AQUATIC NOTES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9668, 5 March 1897, Page 2

AQUATIC NOTES.

"Weekly Press and Referee.'

[Br Clinker.] The Christohuroh Regatta was a successful gathering. There wan some grumbling at the lack of a little music at the convincing ground to enliven proceedings, which, I think, was a mistake on the part of the powers that be, for there is always a oertain number that go to the regatta more for the outing than watching the racing, and* as the executive get support from them as well as other sections, it would, I think, be advisable to cater for all classes. I have asked several competitors, both visiting and local, their opinion of the new course, but although naturally, they differ, taking them on the whole, they seemed satisfied. The crews that had to row on the Christchurch side of the river complained, it being argued that water was very dead on that' side. From a spectator's point of view, however, it is better than either Lake Forsyth _r Sumner, as a good viow of the races nearly all the way is obtainable. Mr H. It. Homan, the secretary, worked hard and successfully, and the crews were load in the praise of the starting of Mr Alf. Craddook, the vice-captain of the Christchurch Union Club.

The regatta was started by the rowing in heats of the Junior Double Sculls, and the form all round in the heats and the final was fairly good. Akaroa rowed better in the first heat than the final; they lacked the dash in the second race that they had in their first essay. On the other hand, the Union [ crew were just the opposite, more especially as regards the stroke man, who pulled most piuc-ily, and did far more hard work than his , bow, whose form was, at the finish, not as good as it might have been. Wairewa rowed ' a plucky race but very uneven; they were far too rough In their work, both in and out of I the water, while Timaru wore quite out- [ classed. The Avon showed good paoa in the second heat, as did Wellington, who had a ,-very lively stroke, but j fancy they would not have been in .secpnd berth had it not been for tbe bad course the coxswains of the Lyttelton and V.M.C.A. steered -<. them; the former showed-good form and pace in their endeavour to dutpace the visitors at the finish. The Senior-Four brought forward an entry of two, which ia very miserable for a £20 prize. As I anticipated last week, a good crew from the Wellington Rowing Club's shed won somewhat easily from the Christchurch Union, who, by-the-bye, rowed with a substitute, No. 8, Lee, being late in putting in an appearance. Nioholls filled his seat. Crawford set his crew a quick stroke, and right manfully, in a business-like fashion, did his crew dash it through the water. • All of the crew lifted with a will, particularly No. 3 (Calnan), who paid speoial attention to time. Samuels, however, set his men a long sweeping stroke,, which was on the slow side, and he shortened a deal as he got nearer home. Considering the substitute they showed fair form, but if they had had their selected crew I do not think the positions would have been altered at the finish, for the Wellington men are a very even lot. The Maiden Sculls was a very pretty race to watch, and a very popular win for Ebert and Juris., the Union Club's crew, who palled with plenty of vigour and kept at it all the way. Improved form was shown by the V.M.C.A. men, Saxton and Redpath, thanks to the fine coaching of Crosbie, the ex-champion, who has taken a lot of trouble with the club's crews, who certainly do him credit. They made an excellent fight for it all the way. Wairewa lacked condition. They had not done much preparation for the race and sadly needed coaching. Akaroa were far too slow and Wellington were fair, but had a tendency to miss the first part of the stroke. Timaru disappointed mc very much. I fully expected them to go on improving on their Lyttelton form, but they went to pieces very soon, and in the last quarter laboured very badly. The Junior Four-Oared race was annexed by a fair crew from the Canterbury shed. They rowed very unevenly over the last quarter, throwing a lot of water about, and the craft ; rolled badly at times, but, when going evenly, the boat ran nicely between the strokes. E. Nicholl, as usual, kept his length right through the race and rowed with good judgment. He always was a favourite of mine, and I had no reason to lose confidence j after his Thursday's form. Star also rowed ! on the rough side and were very slow in getting forward, there being quite a noticeable pause before they ant into the water. Avon rowed well at stages of the race, but were more often than not too slow at getting their work on. The Youths' Doable SeaUs was .won by a fair j crew from the Wairewa Club. They had I plenty of dash, though on the rough aide, but we shall doubtless hear of them again if they keep going. V.M.C.A. were very slow for about half way up the straight, when they came fairly strong for a time. Had they been able to keep going, I fancy they would have been closer up at the finish than they were. The alteration in the Akaroa orew made all' the difference, and the new man, DHely, was ont of condition. Union, whose crew was very light, were no match for {heir bigger opponents, bat rowed evenly and in good form.

The Maiden Four race, whioh ia, as a rule, an interesting one, brought forth a good contest. The winners, Wellington, rowed a good race, though they had a short, sharp stroke, and they kept the pace all the same, and rowed very evenly right through, and won somewhat easily at the finish, Ihesecret of their success struck mc as being their combination ; they all rowed well together. Canterbury's stroke man set them a long stroke at the start, but as they got nearer the finish he shortened and quickened up a deal, and at one stage I thought they woqld overhaul the Wellington crew, but when Slinn called on his men it was plain to see they had the race won. No. 2 of the Canterbury crew, was a bit rough once or twioe, and Hawkes did not out into the water quickly enough. The Union crew was not business-like in their work, and right through the boat a " don't-oare-how-I-row" sort of style seemed to exist. Avon's crew rowed more evenly, and should come again next season, if kept together. Canterbury annexed the Ladies' Plate with the same orew as won the Junior Four, and again beat Star, their only opponents, easily—more so, in fact, than they did in the previous race, and in this event the winners showed more even form. The Youths' Pair-oared event proved the best race of the day, it being a hard contest right through. The Wellington pair, Bush and Calnan, led to well up to the winning post, when the V.M.C.A. came with a fine spurt and looked all over winners, but they caught a orab and Wellington shot over the line a few feet in front. x"Joth of these crews rowed well, time and length being kept right through. Union's orew pulled better than in the Sculls, but Wairew- were not so good as earlier in the day, their boat was not running nearly so even as previously. Cure showed nice pace onoo.or twice, bat bow got out of time at the business end and lost ground, while.the other crews were no matoh for the foremost boats.

At a meeting of the New South Wales Rowing Association, held in Sydney on February 9th, a letter was received from the hon. secretary of the Queensland Rowing Association with reference to the definition of an amateur for intercolonial contests, and stating that the association had adopted the definition of an amateur as put forward by the intercolonial conference, held in Sydney in May last year, " as from January Ist, 1897." This Was to meet the views of Victoria. It was asked that the New South Wales Rowing Association concede that addition to the definition. A discussion ensued on the letter, and it was eventually decided to inform the Queensland Association that the New South Wales Association would stand by the definition recommended by the intercolonial conference, and.could only meet crews rowing under that definition. Also that the Victorian Rowing Association had already been informed to that effect.

Boferring to the proposal to send home Australasian Representatives at English games the Sydney Referee says:—With reference to a movement in favour of an' Australian crew for Henley Regattas -It is suggested that this crew shall be organised from amongst the Australians resident in England. To bring this idea to a head an old Colonial oarsman now living in England has invoked the aid of the London Referee. This journal suggests the forma--tion of an Anglo-Australian Rowing Club at Putney, on the Thames, as one that " might be made a very excellent institution," and out of/which might grow other desirable tilings. The question of an Australian eight for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley is in" the hands of Mr W. M. Anderßon, of the Charing Cross Hospital, who has invited Australians in England to at once com. municate,'with him.