Great Jura Boat Race

The Great Jura Boat Race was a race held once in Jura in 1843.

History
Annually, since the early 1800s, two world-renowned universities in South Britain, furiously row down the river Thames to win a bathtubful of champagne, (some of which the winners get to drink and some of which they get to wear). The lucky winners also probably win a temporary wife or two and earn the privilege of being added to, and recorded in, the ever-growing mountain of forgettable sporting statistics.

The less well-known Jura boat race was altogether much rougher, occurred only once and resulted in the winner probably getting a boatload of whisky, none of which was wastefully worn, and a permanent wife, not a one-night-stand. It was not a race in a pencil-like skinny boat with eight rowers apiece and a little person to steer on a quiet inland river, this was in a sturdy solid boat with one oarsman and in the open sea. The result of the race has been faithfully and permanently recorded in the family annals of the Lindsays of Lagg on the island of Jura.

The prize for winning the race was the hand of Effie McGilp, a much sought after maiden who was reputedly beautiful and had beautiful red hair. The winner did not actually win her hand in marriage, but only the right to be the first to ask her. It is only meet here to pause and reflect on the very fair-minded and egalitarian attitudes that then prevailed on Jura; Effie was not obliged to marry the winner, only to consider his proposal first.

Archibald Lindsay was the second son of John Lindsay and Helen McColl, known to everyone as Eliza, and was born in Lagg in 1818. He fancied the redhead Effie McGilp, but unfortunately so did a man called MacLean. It was agreed that the two suitors should row from Lagg to the mainland and the winner would get to ask her to marry him. Whether Effie McGilp had any input into the selection process is not recorded. To the modern eye, the downside of this arrangement is immediately apparent; this was not the age of the Evinrudes or two-horse Seagulls; the only seagulls were the ones that make messes and nowadays target recently washed cars; this was the age of the one man-power rowing boat and ‘De’il tak the hindmost.’ So the pair set off from Lagg one day in 1843. Doubtless there was a degree of ceremonial fortification accompanying the setting of race rules, and starting them off. Archy won the race and his proposal to the lovely Effie was accepted. They married in 1844, lived a long time, and had eight children, all born in Lagg.

Such maritime competitiveness is delightfully perpetuated today. The Jura Regatta is a slightly modernised successor to the Great Jura Boat Race. but not by much. Archy Lindsay, the wondrous rower, was the great-great grandfather of the sadly late Grand Admiral of the Jura Fleet, Lindsay MacDougall – so, like myself, a direct descendant.

The opinion of the outcome by the gallant McLean who came second is not recorded but he doubtless passed colourful Gaelic comment on the result. Perhaps his descendants learned to drive fast cars, buses and big ships, having discovered that they are faster, less effort and can also pull birds.

Personally, were I were confronted with such a punishing nine mile row, I would have dropped the mackerel feathers just off Lagg point and let the McLean win. I would not in that case be recounting this true story but by good fortune my ancestors were built of sterner stuff and probably had enough fish at the time.

Reference

 * Lindsay Neil. Jan 2004– reworked 2011