ROWING NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7747, 30 December 1890, Page 6

ROWING NOTES.

• Bt Ripabian.] The second regatta of this season Is now an event of the past, and, all things considered, it can hardly be said to have been a success. The good people of Kaiapoi are certainly to be sympathised with as, having battled against great odds to make their regatta a. success, nature fought against them by giving them one of the most aapleasant days it is possible to imagine. Early in the day there was some talk of postponing the events, but after foil consideration, the Committee thought better of it, and perhaps they were wise in the course they pursued. At the starting of the first race the wind was hardly strong enough to greatly affect che rowing, but after this it gradually increased in strength, until by four o'clock ib was blowing with force sufficient to tear branches off trees and lash the water into regular breakers, from five o'clock the nor'-wester gradually subsided, and by the time the hist eveut was decided Che river was just as smooth as the Avon. Under buch Adverse circumstances, it was only to be expected that uiishaps would occur, and, all things considered, it is a wonder there were.npt more awampLngs and foulings than was the caae. The first half-mile in the Seniors' course was especially exposed, and this may account for the series of mishaps which occurred in the Senior Pairs, and made the race almost a lottery. However, as the best crew.won, very little gruinb* ling was heard, and after the hardships they had to contend with, the win was a credit to them.

The racing on the whole was fair, -the most exciting event being the contest between Cure, Canterbury, and Lytteliou in the Junior Sculls. By good steering »the Kaiapoi men had obtained a substantial lead when half the journey had been accomplished, but Canterbury gradually - wore them down, and condition told as usual. Cure had no difficulty in annexing both the senior events, and, judging by the easy manner in which they won, they should repeat this performance at Lyttelton on Thursday next. Foster appropriated the Single Sculls . somewhat easily from Fautham,but this race told its tale on him later in the.day. In Barnes the Cure Club possess, in my opinion, a man who has no equal in Canterbury as a sculler, but they wisely decided to rely on Fanthain and reserve Barnes for the other events. The maiden. events weie -again accounted for by Lyttelton, though not without & straggle in each cat>e. In the sculling' event Avon were their nearest attendants, and I am inclined to think they would have been very close up but for fouling a stump end being erratically steered. Half a mile from home the Pairs seemed to be at Cure's mercy, as they had a lead of fully two lengths, but ail of a sodden they collapsed, and. left Lyttelton to win anyhow. The Junior Pairs waa another very fair race, as although Lyttelton had a. lead at Lock's Point, Canterbury seemed to be gaining on them, but Strange shot his bolt some distance, from home, having rowed himself clean out. On Saturday afternoon the Senior Fours was decided, and resulted, as I anticipated, in favor of Cure. Laurie is to be congratulated on the fine struggle he made with the winners, but Smith's exhibition was certainly disappointing. The following crews should go near winning their races at Lyttelton on Thursday next: — ' - Single Sculls—Cure (Barnes); Senior Pairs and Sculls—Cure 1, Lyttelton 2, Canterbury 3. : Maiden Pairs—Lytteiton 1, Cure 2, Canterbury 3. ■ ;•■■ ■■•- ; —•■■'/- . Maiden, Sculls—Lyttelton 1, Avon 2, UnionS.

Junior Pairs and Sculls—Canterbury 1, lijttelton 2.