W is for Women
1938 Clydesdale Ladies Crew
Women were involved in rowing far earlier than we perhaps realise. In one 1720 Venetian regatta, they formed one of 'five squadrons, the latter of which were rowed by women'. They were always among the crowds – at one of England's earliest regattas in 1770, 'Ladies … dressed in white … all the swans on the river [dyed] black, so the contrast between the different feathered animals [i.e. women and birds] is more conspicuous'.
Seventy years later, Glasgow women in 'bright dresses' filled a punt moored off the Green; their fashions and presence were always remarked upon, as people-watching was as much an attraction as the races. Women also sold tickets (at Mrs McFarlane's Temperance Hotel in 1844), and actresses ('Miss Aitken of the Adelphi Theatre') occasionally presented prizes on stage (a £10 cup for the gig race in 1847).
Actual physical competition remained men-only, but attendance as spectators was promoted as a respectable activity for women. 'The sport is harmless and many ladies who would not go to a horse race would gladly watch'. Women publicans and caterers sold food and drink, and temporary ladies' refreshment rooms were erected from the mid-1800s. In the 1880s, we see the businesswoman and theatre-owner Christina Baylis, sponsor the 'Scotia Challenge Cup', named after one of her music halls. With the opening of municipal pools in the 1880s, women were certainly holding, and watching indoor swimming contests, but in rowing circles, female competitions were treated as 'novelties' tagged onto charity events. Although the Rousay (Orkney) Regatta accounts belittled their inexpert female rowers in 1893, they thanked the housewives whose catering 'supplied the wants of the inner man' – baking, not athletics, was their expected contribution.
Alice McVoy's membership cards, held in Glasgow Museums collections
On the Clyde, this changed in 1893 when Mary Geddes, whose husband ran the Humane Society at Glasgow Green, pioneered a Glasgow women's rowing club, warmly supported by the Scottish Referee's aquatic correspondent, 'Ben Bow.' The cold spring weather hindered the 12 recruits from practising, though there were several crews "of good 'oarsmen'." Ben Bow suggested they wear 'blue serge walking skirts and a striped loose Garibaldi [shirt]', and straw hat. They had to endure hostile thugs spitting from the Suspension Bridge: Bow reported: 'Such fellows… belong to the class of bipeds devoid of bone and muscle… Fortunately, their influence is about as effective as a blow from a penny balloon. Ladies your health, go on and prosper'. Sadly, the Glasgow Ladies Rowing Club only lasted a few months. The respected Printer's Regatta held a ladies' punt race, 'open to Scotland', in 1894, another sign that women's competitive rowing was finally being treated seriously.
A ladies section existed at Clydesdale ARC from 1933 to 1939, each paying an annual fee of £10/6 (a third of the men's senior subscription), and were restricted to using the equipment on two evenings a week. The club minute books lists the members in 1933 as: Jean Letters, Jessie McCubbin, Doris Harkness, Agnes Harkness, Jean Campbell, Anna Rennie, May Rennie, Margaret Miller, and in 1934, some of the above, along with Isabel Letters, Ina Thomson and Lily McGladdery. Over the years, membership numbers varied between 8 and 18. Alice McVoy acted as treasurer. Her 1936 fixture card and 1937 membership card is now held in Glasgow Museum collections.
The Clydesdale womens section fell into abeyance after the war, though there were other clubs on the Clyde with female crews, such as Glasgow University's Ladies Boat Club, formed in 1966 and merged with GUBC in 2004. Women were also active as coaches - Maureen Simpson was instrumental in nurturing new talent in the 1970s, setting up the Elmwood School Rowing Club whilst working there as a teacher.
The proposal to open membership to women at Clydesdale ARC was voted on and approved at the Annual General Meeting in November 1979. Clyde ARC followed suit.
Clyde ARC alumna, Imogen Walsh
It was also around this time that Sportscotland enforced anti-discrimination, and promoted equality and opportunity in sport between men and women. In the first year, there were a total of twelve women members using large boats and kit designed for men.
As the years progressed, female members competed successfully, with a coxed four winning silver at the National Championships in 1984. As a result, the ladies found sponsorship with Austin Rover, allowing them to purchase suitable kit to compete at the Commonwealth Games in 1986. Since then, hundreds of women and girls have passed through the doors of the West Boathouse and other clubs along the Clyde. Among them are several Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European champions, including Polly Swann, Gillian Lindsay, Lindsay Dick, Karen Bennet and Imogen Walsh. As Ben Bow would say...'Ladies, your health...go on and prosper!'.
As part of the West Boathouse project, 'Play Like A Lassie' got underway in 2021 with support from Dr Fiona Skillen of Caledonian University and funding from Santander for two student placements (Jen McKeeman and Levi White) to help support research and volunteers. The project trained new editors and contributed new Wikipedia entries relating to women's sport in Scotland. This included the creation of biographies and entries for individuals, groups and organisations and significant places or events associated with women's sport. We are indebted to Wikimedia UK, particularly Dr Sara Thomas, Wikimedian in Residence for Scotland, for her support, enthusiasm, and patience in training our newly minted editors.
Women, particularly women in sports, are under-represented on Wikipedia in terms of content and editorial roles. Wikipedia is hugely influential and has given the public more access to free knowledge than ever before. However, Wikipedia is heavily weighted towards men, with just 19% of biographies on the UK site dedicated to women, and only 9% of contributors identifying as female. This project aimed to contribute to redressing the balance - increasing the visibility of women in rowing and other sports.
