INTERSTATE FOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 48, 25 February 1910, Page 5

INTERSTATE FOURS.

WON BY WANGANTJI. BLENHEIM IN SECOND PLACE. HOBART, February 24. The four-oared boat race, postponed from yesterday owing to weather conditions being unfavourable, came off today over the championship course of three miles, on the upper reaches of the Derwent. The water was smooth, but the wind was against tlie crews. The _positions taken up were: Nagambie (Victoria) on tl>e eastern shore, then Derwent, Wanganui, Sandy Bay, Wide Bay, Blenheim, and Adelaide. A good start was effected, Queensland being the first to catch the water, and obtained a slight lead before any distance was travelled. After 200 yards had been passed Wanganui picked Queensland up, Naganibie following suit, then came Blenheim and tnen Derwent.

Wanganui then went to the front, rowing a fine, even stroke, and putting every ounce of weight into it. They were rapidly outpacing their opponents, Nagambie being next, then Blenheim, Derwent falling back, Queensland also going to the rear, and Adelaide last. The farther they went the bigger the gap made from Nagambio, while Blenheim was catching the latter. Dorwent also >ut in some fine work, the order then icing: Wanganui three or four lengths ahead. Nagambie, Blenheim, and Derwent almost in line for second place. During the third mile Wanganui gave no chance to their opponents to get near them, having half a dozen lengths between them and Blenheim, who had got clear of Nagambie, while the pace told its tale on Derwent, who fell back fourth. There was no further alteration, Wanganui winning by six lengths. Blenheim was second and Nagambie (Victoria) third, with Derwent fourth, Queensland a bad fifth, then Sandy Bay, and Adelaide. The time was 20m 42 2-ss. Cheers, hearty and prolonged, greeted the winnners from the crowd on the steamers, and they were renewed as they reached Bridgewater. The members of the crews seen subsequently admitted that the race was a hard one, and that the pace set by Wanganui gave them no chance. Nagambie were favourites, with Derwent next. To-night the winners were presented with a handsome shield, specially made for the race, while each member of the crew was given a gold medal. The names of the winning crew are:— J. Cottrcll (stroke), E. Rylands, W. Dustin, and D. Corby (bow). Wanganui Union ran first and Blenheim were second at the championship regatta at Pieton.