AQUATICS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 11

AQUATICS.

INTERPROVINCIAL FOURS. WIN TOR CANTERBURY. Under perfect conditions, with' a sea, like glass, the Intel-provincial Fours Championship was rowed on Lyttelton. Harbour on Saturday morning, over a two-mile course, extending from Governor's Bay to Corsair Bay, and resulted in a comfortablo win for tho Canterbury crow by seven lengths. Tho great interest v;hich was' taken in the race was evidenced by tho big crowd which lined the hillside and the largo number of motors parked along the Governor's Bay road. A score or so of launches, heavily laden with passengers, endeavoured to follow the i&oo, but none of them could show a speed anywhero near equal to the fifteen or sixteen knots which a racing four is capable of. There, was a good start, Mftlborough taking the lead, rowing 42 strokes to the minute, followed by Canterbury st 86. Canterbury gained the lead before the first half-mile, and then steadied down to a beautiful 32. After HupiJci was passed the result was never in doubt, Canterbury' increasing the lead all the time. Otago and Wellington were following in that order, with the others stringing out. It was after Rapaki was left behind that Canterbury's splendid oarsmanship became apparent to the spectators, and their racing was a picture to see. Their cox stoercd. a true course, but the steering of some of the other boats was rather erratio at times. Two hundred yards from homo the Canterbury boat was seven lengths in front, and then eased off, and paddled in that distance ahead of Otago, which was also rowing well. The winning crew finished in excellent fettle, and looked good enough to do the distance again. The orews were plooed as follows:—

Canterbury—Agassis (Avon) stroke, W. Sergison (Avon) 3, C. Champ (Avon) 9, H. Adkins (Union) bow (average weight, 12st lib), Koy "Watson (Union) COX •• •• ••' •• Otago—J". Nelson, H. Comiox, J. Calthorpe, J. Hoekins (average weight, list) .- ■• •• ..2 Marlborough—A. M. Hale, ?• Chandler, P. T. Gill, W. Pinkham (average Hut 41b) .. " ■ •• 3 Auckland—o. Wolfgram, H. Hunter, J. Skinner, A. Bryant (average Hat) .. * Wellington—W. P. McGowan, F. G. Osborne, R. N. Wakein, W. P. Robt> (average lOst lllb) .. •.. • .-5 The officials for the race were:—Judge, Mr F. D. Kcstcven: umpire, Mr H. Berry; starter, Mr T. Chambers. Mr B. A. Morris represented the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, and Mr H. Laytbn was secretary and treasurer. Canterbury 8 Selection Committee were Messrs !B. Ayers, H, Berry, and G. Hi Hobbs. After the contest Mr F. D. Kestevan, as president of tho Canterbury Bowing Association, handed the cup to Mr F. Agassi*, stroke of the winning crew, and congratulat-. Ed him on the very fine performance put up.. He also thanked the visiting crows for. their attendance, and apologised for tho inconvenience they had been put to as lef**™ * conn* for training. Mr Kesteven said that the Canterbury Rowing Association's donation of £3O to the winning Association would, of course, revert to the Canterbury Association- . ■, ii: In"responding Mr Agassiz paid a warm tribute to the work of tho crews trainer, Mr H. Avers, who had started the crew in the . pink "of condition, and whose knowledge of the sport had stood the crew in good stead. Mr Ayers thanked the crew for the manner in which they had supported him, and carried out his instructions. -nr.«w« Last year's race was .held on the Waikato River, and was won by Auckland. On Saturday the Auckland orew were at a disadvantage in having to row in a »***»«• boat, borrowed from the Canterbury Rowing Club. All crews expressed tl«Mßielw« «*J lighted with the course, which they declared coVhl not have been better The race is held in the North and South Islands on alternate years. FIRMS' RACE. A race between representative crews of four Christchurch firms provided a curtain-raiser. The crews finished es follows: Andersons, Ltd.-A. Henry •*"*%*;.£• Clark 3, D. Stevenson 3, W. TrebleAda*? Ltd!-E.-Velvin;-A. Paokerand B i y , e W-S. E. Empson, T. Hflnham, C. Siacock ... 3 Now Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Association. Ltd.-R. Mann, D. Richardson, S. Truman, W. 'MI .. . •• y * The pace was willing from «••■•*"*; Packer and Jones led for a whUe, and than dropped hack. Adams's and Andersons kept level over the last hall. N»nn» the wjnrdhg post Anderson's put on a spurt, and won by a canvas.