FIRST REGATTA

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 24, 29 January 1923, Page 10

FIRST REGATTA

MOTHES SHIELD CONTEST

"WELLINGTON IN THE LEAD.

Favoured with ideal weather conditions, the first Mothes Shield regatta was held on the southerly course (from Point Jerningham to Taranaki Street Wharf) on Wellington Harbour on Saturday afternoon. It wns the first of two regattas to decide the holding of the shield, which was presented by Mr. F. Mothes for local inter-club competition. The second regatta is set down for the early part of. March. Taken on the average the rowing was well up to interclub standard, though it was apparent that there is yet room for imprpvement. All the races, however, were very willing, and some of the finishes were hard fought, notably those of the Lightweight Junior Fours and the Senior Fours. In the latter race, Star was leading till within a few yards of the finishing post, when the Petone crew, which was following closely, came up with a fine sprint to v™ by a bare canvas. At the finish of the lightweight Junior Race, a length covered the three boats—Petpne, Wellington, and Star, in that order. Five- points were awarded for a first and two points for second place, and the result of the day's racing placed the Wellington Rowing Club first, with 39 points, Star Boating Club second with 26 points, and the Petone Rowing Club third with 12 points. Results are:— Lightweight Maiden Fours.—"Wellington : A. Clarke (str),- V. Rota (3), W. Campbell (2), Van Slyke (bow), 1. Petone No. l^crew: R.. Hallick (str), F. Cropp (3), X Matthews (2), J. BucknaJl (bow), 1. Also competed: Petone No. 2 crew, and Star. At the approach to the finishing post Wellington was seen to be leading by a short lengih, the two Petone crew's coming up, with the- No. 2 crew slightly in front. A spurt by Petone No. 1 crew put it in second place, with Petone No. 2 about a quarter of a length behind. ■ Youth's Double Sculls.—Wellington No. 1 crew: G.Grace (str). P. Manson (bow),l, Wellington No. 2 crew.: G. Zander (str), O. Leslie (bow), 2. lhree crews started in this eventtwo Wellington crews and one from Star. An easy win for Wellington No. 1 by twp lengths, five lengths between second and third. ) ' Maiden Fours.—Star: Johns (sir), P. Hereford (3), R. Fer>ton (2), J. Bentley (bow), 1. Wellington No. X crew: J. Ottaway (str), W. Fraser (3), W. Power (2), >W. Moyes (bow), 2. Five crews entered for this event, but Fetone's iNc. 2 crew was scratched. The boats got away well together, ■ and the race resulted in a tuEsle between Star and Wellington No. 1, the former winning after a good race by one and a half lengths. Junior Double Sculls.—Star: T. Davies (str), W. Harris (bow), 1: Wellington No. 1 orew: G. S. Bright (str), R. Crawford (bow), 2. An easy win for Star by. six lengths. Lightweight Junior Fours.—Petone": C. Burridge (str), C. Drummond (3), M. Allan (2), L. Drummond (bow), 1. Wellington: A. Clark (str), V. Rota (3), W. . Campbell (2), Van Slyke (bow), 2. This was one of the closest. races of the day. Petone got the best of the start, Wei- ■ lington coming next, and Star following. Shortly- after the start Star caught lip and led till off the Clyde Quay Wharf. When opposite the wharf all three were level, and in the last quarter of a mile Petone and Wellington gradually drew ahead and finished in that order. Petone won by half a length from Wellington, Star third, a length's distance covering the three boats. . Maiden Single Sculls.—Wellington No: 2: G. Grace, 1. Wellington No. 1: G. Zander, 2. Also competed: T. Davis (Star). After a well-contested face with a stubbornly fought finish Grace won by half a length from Zander, one length separating second and third. Junior Fours. —Star : W. M'Gowan (str), F. Obft.rn (3), R; Herd (2), R. Wakelin (bow), 1. Wellington No. 2: J. Ottaway (str), W. Fraser (3), W. Power (2), W. Moyes (bow), 2. A hard race, with an exciting finish, Star winning by half a length. Maiden Pairs.—'Wellington : G. S. Bright (str), W. Signall (bow), 1 Star:: Johns (str), R. Fenton (bow), 2. Petone also competed. A well-contested race, giving Wellington a win .by a little more than a length. . Senior Fours.—Petone No. 1: C. Burridge (str), C. Drummond (3), M-. Allan (2), L. Drummond (bow), 1. Star: W. M'Gowan (str), F. Oborn (3), R. Herd (2), R. N. Wakelin (bow), 2. A great race, won by a canvas. Youths' Fours. —Wellington : S. Grace (str), W. West (3) P. Mawson (2), R. Rowley (bow), 1. Star: Cooper (str), Newton (3)-, M'Kinley (2), Zohrab (bow), 2. An easy win for Wellington, by three lengths. A hard fight for second place. Sfenior Pairs.—Star: W. M'Gowan (str), F. Oborn (bow), 1. Wellington : C. Symonds (str), S. Godfrey (bow), 2. Eetone also started. An easy win for Stax, by six lengths, half a length between second and third. Total points.—Wellington, 39; Star, 36, Petone, 12.