Aust. Historical Medals

Lot 969    Session 4 (4.30pm Tuesday 18th November)    Aust. Historical Medals

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $880

MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY ROWING CLUB, prize medal in silver (48mm) by W.J.Taylor, London, Poseidon reclining on couch beside river and holding an upright oar in right hand, reverse with wreath of reeds and water flowers, inside wreath inscribed, 'Upper Yarra/Scratch Fours/24th May 1870/R.D.S.Pinnock'; silver plated tankard (approx 125mm high), hallmarked on base for John Round & Son, Sheffield, engraved on side with garter marked 'M U R C' and inside 'Trial/1870/Fours', above is inscribed 'Crew' and at each side and below are the names, left, '1 J.G.Black/3. C.F.Taylor', right, '2. R.D.S.Pinnock/4. R.M.Pennefather', bottom, 'cox. D.B.Wilkie'. Very fine - good very fine and scarce. (2)

An account of the award presentation was published on page 4 of The Argus (Melbourne) on 3 June 1870. It states, 'A meeting of the members of the University Rowing Club took place at the Freemasons' Hotel last night. The chair was occupied by Professor Irving, the president of the club. The chairman presented an illuminated address, signed by all the officials of the club and 30 members, to Mr. John Johnstone, on his retiring from the club. The address was accompanied by a handsome silver-mounted inkstand. Mr. Johnstone briefly returned his thanks. The pewters presented by the president for the trial fours were then given, the following being the winning crew :-R. W. Pennefather, C. Taylor, R. D. Pinnock, J. G. Black, and D. Wilkie, cox. The medals for the Upper Yarra scratch fours were then presented, the recipients being Messrs. Johnstone, Pinnock, and Colles. The challenge oars were then presented to the winners, Messrs. Hope and Wilkie. These oars were given by the president seven years ago, the conditions being that they were to be won four times. Since the time these oars have been in the club there have been three races annually for them. As Messrs. Hope and Wilkie have been the victors four times, the oars remain their property. A vote of thanks was passed to the president for his liberality in presenting the prizes. In returning thanks, the president said the rowing he had witnessed that day would not have disgraced the college crews of either Cambridge or Oxford. He thought a pewter was the proper form for a rowing trophy to take, as there was an affinity between good rowing and good beer. It was his intention to make the prize an annual one.'

Robert Denham Saint Pinnock, born in 1849 at South Yarra, was the son of noted public servant, politician and banker, James Denham Pinnock. He graduated in medicine from Melbourne University and later practised as a medical doctor at Ballarat. In 1884 he was commissioned surgeon in the Victoria Defence Forces retiring as a major in 1901. He died on 2 April 1902 at Skipton and is buried in Melbourne General Cemetery.