RIVER REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 64, 17 March 1930, Page 16

RIVER REGATTA.

NGARUAWAHIA GALA. CANOE, SKIFF AND. OUTBOARD RACES. (By Telegraph.—Own Corespondent.) • NGARUAWAHIA, Saturday. Almost a record crowd gathered on the river bank at Ngaruawahia to-day for the annual regatta, which wa s held under ideal conditions, with, a continuity of events which kept many thousands busy wandering fro'rn the Waipa River to the Waikato River and back. Sideshows, riverside picnic parties and groups of Maoris made the scene one of gaiety the day long, while the search for or collection of lost children, of whom there were several, spoiled the day for a few parents. Events' started with a remarkable thrill, for in the motor boat races, which opened the programme, one outboard emulated the Maori pastime and took a hurdle in a manner no canoe could rival. Mr. Blackmore's speedster, Miss Hamilton, in endeavouring to avoid another craft at the turn opposite the pavilion, swung out so wide that she ran straight at a riverside canoe hurdle. Fortunately the boat's nose was sufficiently upraised to take the hurdle, and over she went, her engine being thrown back. The driver, with remarkable presence of mind, returned the engine to the perpendicular and raced on after an astonishing escape. The finish of the second outboard was as exciting as any could wish for, Marqueite coining with wonderful speed at the finish to beat Miss Arawa, which was just ahead of Blue Streak. The four boats finished with less than five seconds separating them all. The canoe races were more than usually Writing, the "race for a bride" arousing great enthusiasm, while the efforts of the wahines in the canoe hurdle races brought shrieks of laughter over varying fortunes of the paddlers. A punt moortfd in the river provided a platform for the native dances, which packed the banks with spectators. The rowing races attracted the entries of 54 crews, and the general standard of rowing was good, and the racing excitin SDespite the big and varied programme, the events were got off with fair promptitude, and shortly after four o'clock many thousands were homeward bound to all parts of the Waikato. Detailed results of the various contests follow: — OUTBOARDS. First Race. —Pastime 1, Miss Hamilton 2, Arawa 3. Second Race.—Marquette 1. Arawa 2, Blue Streak 3. A remarkable finish. Marquetfs time for three miles was 5.47. CANOES. Girls.—Kimiora 1, OK 2. Under and' Over Hurdles.—OK 1, Pukete 2, Kimiora 3. ■' Championship.—Weremake 1, Violet 2, Kimiora 3. Pursuit of a Bride.—Paroponakl 1, Punga 2. * Canoe Hurdles (men and women). — Kimiora 1, Weremake 2. War Canoes.—Ngaruawahia 1, Mourea 2. Mounted Swimming Race.—.T. Howard's Ka (Blackie) and Toney (O. Wright), equal, 1. Large Kopapa Race.—Punga 1, Parapanaki 2. Men's Canoe Hurdle Race. —Weremake 1, O.K. 2, Kimiora 3. BAGPIPE MUSIC. Marches. —Paget 1, Amor 2. Anderson 3. B Grade. —Mathieson 1, Robertson 2, Ferguson 3. Slow Marches.—Podget 1, Amor 2, McCowan 3.

Highland Flings.—Miss Docherty 1, Miss. Mcllroy 2. Under 13: Miss Templeton 1, Miss Sinton 2, Miss Wallace 3. Under 16: Miss Freeborn 1, Miss Dickinson -, Miss Long 3. Sword Dances.—Under 13: Miss Long 1, Miss Dickson 2, Miss Golley 3. Under 16: Miss Sinton: 1,- Miss Temper ton- 2, Miss Cunningham 3.- ' - , Highland Reel.—Under 13 : Miss Docherty 1, Miss Long 2, Miss McCarthy 3. Under 16: Miss Sinton 1, Miss Gain 2. ROWING. Maiden Fours, 10 stone and under/ one mile.—Hamilton (Hammond, McKenzie, Morpeth, Hare), 1; Waitemata, 2; West End, 3. Won by a bare length. The only starters. A good race between Hamilton and' Waitemata till entering -the Waipa, where Hamilton steadily forged ahead. Maiden Double Sculls, one mile.—Waitemata) (Beesley and Smith), 1; Tauranga, 2;, St. George's, 3. ' Won by half a length. Also started: West End, Auckland. Waitemata were first to the Waipa. Tauranga challenged hard,.: but Waitemata staved eff the challengers and won a fine race. Junior Fours, one mile and a half. — West End (C. Felton, Bloxham, Wright, Haylock), 1; Waitemata, 2; Auckland, . 3.. Won by a length, with half a length between second and third. Also started: North Shore, St. George's, Hamiltcfti. A very fine finish. Handicap Single Sculls, Bell Challenge Picture and Trophy, one mile.—l. W. St. Clair (Hamilton) 1, E. A. Waters (Hamilton) 2, W. Eaddy (Waitemata) 3. A fairly close finish resulted. Maiden Fours, one mile.—North Shore (A. E. Cotes, S. Gardiner, D. Walsh, C. Oliver) 1, Hamilton No. 2 2, Hamilton No. 33. Won by half a length. Ngaruawahia Challenge Shield, for Senior Fours, two miles. —Hamilton No. 1 (G. W. St. Clair, B. Sandos, W. Bayley, E. A. Waters) 1, North Shore 2, Waitemata 3. Won by four lengths, with the same' distance separating second and third. Junior Pair Oars, one mile and a half. — West End (Baker, W. Johnson) 1, Tauranga 2, Waitemata 3. Youths' Fours, one mile.—Hamilton (W. Curnow, W. Tombs, A. Sweeney, H. Somerville) 1, North Shore 2. Won by three feet. Maiden Pair Oars, one mile. —West End (F. Baker, F. Conway) 1, Hamilton 2. Won by half a length.