BETTY WINS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18625, 25 February 1926, Page 8

BETTY WINS.

SANDERS CUP FINAL. POPULAR VICTORY. ANDREWS'S SPLENDID SAILING. (rBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, February 24. A magnificent racs, fought out grimly by two expert skippers and . crews, resulted in Canterbury at last ■winning tho coveted Sanders Cup on the Otago Harbour this afternoon. Tho race will live long in the memory of tho thousands who were privileged to witness it. The victory was tho most popular since the Sanders Cup contest was established. Auckland and Canterbury possess two very fast and pretty boats in Avalon and Betty. The boats can be classed as champions of a-very high order. The final race was thrilling and spectacular. For Betty's victory over tho Auckland boat, as champion 14-footer of the Dominion, great credit is due to her builder, owner, and skipper, G. G. Andrews, for the skill displayed in producing such a wonderful boat, and for his expert handling of his charge in the fiye races. The race was closely contested from throughout, and the two skippers were called upon to display their skill from start to finish. It was again a case of brains being pitted against brains, and this time Andrews came out on top. Both Patrick and Andrews made two serious mistakes during the race, but the Canterbury skipper retrieved himself later. This is the first Sanders cup contest Andrews has sailed in, and his performances in tho five races placo him among the foremost yachtsmen of the Dominion. Betty led her rival throughout the first three rounds of the course, when Andrews blundered, and Patrick sailed into the first position. The Auckland boat led Betty throughout tho fourth and fifth rounds, and only seconds separated them when making the turn at the starting line, Betty, however, proved faster on tho run, and only a boat's length separated them when running for Castle Beacon for tho last time. The Canterbury boat overhauled Avalon in the beat to windward in the fifth round. Andrews kept his rival under his lee by changing tacks simultaneously with Patrick. The Auckland skipper was then sailing a losing race, but ho made strenuous efforts to grasp victory in the last ten boards to the line. Andrews made no mistake, and the Canterbury champion now had tho race in hand. She sailed over the line a winner by 41scc amidst rousing cheers from the crowds on the wharves. Following are the official sailing times —Betty 2 hours 27 mins 24sec; Avalon 2 hours 28 min 5 sec.

LYTTELTON OVERJOYED.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CREW,

Excitement ran high in Lyttelton yesterday, over the deciding race between the Auckland boat, and the Canterbury boat, Betty. Soon after noon little groups commenced to'gather at tho Post Office corner, awaiting news of the result. The news that tho rax© had been postponed for a couple of hours only served to whet tho appetite of the crowd. At intervals during tho afternoon youngsters from the nearby school, having made some excuse to the teacher, no doubt, would race down to learn if the news was through. When the news finally came through at 5 o'clock qute a largo crowd of adults and boys was waiting, and Betty's victory was hailed with cheers. The Mayor (Mr P. E. Sutton) sent the following telegram to G. Andrews, the skipper of Betty:— < 'Congratulations. Lyttelton overjoyed at your splendid victory."