.

As an aside even older than the Diamonds is the race for the ‘tradesmen’, The Doggetts Coat and Badge which is a race for the apprentice waterman.

Thomas Doggett, an Irish comedian and joint manager of the Drury Lane Theatre, provided in his will dated 10th September 1721, for a prize of a coat and silver badge to be rowed for annually by six watermen within a year of completing their apprenticeships.

‘... Five Pounds for a Badge of Silver weighing about Twelve Ounces and representing Liberty to be given to be rowed for by Six Young Watermen according to my Custom, Eighteen Shillings for Cloath for a Livery whereon the said Badge is to be put, One Pound One Shilling for making up the said Livery and Buttons and Appurtenances to it............’

The race is still held at the end of July from ‘The Swan’ at London Bridge to ‘The Swan’ at Chelsea, about four and a half miles and the winner paraded at a dinner at the Fishmonger's Hall! There is something rather nice about a race between 2 pubs.

But Back to Henley and the Diamonds.

The original trophy was a presentation prize of a diamond scarf-pin. The Diamond Challenge Sculls were not instituted until 1850, when they were described thus:

‘The sculls are models of about six inches in length, formed of frosted and bright silver, the handles are fillet gold, the sculls crossed and corded gold, the cord appearing in the centre of a wreath of green enamel set with rubies and brilliants and tied with gold, the ends of the tie sustaining a brilliant drop.’. In that year the diamond scarf-pin gave way to a silver-gilt `pineapple' cup, which was similarly presented to the winner to keep.

The original velvet lined box has had to be replaced in 1957 to hold the winners names but the ‘pineapple’ cup is still given as the keepsake for the winner.

Past winners of the event read like a who's who of rowing including the enigmatic Stuart McKenzie - from across the ditch -who won the title six times in succession. Others who spring to mind are Jack Beresford who went on to win an Olympic Gold in Berlin in 1936, Peter-Michael Kolbe, A Demiddi from Argentine and a young Steve Redgrave at the outset of his rowing career winning for the first time in 1983. When Mahe is in England he has been coached by Bill Barry, one of the founding members of the Tideway Scullers School, who was beaten in the final of this event on two occasions in 1962 and 1963. Other well known winners of the event are: Ibarra, Sean Drea, Don Spero, Mel Studach, Jochim Meissner, Xeno Muller, Juri Jaanseon, Thomas Lange, Jamie Koven, Duncan Free and Marcel Hacker. Alan Campbell, Mahe's training partner when he is in England and the sculler he beat in Poznan last week, won the event in 2003.

There are also some other well known names who were beaten in the final and never won the trophy: Ivanov (twice - but then he was up against Mackenzie), Wienese, Jim Dietz (twice),

On the New Zealand front I am indebted to Even McCalman who informs me that Eric Verdonk won the Diamonds in 1990 representing the Air New Zealand Rowing Club - in reality the Waiariki Rowing Club in drag which had a short-term name change for obvious reasons.

The only other New Zealand sculler who won at Henley was Darcy Hadfield who won the Kingswood Sculls Cup at the Henley Royal Peace Regatta in 1919 representing the UK based New Zealand Services Club. The Kinswood Cup replaced the Diamonds for that special regatta.

For the record the fastest time recorded for the course in the Diamonds was by Vaclav Chalupa in 1989:

The Barrier 2.05
Fawley 3.31
Finish 7.23

Enjoy the racing:
More information is available at www.hrr.co.uk
Or listen to the commentary on Regatta radio: www.regattaradio.com/