This film is part of Free
World's Amateur Sculling Champion
Jack Beresford wins his second Gold Cup on the River Thames
Overview
It's 1925 on the River Thames and Jack Beresford cruises to an easy victory in The Gold Cup - so easy his opponent, American Walter Hoover, is out of view. Beresford had successfully defended the title he won in 1924, the same year he won his first of three Olympic gold medals. Beresford, CBE, is one of Britain's most outstanding rowers and his streak of winning five medals in five consecutive Olympic Games was only beaten Sir Steve Redgrave at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
The Gold Cup, aka The Philadelphia Challenge Cup, was instigated in 1920 by a group from Philadelphia's rowing community to celebrate the first American to win the Olympic gold medal in the single sculls. The aim was for it to be regarded as the Amateur Single Sculling Championship of the World.
Related
Flashing Blades Flashing Blades
Sport 1948 9 mins Silent
Tricky weather conditions cause some spills in the downhill and ski jumping at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St Moritz.
The Wheelchair Olympians The Wheelchair Olympians
Documentary 1983 25 mins Location: Cleckheaton
With the Paralympics even more marginalised than today, these athletes show great determination, dedication, camaraderie and humility.
Mining Review 22nd Year No. 1 Mining Review 22nd Year No. 1
1968 3 mins
We're off! Olympic training on the streets of Mansfield as local boy John Whetton prepares for the 1968 Mexico City games.
Women's Olympiad Women's Olympiad
Non-Fiction 1924 3 mins Silent Location: Fulham
British "girl athletes" prove themselves in competition with women from around the world at Stamford Bridge.
Diving and Swimming Diving and Swimming
1926 14 mins Silent
Special effects galore in this demonstration of fancy swimming and diving, featuring Olympic medallist Belle White.
Olga Olga
Sport 1973 54 mins
A rare insight into gymnast Olga Korbut's life at the height of her fame, showing the discipline it takes to be an Olympic champion.
Blind Oarsmen Blind Oarsmen
Non-Fiction 1915 1 mins Silent Location: Putney
Putney plays host to rowing races between soldiers who lost their sight during the war and blind students from Worcester College.
Squatparty Squatparty
Amateur film 1981 17 mins Location: Putney
Female punks have fun boozing, smoking and talking in this fascinating film by London lifestyle chronicler Captain Zip.
Mayfield School, Putney, Summer 1955 Mayfield School, Putney, Summer 1955
Amateur film 1955 11 mins Silent Location: Putney
Life, learning, sport and swatting in a Putney girls' grammar school.
An All-round Athlete An All-round Athlete
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent Location: Putney
Swimming champion Walter Brickett enters the record books with an incredible feat of physical endurance.
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.