A note in last year's newsletter brought the following comment from Philip Denny. (The Editor would welcome more letters which would be of interest to readers):

I was sorry to read of the future demise of bumps and of Shearwater. Of the latter, inciden- tally, it would have been more accurate to say 'since Dick Hole and PWBD founded the event...'! It was entirely my brainchild in fact. I had canvassed the schools concerned: Canford, Bryanston and Clifton with whom the 3rd VIII (and sometimes a 4th VIII), had fixtures, and had explored possible venues — Saltford, Ched- dar and the new, too new, Chew Lake. Dick and I pored over an ordnance survey map and, jok- ingly, I suggested Longleat which gave Dick the idea of Shearwater of which I knew nothing. Characteristically, Dick undertook the organisa- tion - or the major part of it — and judged the finishes while I did the marshalling and starts. I've forgotten quite how many!

I know you have never liked humps. I think they are valuable and worth spending time on (a) because it is about the only thing about rowing that the layman finds remotely exciting (h) house spirit, competition, etc, blah-blah- blah (c) because, though it doesn't do much for rowing technique, it does pose certain problems: eg experience for young coxes both in steering and controlling their crews; one often finds the idler or faint-hearted in a few moments rather than in several weeks — or months; it often gives confidence and encouragement to boys who have achieved virtually nothing either in the school or the boat club; the gifted young oars- man who finds himself at bow behind a 1st VIIIs man at 2 often has some useful coaching ses- sions; finally I can recall one or two boys who might not have reached the top but for bumps. 'But someone must have been moving that IV!'