GB coxless four, Sydney Olympic Games 2000
Coxless four designed and built by Aylings which won the Olympic regatta at Penrith Lakes, Sydney 2000. Boat in which Sir Steve Redgrave won his fifth Olympic gold medal, Sir Matthew Pinsent his third, and Tim Foster and James Cracknell their first.
Oxford's Boat Race winner 1829
This boat won the first Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race at Henley in 1829, the Oxford crew having borrowed it from Balliol College. It was built by Stephen Davis and Isaac King of Oxford in 1828 to a design resembling a cutter. It illustrates the first step in the evolution of boats designed for racing, being almost twice as long and half as wide as an eight-man sea boat of the period. The boat is clinker built of spruce, with main timbers in oak and small ribs in ash. Oars were in ash and of variable length, around 4.3m, with narrow blades.
The Atlanta Pair
This boat was used by Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent to win the gold medal for coxless pairs at the Olympic Games regatta on Lake Lanier, Atlanta, in 1996.
The boat was manufactured by Aylings (then of Weybridge, as from 2002 in Huntingdon). Made from Kevlar, carbon fibre, Novex honeycomb and epoxy resin, it started life as a standard production model. Aylings adapted it to the requirements of Redgrave and Pinsent and their coach, Jürgen Grobler, principally by moving the 'staterooms' two centimetres closer to minimise twist of the hull.
A letter from the secretary of OUBC advising recipient (assumed Michael Brooks) to the first outing being on January 6th. Reference to the 1943 Boat Race.
A letter written by George Rowe, President of the Oxford University Boat Club, explaining his frustration at the postponement of the 1880 Boat Race due to fog.
The letter was written at the Fox and Hounds pub, Putney on Saturday March 20 1880. Its is written in black ink on one piece of cream OUBC headed notepaper - folded to form four pages.
The letter reads:
"Fox and Hounds
Putney
March 20th
My dear mother,
I am writing at 10.15am to tell you that the race, which ought now to have been over, is still a thing of the future. Since we have been at Putney we have had but one morning on which the race could not be rowed, and that was today.
Since 4:30am, when we got up, a steady dense fog has been rolling over Putney and the Cambridge President and I, had, at 8 o'clock, sorrowfully to decide to postpone the race till Monday.
I have had a good many disappointments since I was made President, but I don't think I was ever so disappointed, as I was today.
In addition to the annoyance, expense and bother of a total change of arrangements, we have to undergo another two day's training and all the agony and suspense over again.
Of all days to row upon, Monday is worst, as we can't practice on Sunday, and we'll spend the whole day in a state of funk. However, it is no use grumbling anymore, but may I never be President of anything else ever again.
I am surprised to hear that Mary (?) is still in bed. I believe that it would do her good to be made to get up. Lying in bed makes people imagine they're much worse than they are. I don't quite believe in Devonshire climate: it strikes me that it is as prolific of rheumatism, as possible.
Love to all, from
Your affable (?) son,
George Rowe."
A poster for the Oxford v Cambridge Boat Races held in Henley on Thames on Sunday the 20th March 1988.
The poster shows an abstract image of a rower sat in a black boat, which is mirrored on the right in turquoise.