BOAT RACE: AUCKLAND V. THAMES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3888, 7 February 1870, Page 4

BOAT RACE: AUCKLAND Y. THAMES.

To-day the great boat race . between the Auckland una Thames rowing clubs is to take place. About November last, several gentlemen who considered it advisable to have a boating club established in connection with Auckland, met at the Royal' Hotel, and there the first step? were taken towards forming the Auckland Rowing Club, and which is now in a fair way to become a com- , plete success. Soon after its establishment, the Thames Rowing Club —which is much older than the Auckland Clvb — sent them, >a challenge, offering to row in four,-oared gigs , any crew that the Auckland Club could get together. Mr. D. Oxley, the captain of the'club, was at once set to work to get a crew into training, the challenge of the Thames Club having been accepted, and the result has been the selecting of the crew given below. Captain Chamberlin has been appointed umpire, and W. Grey, Esq., starter for this race, and there can be no doubt that these gentlemen will exert themselves to give both sides fair play. We trust that the weather will be favourable ; if so, we anticipate a closely-contested race. The course is from the Queen-street Wharf round a buoy off Shelly Beach and back to the wharf. Distance, 3 miles. The race is to start at 9 sharp. The hour is rather too early a one to allow the public, who have evinced a great amount of interest in this match, to witness it ; but we learn that this hour has been fixed upon at the wish of the Thames crew, as they prefer quiet water to pull in, having done all their training in the Kauwaeranga Creek, Shortland; and not only this, but their boat is not suitable for rough water. The following are the names of the crews : — Auckland team : D. Oxley, No. 1, lOst. 51b. ; H. H. Maning, No. 2, list. 101b. ; W. Stanaway, No. 3, list. 121b. ; M. W. Atkyns, stroke, lOst. Gib. ; P. Merriman, coxswain, 6st. 101b. Thames team : G. P. Williams, No. 1, lOst. 111b. ; W. R. Scott, No. 2, list. 61b. ; C. S. Totton, No. 3, lOst. 131b. ; J. Lyle, captain (stroke), 12st. lib. ; J. T. E. Ros>an (coxswain), lOst. 51b. Colours — Auckland : Scarlet and white. Thames : r £ii\e and white. Before proceeding further, a few remarks on the crews may not be out of place. In the Auckland team u c observe an alteration in the crew, Maning and Stanaway having been placed respectively in Provo (stroke) and Coates's (No 2) thwart ; this is an improvement, but we cannot help thinking that a greater benefit would have been denved if Provo had been retained in his thwart, and the present stroke (Atkyns) or No. 1 (Oxley) removed. Mailing and Stanaway are both, good men, and they proved themselves in the last regatta to be of the right mettle ; of Atkyns and Oxley we have not had much actual proof of power and endurance, but they have had good training, and are m very good condition. The distance being short they ought to be able to hold out. With tbe present position of the men we cannot altogether agree. Maning in Atkyns's thwart-stroke, Atkyns in Mailing's No. 2, and Stanaway taking No. 3, would, we think, be better. The stroke is a difficult and heavy oar, and we are doubtful of the wisdom of placing an untried man in so responsible a post. It may be argued that tbe heaviest weight will be aft, but, admitting this, we think it a secondary consideration to that of equalising the strength. In the Thames crew there aie two Oxfoid men, Lyle having pulled in an Oxford ci ew ; and Totton, who was in the same university, was considered a si-tlendid oar. They are all in fine condition ; and, from what we saw of them whilst practising on Saturday morning last, they evidently intend to give the Auckland crew some work. The Thames Rowing Club placed at the disposal of the Auckland club one of their gigs m which to row the match, as the Auckland club had not a boat of the same build as theira. They are light, built of cedar, housed at both ends, and Very low in the water ; but we understand the Auckland crew prefer their own boat, the Spitfire, and have accordingly agreed to row m her. After the match, the Thames crew will be entertained at suppei by the Auckland Rowing Club, for Avhich tickets may be procured from the hon. sec, Mr. W. H. Churton, or Mr. A. E. Isaacs, treasurer, Fort-street. The return match will be rowed at the Thames, but the time has not yet been fixed. After this, we learn that matches between the Auckland and Thames rowing clubs are to be contained annually, to be pulled alternately at Shoitland and Auckland.