AQUATICS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9385, 8 April 1896, Page 3

AQUATICS.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP KEGATTA.

(press association telegram.)

PICrON, April 7. The Saleotion Committee appointed by the Rowing Association mot last night, and after a brief discussion decided that the Qneen's Drive crew and Chapman be sect to Sydney to represent New Zealand in the Intercolonial Fours ami Sculls next month. Since Saturday night's meetiDg the members of the Queeu's Drive crew have been able to arrange the necessary leave, and Mr Yeomin announced last night that the* could all make the trip. Mr Chapman fa*C a similar undertaking. The Committee felt that both races had been "»r*| won by the best men, and u» reply to » question Mr Yeoman stated that the Queen's Drive crew had plenty leio in them at the finish. All they wanted to do was to keep the lead, and this they were able to do without bringing their whole strength into play. Aβ to Chapman, the Committee recognised that he had' gamely and cunningly worn down both McGrath and McCormick, and that in the Wairewa msra the colony had a moßt promising sculler. Chapman's victory is all the more creditable from the fact that he rowed in a very heavy boat, whioh is generally considered to have been lengths slower than any other boat in the race, lie proposes to send an order to Australia immediately for a first* class boat, to be built in readiness for him on his arrival in Sydney. Chapman statee that he thought he would be able this year to give McGrath all he wanted, and for that reason saved himself in the Double Soulls, leaving all the hard work to Reed. He says he is in tip-top form, and is confident that he will give a good account of himself on the other side.

Nothing bub admiration was expressed for the form shown by the five crews in the Champion Fours yesterday, and it was admitted on all sides that any one of them would be worthy representatives of New Zealand in the Intercolonial contest. The Queen's Drive won rather easier than they did last year, bub there was a desperate struggle for the other places. The prize winnings of the various Clubs were as follows:—Queen's Drive £32, Pioton £26, Wairewa £24, Wellington £22, Canterbury £14, Blenheim £10, Star £5, Nelson £2, VVangauui Unions and Dunedin Amateurs nil. The local Committee antioipate a email credit balance. All the remaining crews and visitors leave for Wellington by the Wainui shortly after uoon.

Pright attributes his defeat to the rough water, aud says he lost his chance, through shipping a big sea off Mabel Island. Crawford says his men never felo in better order, and does not discount the victory because of the lumpy water, as his boat was nearly half full for the last three quarter* of a mile. The general opinion is that the state of the water favoured a light crew like Wellington. The Wellington Club won the largest amount of priz9 money at regattas this season, viz., £126; Wairewa next, €106 j Queen's Drive, £80. The following ia the result of the Senior Clin kick Fours, two miles ; prizes £10 and £2. Wellington R. C.—C. Poll (bow), J. Bourke (2), F. Wolff (3), P. R. Crawford (stroke), Tingey (cox) ... ... 1. Queen's Drive Boating Club — Same crew as Champion Fours .... ... 2 Unions (Wanganui) ... ... . .» 3 Star ... ... ... ... * Blßnheim and Wellington No. 2 crew did not start. Wellington orew, which, iwith one exception, was the same that won the Ladies' Plate yesterday, Poll taking Spencer's place as bow, effected a tremendous surprise by winning this event. The champions, who started warm favourites, went off with the lead, which they kept for half-a-mile, when Crawford went up and establishing over a length's lead, won rather easily by three or four lengths. A similar distance separated the Queen's Drive and Unions. Xhe water was very lumpy all along the course, and the Stars, starting with their boat half full, were a long way in the rear the whole distance. Wellington were rowing wonderfully well at the finish. The Queen's Drive were very ragged and without their customary combination! • Richardson, the coaoh of the Blenheim crew, candidly admits that the Queen's Drive crew were faster than his men, and declares that ho will have another crew next year with two new men in it. George Seymour (stroke) will probably be found one of the absentees, as he intends to take to sculling. Tne Wanganui Unions attribute their defeat to bad steering. The Queen's Drive crew appeared quite fresh after the race. Wright, the stroke, states that they had the strength of everything else in the race after the half mile had been covered.