Sporting activities from past times

BOURNE ATHLETIC CLUB

Organised sports were first held in Bourne at the Abbey Lawn on Whit Monday, 10th June 1878. The Bank Holiday meeting was organised by the Bourne Athletic Club that had been formed a few years before. The Stamford Mercury reported:

Hitherto, bank holidays have been very quiet days in Bourne and it was thought desirable that some amusements on these occasions would be acceptable to the public. Consequently,  the gentlemen connected with the club formed a committee with that object in view, the result being a really good programme containing fourteen events with numerous entries. The sports altogether were of an entertaining character and the committee are to be congratulated upon the success that their efforts have met with, for considering that similar sports and entertainments took place in several neighbouring towns on the same day, the result is thought to be quite satisfactory. The receipts taken at the gate amounted to £37 11s. The Boston Borough Band enlivened the proceedings. The first event was announced to take place at half-past one and though a smart shower of rain came on between 12 and 1, the weather afterwards was favourable and the ground, which had been well rolled for the occasion, was in good condition.

The events included throwing the cricket ball, handicap running races over distances of 100 yards, 440 yards, quarter-mile, half-mile and one mile, high jump, long jump, 250 yards hurdle handicap, 10 hurdles, bicycle handicap, one mile walking handicap, quoits handicap and pole jump. The latter event was by far the most exciting because competitors were equally matched but the pole broke and after a second one gave way while being tested, the event was abandoned and so no award was made.

Half of the proceeds went to defray the costs of the meeting and the balance used to launch a new fund to encourage the development of cricket, football and athletic sports in the town. The athletic meeting, later combined with equestrian events such as trotting in harness and jumping, and became an annual event every Whit Monday.

One of the biggest meetings was held on 29th May 1882 when the top athletes from the country and county competed and the organisers made arrangements with the Great Northern Railway Company to issue cheap day tickets from Stamford, Spalding, Sleaford and intermediate stations, with return trains leaving Bourne at 10 pm to coincide with the end of the festivities. The band of the Lincolnshire Volunteers was also engaged to provide the music throughout and there was much competition for the sale of refreshments from local tradesmen, the rights having being auctioned to the highest bidders by Mr John Shilcock during a meeting at the Crown Hotel in April. Four tents were rented out in this way, No 1 tent for high quality general refreshments which went to Mr Robert Bliss, landlord of the Crown Hotel, for £4 10s., No 2 tent for temperance refreshments to Mr James Neal, proprietor of the refreshment rooms in South Street, for £2 5s., No 3 tent for cheaper general refreshments to Mr Bliss for £3 5s. and No 4 tent for temperance refreshments to Mr George Elvidge [for Mr Neal] for £1. The event was one of the most successful ever held in Bourne and the Stamford Mercury reported:

The weather was beautifully fine, the number of spectators exceedingly large, the amount taken at the gate being over £70. There were 16 events on the card of which 11 were confined to athletics and the remainder to trotting in harness and jumping and the value of the prizes, which amounted to £70, attracted a very large number of entries, some of the competitors in the more important events coming from London, Lincoln, Stamford, Spalding, Wisbech, Holbeach, St Ives, and other distant places. The task of the judges was not an easy one but we believe their awards gave general satisfaction. The last five [equestrian] events tended very materially to swell the admissions at the gate. At the close of the sports, the prizes were presented to the successful competitors by the vicar, the Rev H M Mansfield, MA, who in a few appropriate words, congratulated the respective recipients thereof. The field was shortly afterwards cleared for dancing, there being an additional charge to all those who had a desire to re-enter the grounds for this purpose, and also to witness a grand display of fireworks by our enterprising townsman, Mr John Evans. We are pleased to add that the field was thronged with visitors and every one appeared to try their best to make the most of the day's outing. The fireworks were given at about 9 o'clock. There was a magnificent discharge of rockets and set pieces and the whole gave universal satisfaction. The company finally separated at about 10 o'clock.

The 11th annual sports in 1888 were also a notable occasion with 113 entries, an increase on the previous year when there had been 106. The Stamford Mercury reported:

The Great Northern Railway offered facilities for visitors from Grantham, Sleaford, Spalding, Stamford &c. by the issue of cheap tickets. About 3,000 paid for admission to the sports at the Abbey Lawn and the interest of the spectators was maintained throughout. The grandstand was again erected in its old locality and was well patronised. The value of the prizes offered this year was £70. There is evidence of established popularity as is also the fact of the increasingly wide range whence competitors were attracted. It may be interesting to state that these came, not only from the town and its immediate vicinity, which always furnishes a very fair proportion, but from London, Lincoln, Stamford, March, Wisbech, Peterborough, Spalding, Boston, Hull, Derby, Nottingham, Gainsborough, Holbeach and King's Lynn.

On Monday 29th May 1898, the event celebrated its 21st anniversary, attracting almost 2,000 spectators, and the Stamford Mercury reported:

The weather opened fair but the best two horse classes were exhibited under the depressing influence of a persistent downpour. Though rain militated against the prospect of the evening local sports, there was a good attendance. The events proved very interesting, both bicycles and foot races bringing out a good show of talent. Some of the heats were very closely contested. The horse classes were a great success, the average quality of the exhibits being very high.

The event continued until the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, and the prizes on offer were put on public display in the preceding weeks to stimulate public interest, usually in the window of Mr Francis Clarke's ironmongery shop in the Market Place.

BOURNE CYCLE CLUB

Members of Bourne Cycle Club pictured circa 1905

The development of the bicycle during the late 19th century brought a surge of interest from ordinary people who for the first time could get out and about on wheeled transport at very low cost. For a few pounds, they could purchase a machine that would take them out into the countryside and enable them go to places that were too far to reach on foot and as a result, cycle clubs sprang up in many towns and cities.

The Bourne Cycle Club was formed in 1888 with the vicar, the Rev Hugh Mansfield, as president and a local doctor, James Watson Burdwood as chairman, while its members came from all sections of the population although the majority were working people who had just bought their first machine. It was not a wealthy organisation and at the annual meeting on Friday 28th March 1890, it was reported that the cash in hand was only 2s. 3d. but despite this lack of funds, members were enthusiastic to keep the club going.

The main activities were weekend outings and races during the summer months from May to October with monthly prizes and a trophy at the end of the season for the member winning the largest number of events. They were so keen to be out on their cycles that although the season did not begin until May, members met for a run out on Good Friday afternoon in 1890 which fell two weeks before.

One of the season’s big races staged by the club was held later that summer and reported by the Stamford Mercury on Friday 29th August 1890 and it gives a taste of the competition and the enthusiasm which these events attracted:

The fourth race of the season was run on Tuesday evening between Messrs Vawser and Darnes, the distance being about six miles, from Mr Joseph Wyles’ residence in North Road to Hacconby and Stainfield crossroads and back. Both started from scratch and rode safeties [a type of cycle popular at the time]. Vawser made a bad start through the saddle of his machine shifting. He, however, led for some distance on the return journey but Darnes succeeded in winning by a few yards. The time: 23 minutes.

The newspaper also reported the outings enjoyed by members such as this report from Friday 3rd June 1898:

The Cycling Club had a pleasant run to Crowland on Wednesday via Spalding. After tea at the George Hotel, they returned by Deeping St James, meeting another section of the club at the Blue Bull Hotel. On Thursday, the members cycled to Billingborough.

The club continued until the early years of the 20th century but pleasure cycling, which was their main objective, was being replaced by the motor car and the original enthusiasm which inspired its formation soon waned.

BOURNE GOLF CLUB

Golf was particularly popular during the late 19th century and Bourne Golf Club was instituted 1899, a modest venture with a nine-hole course that was laid out on what was then known as the Castle Meadows and adjoining fields, close to the station which was situated at the Red Hall. It was little more than a grassy surface with a few undulations but sufficient for golfing enthusiasts to pursue the ancient game. There is no mention either of a clubhouse and members most likely used one of the nearby hostelries as their 10th hole. This information comes from the archives of The Golfing Annual for 1899-1900 and the last mention was in 1909 when the publication closed.

The Bourne Almanac, a periodic publication sold in the town from 1864-1916 for 3d. a copy, gave details of the club in its issue for 1913: President, W L Fenwick Esq., JP; committee, Messrs A R Agnew, T M Baxter, M V Camamile, C E Hodson, C C Macleod, G H Mays, T W Mays JP, C H Small. G A Story, Dr J Galletly, Dr W J Gilpin; greenkeeper J Pool (at the Bourne Institute); secretary Mr H Smith. The links (nine holes) are close to the station. Subscription 10s 6d., family ticket 21s.

The club however did not survive after the Great War of 1914-18 when many in England closed down through lack of money and support.

BOURNE QUOIT CLUB

Quoits dates from the 15th century and was played principally in Lancashire and the Midlands and is a game that has some resemblance to the ancient practice of discus throwing although it is reckoned to be more skilful and does not require so much strength. It is played with circular metal rings weighing 7-9 lb. and not more than 8½ in. in diameter and the object is to hurl or throw them at two iron or steel pins known as hobs, each sited in the middle of a three foot circle 18 yards apart, with the objective of encircling the pins or landing as near to them as possible.

Bourne Quoit Club was formed in 1873 at a cost of £100 and by 1888, the club had 56 members, all male, who met for an annual dinner at the Crown Hotel in West Street [now converted into shops as Crown Walk] on Friday 21st September. There was a large company present under the chairmanship of Mr Robert Shilcock, a brewer, from North Street, with the president, Mr Frederick Green, a coal merchant, from South Street, also in attendance. It was a jolly occasion to celebrate a successful season, as the Stamford Mercury reported the following week, although the principal guests reflected the membership of the club as one being drawn mainly from local business and trade:

A toast to “The Army, Navy and Volunteers” was proposed and responded to by Sergeant William Hall. The chairman proposed “Success to the Bourne Quoit Club” and Mr Green, in responding, said that during the 15 years of the club’s existence, the financial condition had never been more satisfactory than now. The formation of the club cost about £100: of that £60 had been paid off and this year they hoped to pay off another £10. Although the present season had not been very successful, he hoped that next year they would be able to congratulate themselves on a victorious career. (Cheers) The toast “Success to the Town and Trade of Bourne” was entrusted to the chairman who said: “You have really put me in a fix regarding the trade of Bourne. I think it is nearly defunct.” (Laughter). Mr Joseph Arnold [a coach builder of West Street]: “Keep your pecker up”. (Laughter). Being requested to support his disclaimer, Mr Arnold said they had no cause to complain. There were other places than Bourne doing half the trade. A voice called out: “Speak of facts.” He was, said Mr Arnold, speaking of his own trade with which he was well satisfied. From what he could hear, others were doing well. If they were not satisfied, then they ought to be. (Laughter).

The chairman, continuing, said the trade appeared to be as near defunct as possible. They were working in the hope of better times. (Hear, hear!) He said the liberal support the town received from Grimsthorpe Castle, from Lady Willoughby and the staff, made an immense difference to the trade. Sergeant Hall [a cabinet maker, of South Street] proposed “Success to the winners in the Quoit Handicap” and Mr A Mann replied. Mr Green proposed “The Host and Hostess” to which Mr Henry Hardwick, landlord of the Crown Inn, responded. The president thanked the officers and committee for their services. The proceedings were then enlivened with songs.

The club played mainly at home, usually at the Abbey Lawn, on the ground used by the Bourne Bowling Green and Tennis Club, and frequently entertained visiting teams. On Friday 9th August 1878, for instance, there was a match between the Peterborough and Bourne clubs which the visitors won by 15 points. The summer of 1883 was a particularly busy time with an evening match against Sleaford at home on Friday August 10th, each team playing ten members, and a final score of Bourne 73 points, Sleaford 100, and a second evening match later that month, on Friday August 24th, against the Carlby village club which Bourne won by four points. A team from Baston was also entertained on Tuesday 10th August 1886 when the visitors won by 33 points.

Members also knew how to enjoy themselves socially, and were prepared to pay for it, with regular entertainments such as the smoking concert held at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 26th January 1888, as reported by the Stamford Mercury:

The room was tastefully decorated. There was a good assembly. Bourne Brass Band played several selections. The affair, we hear, was not a financial success.

Bourne Quoit Club continued in existence until the early years of the 20th century and in 1906 it was known as the Hereward Quoit Club, holding its meetings at the Red Lion in South Street, but interest declined and it folded through lack of support soon afterwards.

ICE SKATING

Fenland ice skating was one of the most unusual sporting pursuits in the land because the weather needed to be suitably cold and five nights of sub-zero temperatures were usually reckoned to be sufficient to provide ideal conditions. Until that winter day dawned, the long bladed skates known as fenland runners required for such high speeds, hung optimistically in sheds and outhouses waiting for the next big freeze. When it came, the thickness of the ice was all important because there have been misjudgements in past years when spectators and competitors have fallen through and so an official ice tester of suitable weight was sent out to jump up and down on the surface and if the ice held, then skating went ahead.

A telephone relay system was established to notify those who wished to participate and the following day the competitors from all parts of the country gathered on the ice for the races to begin over a triangular course where the various outdoor speed skating championship titles for Lincolnshire, for Fenland and even for Britain were decided.

The sport dates back to the Middle Ages and the earliest skaters were almost certainly Flemish, using skates carved from wood or the shin bones of sheep strapped tightly to their boots. Skating took place whenever the frost was severe enough to prevent the land from being worked but provided the ideal conditions on waterways and meres. Farm workers would skate along the rivers and drains from pub to pub, often racing each other, and so what was once a pastime soon became a working man's sport with prizes of much needed food put up by the farmers such as a sack of potatoes or even a leg of ham.

The speeds that could be achieved when miles of waterway were suddenly opened up in this way were quite phenomenal and there are records of a 15-mile race from Wisbech to Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire in 1763 with a winning time of 46 minutes. But the hey day of this winter pursuit was during the 19th century after 15-inch steel blades were introduced and the popularity of the sport led to the formation of the National Skating Association in 1897. It developed and prospered and its existence becomes manifest whenever the temperatures dipped to below freezing point for a prolonged period for this was one of the only sports in the land in which participants prayed for a long, hard winter. The enthusiasm shown by skaters when conditions were right is amply demonstrated by these news reports from the Stamford Mercury:

During the latter part of last week, a considerable number of skaters availed themselves of the opportunity afforded them by the river Eau being frozen over. On Saturday, a match took place on the ice, money prizes being given, the amount being collected from various subscribers by Mr J R Bettinson, of Bourne Fen. In the final heat, Brudenell succeeded in obtaining first place, Bradley being second and Pulford third. - Friday 18th December 1885.

The fenland is now alive with skaters. The Bourne Eau, the River Glen and the large drains are ice-bound and afford an almost unlimited field of enjoyment for this favourite winter pastime. – Friday 12th January 1894.

On Thursday week, the ice was strong enough for skating but this did not become general on the Bourne Eau until Friday. The dykes in every part were safe and provided a ready means of reaching the river where the ice was excellent with an odd place here and there that was somewhat rough. On reaching Tongue End, most of the skaters crossed over to the Counter Drain where the ice was in better condition for a distance of over six miles to Pode Hole. On Saturday, there were many skaters on the river and quite a number proceeded to the Wash at Spalding to witness the championship racing. On Sunday, there were a large number down the river, the ice being in good condition despite the thaw. Owing to water being pumped into the Counter Drain, skating was made impossible and as the day wore on, the ice became worse and consequently weaker and before the afternoon was over there were several immersions. The ponds at Grimsthorpe also provided some splendid ice for skaters and several from Bourne visited the ponds on Saturday. It is several years since the ice was in such good condition. - Friday 1st February 1907.

A popular venue for skating in recent years was Baston Fen, near Bourne, where until recent years, thirty acres of the nature reserve had another use in winter when the area was specially flooded in anticipation of severe overnight frosts that would create the ideal venue for ice skating by a dedicated band of enthusiasts who were only able to pursue their sport when the weather was cold enough.

The tradition continued until recent years and every winter, thirty acres of marshland at the Baston Fen nature reserve, four miles south of Bourne, were flooded to a depth of several inches and then the Lincolnshire Skating Association which organised the event waited for a sufficiently long cold spell that would provide the right conditions for skating to proceed on a suitable thickness of ice. Overnight frosts for at least a week were required for the best results because officials were perpetually aware that a wrong calculation could lead to a similar disaster to that which occurred in the early 20th century when there were so many skaters and spectators crammed on the ice that it broke under the weight and most of them got a very cold ducking.

The association therefore employed an official ice tester, who in my time forty years ago, was Bert Slater, a big and burly haulage contractor from Crowland, who arrived when alerted to test the ice for strength with the simple and straightforward method of jumping up and down on it in his heavy boots at various vantage points, and if it held without the sign of a crack, then the signal went out for skating to commence the following day, provided the cold snap lasted. Whenever temperatures plunged below zero for any length of time, Bert's activities captured the imagination of the world's press with headlines such as "The Iceman Cometh" as he went about his duties, but once he declared the ice fit for skating, the telephones began buzzing, calling up everyone who wanted to be out on the ice, whether for pleasure or for sport, and soon Baston Fen resembled one of those old picture postcards or oil paintings of skaters thoroughly enjoying themselves.

There was also the racing when competitors from all parts of the country gathered on the ice for the events to begin, always over a distance of one mile on a triangular course, to decide the various outdoor speed skating championship titles for Lincolnshire, for Fenland and even for Britain. The tradition had become so entrenched that grand silver shields and cups were on offer for the winners, handed down through the years, from generation to generation.

Unfortunately, this age old winter pursuit ended at Baston Fen in 1993 when the Lincolnshire Skating Association which organised it were forced to abandon the periodic events because of crippling insurance charges. Pleasure skating continued for a few more years but the owners of the land, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, faced similar difficulties with their insurers over public liability and so skating for fun also ended in 2003 although there are still some who take to the ice when the weather conditions are right but they do so at their own risk.

See also Baston Fen Nature Reserve

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