The Shoalhaven Historical Society has recently accepted perhaps the largest and most spectacular sporting trophy to be lodged in its collection.
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The superb Nicholson Cup won by Jim Regan in 1925 for the South Coast Skiff Championship at the Numbaa regatta has been held by members of the winner's family for almost a century.
The trophy has now been donated to the historical society and will be on display at the Nowra Museum.
The superb silver trophy has the following inscription:
Shoalhaven Rowing Club
Presented by Nicholson & Co.
For the Skiff Championship of the South Coast
Won by J. Regan. 1st January 1925.
The acquisition led to research into the life of James "Jim" Regan (1896-1974), fifth in the family of eight children born to Irish immigrant James Regan and his wife Ann Jane (nee Comerford).
The next generation of Regans would become synonymous with sport in the Shoalhaven.
Growing up, Jim began work at the Jindiandy factory of the Fresh Food and Ice Company and such was his diligence and dedication, he rose to the position of manager.
He was involved in many aspects of sporting and community life in the Numbaa/Pyree district, being a member of Pyree's premiership cricket sides, a player and office-bearer with the Pyree Rovers Rugby League Club, and active in the Pyree School of Arts.
However, this article will deal mainly with his prowess as an oarsman.
After no regattas had been held in the district since the outbreak of World War I, the sport was resuscitated on Saturday, January 12, 1924 on the old Numbaa course.
Buses and launches brought people from Nowra, an area was set aside for motor vehicles and those with horses, resulting in about 1000 spectators being in attendance.
Jim Regan teamed with his brother Mick to win the first heat of the double sculls, and in the final they led with 50 yards to go, only to be overtaken near the finish.
Jim had more luck in the lady and gent double sculls, when with Madge Bevan they won the first heat and also the final.
The success of that event led to the Shoalhaven Regatta Club being formed on Thursday, February 21 with William Watts president, Jim Wilson secretary, and William Calcraft treasurer.
Anxious to stage its first regatta, the club decided on the following April "if rowing boats could be procured at a reasonable fee".
After a postponement owing to rain, it went ahead on the 26th, and the Regans were prominent competitors.
Successful in their respective heats of the single sculls, Jim and Mick took the major placings in the final; while the pair won both their heat and the final of the double sculls.
Jim and Madge Bevan won a heat of the lady and gent double sculls and were second in the final, ahead of brother and sister team Mick and Nellie Regan who came in fourth.
Up to 1000 spectators attended the regattas - buses and launches brought people from Nowra, an area was even set aside for motor vehicles and those with horses.
ATTRACTION: Artie Smith succeeded Jim Wilson as secretary during 1924, and the new committee decided that admission to the 1925 New Year's Day regatta would be reduced by a halfpenny (from the one shilling of the previous year) for adults, while it was still 6d for children.
A major attraction was the South Coast Single Sculls Championship with nominations invited from south of Wollongong to the Victorian border.
Prizemoney for the meeting was £60, but an added incentive for the championship was the impressive silver cup donated by businessman Mr Nicholson, described as a "Sydney sport".
The club had purchased from Sydney, four new boats fitted with sliding seats to be used by competitors in the six events.
The large crowd included a celebrity in Bill Beach from Dapto, an undefeated world champion back in the 1880s.
While refreshments were available on the ground, spectators were invited to bring their own baskets of food and make the day into a picnic.
The South Coast Single Sculls Championship was a major attraction with nominations invited from south of Wollongong to the Victorian border. The meeting carried prizemoney of £60, with an added incentive for the championship was the impressive silver cup donated by Mr Nicholson.
The Shoalhaven News started its extensive report with a description of the scene:
On New Year's Day all roads led to the Numba regatta course. At any rate, most of the people who wanted an outing made their way to the delightful picnic ground east of the Numba wharf, on the fine little property belonging to Mr George Coulthart fronting the Shoalhaven River, where the district regatta club had arranged for the carrying out of a very attractive program of rowing events.
The traffic along the roads converging to that centre was very heavy, all kinds of vehicles, from the stately motor-car, the useful motor-cycle, and a variety of horse-drawn means of transport being brought into requisition.
By the afternoon the attendance numbered well over a thousand, and the southern bank of the beautiful river presented quite an animated scene, what with a large assemblage gathered on the shore, the sculling boats on the water, several launches tied up close by, and a quantity of bunting flying in the gentle breeze.
The day was beautifully fine for outdoor amusement, the sun's rays being tempered by light clouds.
It was a hectic day for the Regans with Jim and Mick winners among the five heats of the single sculls, but Mick took out the final.
The brothers then combined to win the third heat and the final of the double sculls.
In the outrigger events, Jim won the maiden race and was leading in the handicap when his boat was struck by another and it capsized.
However, main interest was in the South Coast Championship for the Nicholson Cup which was on view for spectators to admire.
In the third and final heat, Jim Regan was pushed all the way by Tom Peel before winning by 18 inches.
With the trophy up for grabs in the final, Regan rowed with great power and judgment, to win comfortably by eight lengths from Alf Clifford (Dapto), with Toby Bice third.
Jim was a popular winner, as shown when he accepted the trophy from club president Watts to sustained applause.
While congratulating him on his meritorious win, Mr Watts also eulogised him for his good sportsmanship.
The regatta was a financial success, a profit of £44 being noted, and with the boats paid for, the committee decided to build a boatshed which could be used as a refreshment booth on race days.
In recognition of his donation, Mr Nicholson was honoured with life membership of the Shoalhaven Rowing Club.
The regatta held on New Year's Day of 1926 saw Jim Regan earn the highest prizemoney of the day, £20 for winning the outrigger handicap event over 11/2 miles, from his brother Mick and Jack Coulthart.
The Regans won a heat of the double sculls, but were relegated to second place in an exciting final.
Woodchops had been added to the program, and the crowd was said to have been a record.
Read more: Pyree Football Club pin proves a mystery
That was a significant year for Jim who had married local lass Anna Todhunter, after which the Pyree School of Arts arranged a house-warming for the couple on August 12, also attended by representatives of the rowing, football and cricket clubs.
With the Back To Shoalhaven Week being held in October 1926, a regatta was organised, with the Regan brothers donating a trophy for the Old Buffers' Handicap (for rowers 60 and over).
Given no favours by the handicappers, they each won heats of the single sculls before Mick took the final after an epic battle.
They teamed to win the double sculls, and were among the placegetters in the open outriggers.
Highlight of the new year regatta in 1927 was the all-comers' single sculls handicap final that came after five heats, and Jim Regan tied with William Clifford (son-in-law of the legendary Bill Beach).
With both keen to have the gold medal donated by Nowra cordial-manufacturer James Kelly, they agreed to a row-off late in the day.
Regan gave his opponent 11 seconds start, but won comfortably by three lengths - and the medal.
A year later in the same race for a similar prize, Jim was not at his best in finishing second to Reg Wilson in both his heat and the final.
That proved to be his last regatta on the Numbaa course, for when Jindiandy was among several dairy factories to close, Jim left the district.
Read more: Nowra man Jim Wilson's incredible life
At the farewell held in the Pyree Literary Institute on Tuesday, August 28, 1928, he was presented with a wallet of notes by the chairman, South Shoalhaven Mayor William Ryan.
Speaking on behalf of the rowers, William Watts said that the Regans had been largely instrumental in raising the club to its present high standard.
While living at Bowral in 1934, Jim was noted returning for the Shoalhaven regatta.
Despite its size, he obviously treasured the Nicholson Cup that he won in 1925 and it stayed in the family for 96 years.
Shoalhaven Historical Society was delighted to accept it in such good condition, and to make its history known.
Read more: Local History
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