The Chaseley Boat Race: A Tradition Best Served in Pints

Long before the charity fun runs, summer fairs and quiz nights through which Chaseley residents mingle with Eastbourne community members, they had their own unique way of reminding Eastbourne they were up on South Cliff overlooking the seafront: taking part in a legendary drinking game with good-hearted local golfers. It involved teamwork, speed, and a steady hand on a pint glass.

The Chaseley Boat Race began in 1948, sparked by a challenge from friends at the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club. They had a simple question: who were the best drinkers? And the way the golfers suggested they would answer that question was through an annual showdown. 

Eight players would take part on each side with a total of 16 pints lined up before them. The rules were clear. Teams lined up side by side. On the signal, the first person drank their pint. Once empty, the glass had to be turned upside down to prove it was finished. Only then could the next teammate start. Spilt drinks or dropped glasses brought penalties. The first team to finish, all glasses inverted, won the race.

It was competitive, noisy, and taken very seriously. And the Chaseley Boys were very good at it. Over the next 20 years, the Chaseley team was defeated just twice. Their success earned them a trophy, which still sits proudly behind the bar today, a reminder of evenings filled with laughter, rivalry, and more than a few empty pint glasses.

The Boat Race was about more than drinking. It was about camaraderie, confidence, and rubbing elbows with your next door neighbour. A group of residents proving, pint by pint, that for all their challenges life at Chaseley was full of energy, humour, and shared moments. 

Eighty years on, the stories still raise a smile. Some traditions are worth remembering—especially the ones that end with a trophy on the bar.