AQUATIC.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5074, 12 December 1881, Page 3

AQUATIC.

What is usually looked upon as the principal event of the season in connection with the Canterbury Bowing Club, namely, the raoe for the President* Cap, came off on the Avon on Saturday afternoon, over the two mile course. Four crews originally entered, but only three out of the four pet in an appearance at the appointed hoar. Notwithstanding thii, however, a great deal of interest was centred in the issue o? the two heate to be rowed, as the three crews were fairly evenly matched, and each had been doing steady practice for some weeks past. Grierson's crew found the most favor in the minds of those who had an idea of the relative merits of the various competitors, and this idea was finally substantiated on Saturday by the favorite crew appropriating the honor of winning in good style the President's Cup raoe of 1831. In addition to the above event, the Maiden Fair-oar race was pulled off on the same afternoon, the course being one mile. For this there were four entries, and as each crew put in an appearance, tome very fair racing ensued, the final heat, whioh was a capital race from start to finish, being won by W. A. Day and E. W. Hart. Appended are the results of each heat:— Maiden Foues. First beat. Tyne— J. Grierson (stroke), J. Hay, 3; A. Smith, 2 ; J. O. Jones (bow) 1 Electric—W. de Castro (stroke), L. M. OUivier, 3; F. Alliion, 2; E. McDongall (bow) 2 The Electric was the leading boat for nearly the whole of the first mile. After this, Grierson quickened his stroke, and the Tyne gradually overhauled and passed the Bleetric, Griewon's crew finally winning a well-contested race. Second Heat. Tyne— J. Grierßon (stroke), J. Hay, 3; A. Smith, 2 ; J. O. Jones (bow) 1 Electric— C. B. Dobson (stroke), E. M. Boulton, 3; W. Lake, 2 ; J. B. Evans (bow) 2 There was an unfortunate foul at the start, but after the boats got well away, Griereon gradually drew ahead, and maintained a lead to the finish, despite the game efforts of Dobson, who rowed a very plucky loosing race, and had his No. 2 been able to stay, the result would have been a very close contest. Aa it wai, Dobson drew up within half a length of being on even terms with his opponents when about a couple of hundred yards from home, but Grierson again quickened op, and won by just a boat's length.

Maibbn Paibb. First Best. W. A. Day and B. W. Hart 1 H. Sirams and B. Million 2 Day and Hart led nearly the whole way, end won tolerably easy. Second Heat. C. H. Inglia and 8. E. Wright 1 J. Davidson and C. A. lees 2 Davidson and Lees held a slight lead from the start, but they were soon overhauled by their opponents, who gradually drew away, and won by a couple of lengths. Final Heat. W. A. Day and B. W. Hart 1 C. H. Liglis and S. E. Wright 2 Though Day and Wright went away with a slight lead, this was a capitally contested race throughout, scarcely a boat's length separating the orews at any point from start to finish. Both crews being composed of mere lads, the race was naturally enongh not a fast one, but the youths rowed very pluckily, and pulled their stroke well through all the way, Day and Hart finally ginning their maiden event by about a length. This evening a double sculling race will be rowed, to decide the result of a challenge between P. Donoan and J. Hay and J. Grierson and E. M. Boulton, for the honor of representing the C. B.C. in the race for double loulls at the Akaroa Begatta on the 16th instant.