MERCER REGATTA.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 25, 29 February 1932, Page 5

MERCER REGATTA.

FIXTURE A BIG SUCCESS.

SPEED BOATS PROVIDE THRILLS

SOME GOOD TIMES RECORDED

“PHAR LAP” TOO GOOD FOR “PUG”

ROWING EVENTS KEENLY

CONTESTED

The annual Mercer Regatta was held on the banks of the beautiful Waikato river on Saturday. There was a very large attendance, estimated by officials to be greater than last year. Visitors were present from all parts of the Waikato, Northern -Waikato, Auckland and North Auckland, and generally all spent a most pleasant day. The weather, threatening in the morning, cleared, and the afternoon was beautifully fine.

The first portion of the programme was confined to rowing and miscellaneous aquatic events. The rowing attracted keen interest and many of the crews were evenly matched, some wery close finishes being seen. The host race of the day was provided by the maiden fours, under lOst, in which North Shore defeated Mercer by inches, after the latter had received a severe check a quarter of a mile from home. Ten yards from the finishing line Mercer were actually ahead but North shore managed to snatch victory on the post. It was a great finish. It was Mercer’s first public appearance for about 10 years, and the performance of the crew was highly meritorious. The remaining rowing events provided .excellent sport.

The Feature. Undoubtedly the outstanding feature of the fixture as far as thrills are concerned, was the appearance of the- outboard motors, a dozen of the little craft providing thrills aplenty. Great interest was centered in the boats as they sped up and down the river to the roar of their portable engines. The course was about six furlongs in circumference with two turns, and it was when they were negotiating the bends that the crowd gasped. The fastest lap, Im. lisecs. was registered by both Phar Lap and Pug, so readers can imaging the speed •at which the tiny boats cut through, or skimmed the water. There were

three boats on whom all eyes were focussed. Phar Lap, Pug and Hell’s pells, and they provided sterling con-

tests. Phar Lap was, consistently, the fastest boat, the driver, J. Johnston, taking the turns better than W. F.

Neal in Pug. The latter boat was difficult to manage on the bends and VgP'har Lap gained repeatedly at these On the straight there was little between them, although the honours must go to Phar Lap. Summed up the outboards provided heaps of

excitement for participants and spectators. The championship cup do- " nated by Mr G. Roose, president of the regatta, was won by Phar Lap. The dancing events attracted a large following and some splendid performances were given, especially by Miss

Ailsa Docherty, of Mercer, who carried off the Bates challenge cup for most points, and Mr A. McCowan, who won the Irish Jig (open) event. Miss Docherty is champion of New Zealand in her class and on Saturday she danced right up to her best form.

The regatta was well conducted, thanks to p band of.untiring officials, ably directed by the secretary, Mr G. L. Mercer. Arrangements were complete in every detail. Indications point to the Mercer regatta being one of the best in the Dominion. Results are:— Outboard Motor Events^ Open handicap: Home Brew (3min. lOsec), J. R. Steer) 1, British Maid 11. (3min. lOsec.. I-I. E. Woodroffe) 2, Hell’s Bells (20secs), L. J. Hopwood), 3. Times: fimin. 18 sec., 6min. 37 secs., 6 min. 50 secs . Home Brew had a lap and a half start from the scratch boats, Phar Lap and Pug. The limit boats held too many guns and Home Brew won easily from British Maid, with Hell’s Bells a similar distance away third, followed by Pegasus, Lady Eve, Elto, Phar Lap and Pug in that order, with the other boats beaten off.

_ A Duff challenge cup event: It-Isn’t It (2min 40 secs.” C. R. and R. C. Burgess) 1, Pegasus (I min, .T. S. Dickson) 2, It’s It (2min. 25 secs.. C. R. Turnbull) 3. Times: smin. 0 secs., 5 min. 37 secs.. 5 min. 54 secs. The limit boat again confounded the handicapper and won by about 30 seconds. This time, Pug in receipt of 10 secs from Phar Lap, led her rival home. General handicap, No. 2: Pegasus (70 secs. J. S. Dickson) 1, Miss Glevedon 11. (50 secs, T. M. Roberts), 2, Hell’s Bells (20 secs., L. J. Hopwood) 3. This resulted in the best race of the day. Pegasus and Miss Glevedon soon overtook the leaders and a ding dong struggle ensued betwen the pair. On the turn before the last lap was commenced, Miss Clevedon, the leading boat; almost swamped and before Roberts- could get her going again properly, Pegasus had turned nicely to take up the running. Miss Clevedon made a great effort to overtake her rival and failed by a second with Hell’s Bells four second away. The times were: smin 37 sec§u, 5 min 38 secs., 5 min. 41 seoe. ■ Championship for Roose oup: Phar Lap (J. Johnson) 3, Pug (W, P. Neal)

i 2, Hell’s Bells (L J. Hopwood) 3, Elto j (C. J. Collings) 4. Pug and Phar Lap were first away, with the other two boats some distance back. Pug swung wide at the first bend and Phar Lap took up the running on the inner, and came down the river at great speed, with Pug close on her. Phar Lap took the next bend better than her rival and increased the lead to 20 yards. Pug, however, hung on determinedly, and at one stage it appeared as though Pug would catch the leader. The next bend saw Pug swing ; wide again, and from then on Phar Lap had an easy task. Phar Lap won by five seconds with Hell’s Bells a similar time back third with Elto last. The time was 3min. 37 secs. Phar lap covered the laps in 71 secs, 72 secs and 74 secs respectively. General handicap, No. 3: It-Isn’t It (OOsecs) 1, Miss Glevedon (35secs) 2, Hell’s Bells (10 secs) 3. The winning craft was never headed and won by 13 seconds. The times were: 5 min. 53 secs, 6 min. 5 secs, and G min. lOsecs.

miscellaneous Events.

Greasy Boom: B. Morgan 1

Maori canoe race —two men— canoes go over and men under hurdles: Billy Buck and Moana 1, Billy Buck jnr. and Jack 2, Te Tupabi and J. Tupahi 3. Maori canoe hurdle race: Two men straight over: Buck and Moana 1, Tula and Tuki 2, Kopua and Katipa 3. Chase for a bride, in Maori 'canoes: M. Katipa 1.

Maori canoe hurdle race (man and woman) : Buck senr.'and Miss R. Katipa i, Buck, jnr. and Miss L. Katipa 2, Tuki and Mrs Tuki 3. Horse swimming race: T. Herewith 1, 11. L. Moore 2.

Highland Dancing Events.

Highland Fling, 12 years and under 1G: Miss Ailsa Docherty 1, Miss W. McGowan 2. Miss Jean McAssey 3.

Sean Triubhais, Novice: Miss .loan Tucker 1, Miss Dorothy Sin ton 2, Miss D. Sorenson 3.

Sword dance, under 12: Miss P. Boyle J. Miss D. Sorensen 2, Miss Olive Evans 3.

Highland Fling, under 12: Miss 11. Docherty 1, .Miss P. Boyle 2, Miss Olive Evans and Miss D. Sorensen 3.

Loral Novice, Highland Fling, under 12: Miss Thelma Long 1, Miss N. Gordon 2, Miss IT. Morgtln 3.

Sean Truibhais, under 18 years, open: Miss Ailsa Docherty 1, Miss G. Cain 2, Miss R. Freeborn 3.. lish Jig, novice: Miss F). Sorensen 1, Miss Dorothy Sinton 2, Miss Doreen Sheehy 3. Sword dance, 12 and under 1G: Miss Ailsa Dochety 1, Miss Jean McAssey 2, Miss Dorothy Sinton and Miss G. Cain 3.

Sailor’s Hornpipe, under 12: Miss P. Boyle 1, Miss R. Dqcherty 2, Miss D Sorensen 3.

Highland Reel, under 18 years: Miss Ailsa Docherty 1, Miss R. Freeborn 2, Mr A. McGowan 3.

Sailor’s Hornpipe, 12 and under 16: Miss G. Gain 1, Miss F. Jensen 2, Miss Doreen Sheehv 3. Highland Fling. (novice) : W. McGowan 1, Miss Dorothy Sinton 2, Miss Beryl Clarkin and Miss G. Scott 3.

Irish Jig, under 18, open: Mr A. McCowan 1. Miss A. Docherty and Miss G. Gain 2, Miss Freeborn 3.

Rowing Events.

Maiden Pair Oar: West End 1, North Shore 2, Waitemata 3. .The crews got away to an even start and North Shore soon forged ahead followed by Waitemata and West End. Nearing the wharf the boats were close together with West End and North Shore going well within themselves. West End quickened their stroke and spurted but North Shore were hanging on grimly and in a great finish West End (Conway and Dalton) crossed the line winners by a length, with Waitemata half a length away. Maiden fours, lOst. and under: North Shore I. Mercer 2, Hamilton 3. This proved to be the best race of the day. The boats got away in line and for three-quarters of the way there was nothing between them. Nearly opposite the wharf. Mercer were robbed of any chance (hey had through receiving the full force of the wash from a launch which sped along the western side of the river, bringing their craft almost to a standstill. North Shore overtook Auckland and West End who were rowing splendidly, while Mercer commenced to overtake the leaders and actually hit the front. The effort- was too much for them for North Shore came with a great spurt, and won on the line by a few inches, with Hamilton a few feet away third. Half a length covered the first three boats. The honours of the race were with Mercer (A. Morey (stroke), J. TTuffon, J. McFadzean and K. Barron). Junior fours, open: Auckland t. St. George’s 2, Waitemata 3. This race was over a mile and a half. For over a mile the crews were abreast battling against the gale. Over the final stretch, Auckland asserted their superiority and won easing up by four lengths. A length and a half separated second' and third.

Handicap single sculls: T. G. Houghton .St. George’s) I, B. McCallum (North Shore) 2, R. Smith (Waitemata) 3. Houghton was always in a winning position and won easily. Smith, the New Zealand champion, made a great finishing effort hut. be left his spurt too late. Maiden fours, open: Hamilton 1, Waitemata 2, Auckland 3. This was another splendid race, Hamilton lasting long enough to win by four feet,

with Auckland a length away third. The other boats were beaten off. Junior pair oar. open weights: Waitemata 1, West End 2. Hamilton 3. The winners were always in a handy position and rowed a splendidly judged race. Youths’ fours (youths under 21 years) : North Shore, 4. Hamilton 2, West End 3. This was a splendid race. North Shore rowing with great judgment.