ROWING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 84, 3 January 1929, Page 15

ROWING

REGATTA AT PICTON WAIRAU’S DAY OUT AU roads in the Marlborough district led to Picton on New Year’s Day, the town being en fete for the annual rowing regatta. The early part of the morning was marred by rain, and just before the regatta commenced, the sea became fairly rough. The rain had the effect of calming the water, and by the time the first race was scheduled to start, conditions were almost ideal. After the luncheon adjournment, the weather changed. A southerly set in, and the regatta finished to the accompaniment of thunder, lightning, rain, and wind. The Wairau crews were outstanding, securing, out of a programme of ten events, six first and two seconds. Neither of, the crews from Wellington distinguished themselves. The results of the races are as follow: MAIDEN FOURS. (One Mile Clinker.) Wairau (A. Dry, st., W. Murray, 3, L. Jones, 2, S. Chandler, bow, A. E. Sadd, cox) ....y 1 Wellington - Blenheim ° Star also started. Time, 6min. 28sec. Wellington got away first, but when half a mile had been covered the order was: Wairau, Wellington, Star, and Blenheim, the last two being almost neck and neck. Wairau had an easy win, with Wellington second. Blenheim and Star were not far behind, and were only a few feet apart. SENIOR FOURS (Two Miles, Best and Best.) Wairau (W. E. Gibbons, s., E. T. Hegglun, 3, C. Sutherland, 2, G. Saunders, bow, L. Gibson, cox) ... 1 Blenheim - Time 12min. 52sec. Wairau got away with the gun, but Blenheim made a bad start. It was apparent from the beginning that this was Wairau’s race. SINGLE SCULLS. One mile and a half. (Best and Best.) Wellington (W. S. Bright) 1 Picton (C. Tarrant) - Time, lOmin. 25 1-usec. Bright made a good start, and got awav well. Tarrant, however, seemed to muddle things, and started off on a most erratic course. He got too near Bright, and lost time through having to cross over to the other side of Ills opponent. Within a quarter of a mile from the starting, point Bright had gained two lengths. Both men became erratic in their course, and Tarrant lost ground through looking around too much. Bright was rowing the faster stroke. In the last quarter of a mile, Tarrant hugged the shore, and suddenly increased his stroke from twentysix to thirty-six to the minute. He began to gain on Bright, and when the race ended was only half a length behind. YOUTHS’ FOURS. One mile. (Clinker.) Wairau (O. Gibbins str., F. Herd 3, Elsmore 2, D. G. MacDonald bow, C. Elsmore cox; J Picton ~ Wellington - Star and Blenheim also started. Time, Gmin- 25 4-ssec. All crews got away ‘well, Picton soon getting in the lead. Wairau followed, with Blenheim only a short distance behind. Blenheim crept np on Wairau, who, in their turn, passed Picton. About a quarter of a mile from the finish Blenheiem caught a "crab,” the boat swinging round. The result was the Star were not able to get out of the way in time, and caught their oars in those of the Blenheiem crew. By this time Wairau was in the lead, with Picton a close second. Wellington crept up on Picton, but were not able to pass them. Just as the gun went off, Wairau, who won the race by three feet, hit a passing launch and broke one of their oars. Picton were second, and Wellington only a few feet behind. Star were fourth and Blenheim last. Blenheim II did not race.

JUNIOR PAIRS. One mile. (Clinker.) Wairau I (J. Rutledge, st., H. Rutledge,

, bow) 1 Star 2 Blenheim II 3 Blenheim I, Pieton, and Wairau II also started. Time, 7mins. 36sec.

LIGHT-WEIGHT MAIDEN FOURS. One mile. (Clinker.) Blenheim II (W. Longman, st., S. Woodhouse, 3, V. 2, D. Vercoe, bow, N. O’Brien, cox) 1 Wairau II 2 Picton 3 Blenheim I, Star, Wellington, and Wairau I also started. Time, Train. 6 4-ssec. This race was one of the most exciting of rhe day. Blenheim 2 soon drew away and held the lead throughout. Picton and Wellington followed. After a short time, Wairau 11, Star, Picton, Wellington, and Wairau I were almost neck and neck. The race ended ■with Blenheim II well in the lead. Wairau II were second and Picton third. Star were only a few feet behind the third boat. SENIOR PAIRS. One mile and a half. (Best and best.) Wairau (W. E. Gibbons, st., C. Saunders, bow) 1 This race was a row.-over. MAIDEN PAIRS. One mile. (Clinker.) Wairau (O. Gibbons, st., W. Murray, bow, L. Gibson, cox) 1 Blenheim II 2 Wellington 3 Star and Blenheim I also started. Time, Tmin. 51 3-ssec. i This was Wairau’s race right from the start. Blenheim were second all through the race, while Wellington and Star fought hard for third place, Star finally being beaten. JUNIOR FOURS. One mile and a half (Clinker). Picton (L. Peek st., J. France 3, C. Brunsell 2, W. Jeromson bow, S. Perano, cox) 1 Wairau 2 Blenheim 3 Star also started. Time,- lOmiu. 34sec. This was a hard race for the crews for there was a strong wind blowing. Picton got away well at the start, and had an easy win. MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS.—One mile (Cliuker). z Picton (L. Jackson st., C. Boese bow, S. Perano, bow) 1 Star 2 Wairau and Wellington did not start. 'Time, Bmin. 30 3-ssec. Picton led all the way and won by about three lengths.