"I REMEMBER."

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14294, 4 March 1912, Page 3

"I REMEMBER."

THE KATAPOI REGATTA

An early secretary of the Kaiapoi Regatta, on Saturday gave a "Pre&>" reporter somo of his recollections of boating on the river at Kaiapoi, where a good deal of splendid work was done by tho rowing clubs of Canterbury, and where tho sailing club had for many years a high position in aquatic matters.

Tho first rowing club was started in 1866, and was known as tho Ariel. The members purchased a racing fig from a Christehurch club, which had retired from tho water, and with this. a crew comprising C E. Dudley, W. Burnip, R. M. and W. Wright, and Dr. Dudley as coxswain, won several races. The next club to form was tho Kaiapoi Club, with Mr J. W. Buddie as secretary, and tho next were a Trades Club and tho Cure Club. The latter is still in existence, and has built up for itself a v<jry high reputntion in rowing contests. There had been sundry races, but no regular regatta till January 9bh, IS6B.

Tho earliest attempt at boat-racing in Kaiapoi, took placo on tho Queen's Birthday, 1867, and consisted of a match for £20 11 side, over a six-milo course, between the Ariel (C. E. Dudley, W. Burnip, R. M. and W. Wright) and tho Black Eagle, an Avon Club boat (D. Reese, R. Smellie, J. and R. Dawson). It was remarkable for the quick, choppy stroke of the Eagle's crew, and the long, steady pulling of tho Ariel. For the first two miles tho latter boat appeared to bo left hopelessly, but, in the end, it won hf. over 50 seconds. Then* followed a four-oar race for £10 a side, between Burnip and Dudley in tho Ariel, and Rceso and J. Dawson in tho Black Eaglo. This was also won by tho Ariel, with something in hand.

At tho first regatta, Mr Josiah Birch was starter and umpire, and Messrs W. Gilkison and C. Hillyard were tho judges. Tho Kaiapoi Cup four-oar race, first £10, second X'o, was won by tho Christehurch Railway Rowing Club's Lurline, with a crew comprising C. M. Ollivicr, H. Thomson, W. Packard, and Jameson, and A. Brunsden cos. The second boat was tho Cure, the next tho Undine, bo-' longing to local clubs, and the last the new Black Eagle, of the Avon Rowing Club. The wiuuers rowed tho distance, of six miles, in 37 minutes. There was that day an exciting Maori canoo race, won by a Maori girl, and tho pairs race, was Avon by I>. P.eese' and R. Dawson, J. Wyman cox, in tho Black Eagle A local' four-oared raco was won by the Cure, with a crew comprising R. H. Mathews (tho builder .if tho boat), S. Garrett, T. Pearce, W. Wright, and H. Day, cox. Tho following regatta was on a bigger scale, and two four-oared crows competed for a £20 prize over tho six mile course, which was won by tho Cure Club* Tui (Mathews, R, M. Wright, Burnip, and W. Wright, and G. Whight cox). Tho Scullers' Raco (two miles) fell to tho credit of 11. M. Wright, in tho Mosquito, built locally. Tho Pair Oar Race was gained by Snoswell and Wyman, of Lyttelton, in tho Stranger, built by Harrison, then a noted builder of racing craft in the Port. On that day there was a splendid sailing race, won by Night and Morning, sailed by Day Brothers, tho Midgo(Dudley and Barker) being second. In 1870, tho Challenge Cup Race, for four oars, over a three-mile course, was won by tho Lyttelton Club's Fernlcaf, with Tamesis (Cantorbury Rowing Club) a close second, and the Union Club's Luilino third, beating Avon and Kaiapoi. The.,next year's Champion Fours Race, open to all clubs in the province which had been postponed owing to rough water was won by the Lyttelton Club's Mayflower (Cuff, Cameron, Roper. Harrison, O'Neill cox) beating Kuku (Cure Club); Endeavour (-Avon); Tamesis (Pantorhury)j Peri (Kaianoi) and Naiad; "(Heathcote). Dawson won tho sculling'with the Dewdrop. In 1872 tho four-oar race resulted in a good win for the Kuku (Cure Club) with a crew comprising T. Mellor, Dawson, H. Mellor and J. Winterbourn (stroke). This was the beginning of a long run of victories for this club. Thero was that day a capital sailing race with seven boats competing.

Then comes tho greatest event that ever took place on the Kaiapoi river. For weeks previously " Sinbad" and "Stroke" and " Waterwitch" and others wrote special articles for the papers on the chances for the Interprovincial Champion four-oared outrigger race, disAanco three miles, prize £150 The starter was S. P. Andrew's, and the judge was Mr (now Sir) Charles Bowcn. For this six crews were entered, these being Wellington and Christehurch representative crews, Woodstock (Westland), Avon, Wellington and Kaiapoi Clubs. When the race took' place it was under the most perfect conditions of tide and weather, and for two-third's of tho distance, three miles, tho pace was a regular clinker, since the crews had all gone in for very thorough training, and were for about a week resident near to the river. The keenest interest had been manifested in the trials and in watching the coaching. The most unlikely crew in tho public estimation coached by Mr G. L.. Hellish, R. M., an old 'Varsity man won the event in 16 mm 36Jsec. This was the Woodstock crow in the Illissus consisting of R. Bradley, W. Hearn, J. N. Walton, P. Bradley and C. Wright cox. If ever a crew deserved its laurels this did, as testified by tho cheering of about 3000 persons, who lined the banks of the river, and scores fought for the honour of carrying the monaud their boat to the shed. They had tho advantage of position,, though by no means the best boat; but they had tho strength, and under Mr Mellish's tuition had learned much of the science of rowing. The second boat was the Stella (Wellington representative crew), C. A. Cornish. S. S. Griffith. J. Walker, and J. Waldon, and the third was the Cam (Kaiapoi Sailing and Rowing Club) T. Mellor, J. Winterbourn, W. Wright, R. H. Mathews, J. Ayers, cox). The other boats were the Dolly Varden (Wellington), Tyn© (Christehurch), and Endeavour (Avon).. In this regatta M. Moore and H. Woods of Wellington in the Russian Fall won the pairs, beating .five cracks, and Hearn of the Woodstock crew gave a grand display of sculling, doing th c two miles in 12min 34Jsec.

Since then there have been many good contests. In 1879 there was some good racing and also in 1885, when the Union Club was represented by R. Jones. J. G. Rule, S. C. Kcsteven and F. Fuller, the Canterbury Club by J. 0. Jones, Grierson, Boulton and Lean, and the Cure by A. Winterbourn, R. W. Day.. J. Perriii and G. Wright. Anything later comes with recent events. Up to 1887 the four-oar winners have .been Ariel Club. Railway Club, Cure eleven times, Canterbury three times, Union Club twice, Woodstock and Lyttelton twice.