AQUATIC CELEBRATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 259, 8 November 1897, Page 4

AQUATIC CELEBRATIONS.

The firsfc " At Home " of the season of the West End Rowing Club was held'on Saturday afternoon at the Club's boathouse, Ponsonby, and was very larcreW attended, the guests being accommodated in the boathouse and on the beach. There were close on a thousand people present, and the afternoon's proceedings were mnch enjoyed. The gig races held in connection with the "At Home " were the final rounds of the Club's trial fours, and proved very interesting contests. During the afternoon tea and refreshments were supplied to the visitors, and musical selections were played by the Newton Brass Band. Mr D. B, McDonald, Vice-President, asted as jud^e' and Mr R. Logan, junior, as starter, Mr Logan also providing the starter's boat, the s.s. Despatch. The first heat of the fours v» ras contested by three gig crews, stroked by G. O. Stephensou, J. Maxwell, and A. Wright, the latter "winning by a length and a half. In the second race, A. Bailey's crew beat Conway's by threequarters of a length, and in the third Young's four beat Matthews'. After a spell of half-an-hour the final was rowed between Bailey's, Wright's, and Young's crews. The race was a most exciting one, and was won by about two feet by Bailey's crew, with Young's crew second and the bow of Wright's boat only three feet away from that of Young's. The finish was one of the closest yet seen in the harbour, and the winning crew were loudly cheered. The victorious crew consisted of A. Bailey (stroke), H. Adams, F. Booth, F. Munro, and C. Hughes (coxswain). The Captain of the Club, Mr J. Clark, in a short speech thanked the prize-givers and others who assisted. The first prizes were binoculars presented by Mr T. Peacock, and second gold centred medals presented by Prof. Carollo. The St. George's Rowing Club held their first "At Home" and trial fours of the season at Judge's Bay on Saturday afternoon, and entertained a large number of guests. The lower part of the " Birtley" grounds was thrown open by Mrs Street for the pleasure of the visitors. The Newton Band played enjoyable music during the afternoon, and afternoon tea was dispensed to the visitors. Several heats of trial fours for trophies presented by the commodore, Mr S. T. George, were decided. In the first heat the competing crews were stroked by Nicholson and Buchanan, the former winning. The second heat was won by Thompson's crew, the opposing crew, Jervis', being put out of it through the bow man breaking his stretcher. The crews in the third heat were stroked by Whitley and McHardy, the latter's crew winning. The semifinal was won by Thompson's crew, who defeated Nicholson's. The final heat between McHardy's and Thompson's crews will be decided during the week. Thompson's crew consists of himself and Dunnage, Craig and G. George, and McHardy's arj? McGili, Edgecumbe and Rennell.