Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Sports at Partlands 1908

Tug-of-War at Partlands 10 Sept 1908

10 September 1908
The annual Sports Meeting and Carnival, organised by the Ryde Sports Committee, took place on Thursday 10 September 1908.  The fixture was given grand conditions, which lasted throughout the day.  The ground was fairly hard, and was in good condition for cycle and foot racing.  In the afternoon there could have been few less than 1,000 spectators, who filled the stand and lined the rails in some places to a depth of five or six persons.

The sports programme had attracted considerably over 200 entries, which constitutes a record for the meeting.  The riding of C. B Kingsbury, the amateur N.C.A. and British Empire one-mile champion, and the 20 kilo champion at the Olympic, naturally eclipsed anything previously seen at the sports.  Kingsbury was heartily cheered on entering the areas, and at the conclusion of the sports was presented with an album of Island views, as a token of the gratification his performance had excited among his friends in the Isle of Wight.

The foot races were conspicuously attractive, for the entries, especially in the mile, were very numerous. Henney, the veteran runner, was heavily handicapped, yet ran finely enough in the mile event to gain second place.

The tug-of-war, for which many teams had entered, excited as much local interest as any event, and the Ryde Pier Head representatives gained a popular victory over the watermen in the final by two long pulls to nil.

The Royal Naval School of Music, under Mr. H. Liddiard, C.B.M., supplied some good music.  Refreshments were provided in a large marquee by Mr. Sweetman, of the London Hotel.

In the evening the carnival and confetti battle were held, and proved, as usual, to be the most popular of the day’s proceedings.  A procession of illuminated cycles and masqueraders was marshalled at the Esplanade, and proceeded through the densely-packed town, via Union-street, High-street and Swanmore-road to the Cricket Ground at Partlands, which was illuminated by electric lights, where the judging of the costumes took place.

Note:
If a member of your family enjoyed sport, it would be well worth reading the newspaper complete article in the Isle of Wight Observer 12 September 1908 page 5, you might find them mentioned. There are a great many names in the results of the whole event.

Sources: IW Observer and RSHG Archive
Image:  Postcard Courtesy of Paul Kingswell
Article: Ann Barrett