QUEENSTOWN REGATTA.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3121, 6 April 1915, Page 5

QUEENSTOWN REGATTA.

The above annual fixture eventuated ast Saturday in line weather. The climatic conditions for several days

irior to the regatta were anything mt good and the condition.- were igainst there being good water for he event. It uawned fine overhead, onunately for spectators, but owing o a southerly the water was 100 hoppy in the bay to permit of rowng. The committee had therefore reuctantly to adjourn to the Frank ton Arm, of the lake, which provided a

moderately smooth course. Some delay was occasioned by the alteration of plans out thanKs to the regatta officials and particularly the star;or, the whole of llhe outrigger events were despatched in a matter of four or five hours. Owing to altered conditions only one -local event was got off and this tooK place in the Queenstown Bay early in the day. A very large number of visitors were present from Dunedin and Invercargill and intermediate places—nearly 600 came by the special steamer in the afternoon. Most of the spectator- made their way back to town before the conclusion of the programme. The club was most fortunate in having such good entries for the regatta, especially when it is known that there has been such a depletion of the ranks of oarsmen through enlistments for the war. Gisborne and Picton had actually to abandon their aquatic events owing to paucity of entries. The racing was as a rule interesting throughout. There were close finishes in the Maiden Fours. Senior Double Sculls, and Senior Fours. The winnings of the various clubs were as follows: Otago, £33; Invercargill Railway V.22. Oamaru £B. North-End Club (Dunedin) £O. As on previous occasions, the greatest credit is due to the Otago Rowing Association officials. Messrs J. E. Galbraith (starter), W. .1. Wilson (umpire) and H. Bradshaw (juuge). The success of the regatta, on this occasion was one in a no less uegree than on former occasions to the efforts of the gentlemen namea. The local commit toe, of which Mr M. J. Gavin is the president and energetic head ami its aole secretary, Mr A. J. Thompson, carried their somewhat trying obligations to a very successful issue. The Railway Department lent every facility in jthe •furtherance of #ie regatta. Mr H. Mackenzie's powerful launch "Lion" was again used as an umpire's boat and it proved most suitable for the purpose. The Ben Lomond was used as a flagship and to Captain Farrant, who had charge, is also due the thanks of the

committee for the valuable assistance rendered. The Quieetnstown Brass Band was in attendance and discoursed an a ttractive programme during the afternoon. The following are the results:—

BOYS' PAIRS, i mile; prizes trophy value JBI. —F. Gavin and T. Robertson (F. Koch, cox) 1; J. Philp, J. Angelo (J. Robin cox) 2. Three entries. MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS, 1 mile; prizes JB3 and £l.— Otago (F. E. Simkin and E. A. Nettlefold) 1, North End (C Holland and A. Aitken) 2, Invercargill Railway (J. 0. Wilson and F. Padget) 3.

Otago soon assumed the lead and won right out by four or five lengths.

YOUTHS' FOURS, 1 mile; prizes .£4 and JBl.—Oamaru No. 1 (L. Wray, J. Genge, J. Bevin, T. Lee) I, Oamaru No. 2 (J. Patrick, J. Swinburn, J. Henderson, V. Wardell) 2, Invercargill Railway (S. Shepherd, J. 0. Wilson, L. Ashcroft, M. Little) 3.

Also competed: North End, Queen's Drive, and Otago. A short distance was covered on fairly even terms. Then Oamaru No. 2 established a slight lead; No. 1 of the same club also became prominent. Queen's Drive lay third, but was replaced by Invercargill Railway. The two Oamaru teams, which were principally youths from the Waitaki school, rowed gamely and had no difficulty in in placing first, and second money.

JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS, 1 mile prizes £4 and £l.— North End (R. J. Knox and C. Purvis) 1, Invercargill Railway (J. Sutherland and J. Shepherd) 2, Otago (J. Hogg and G. Chapman) 3. North End crew assumed a strong lead almost from the start and retaining a fast stroke, won by four lengths. Otago fell badly into the rear.

MAIDEN FOURS, 1 mile; prizes £6 and £2.— Otago (F.E. Simpkin, D. Ellison, W. S. Stewart, E. A. Nettlefold) 1, Oamaru (L. Wray, J. Genge. J. Bevin, T. Lee) 2, North End (C. Holland, A. Aitken, J. Mcintosh, D, Morris), 3. Also competed : Invercargill Railway. Otago and Oamaru crews soon became prominent in the race, the latter being slightly in the lead. Within a short distance of the winning post

Otago crew spurted and won by half a boat length after a clinking finish. SENIOR DOUBLE SCULLS, 1 mile ; prizes .£5 and £2— Otago No. 1 (J. R. Kerr and M. H. Priest) 1, Invercargill Railway (F. McKillop and R. 0. Thomson) 2, North End (R. J. Knox and C. Purvis) 3.

Also competed : Otago No. 2. A good race between the two placed oats, but the Otago crew won by a >oat length. Invercargill Railway boat

altered it- course slightly near the finish which probably lost it a win. JUNIOR FOURS, 1 mile; prizes £G and £2. —Invercargill Railway (S. Shepherd, J. 0. Wilson, L. Cockroft.F. Padget) I, Otago (P. Simpkin, D. Ellison, T. Lang, C. R. Oaffin) 2, North End (C. Purvis R. J. Knox,

W. J. Rennick, W. Saetatfer) 3. The crews got away 10 an excellent si art and rowed evenly until nearly a third of the distance was covered. Invercargill Railway then assumed the lead and won by a. length. MAIDEN PAIRS, 1 mile; prizes .£3 and JEl.—lnvercargill Railway (E. Folley and F. Wiuter) 1, Oamaru (R. Lang and J. Jones) 2, Otago No. 2 (N. M. Sandes and A. M. Muircott) 3.

Also competed : North End No. 2 and

Otago No. 1. Railway soon got into the lead and retaining it won by several lengths.

Otauo Noi. 1 crew had to stop in the middle of the race owing to an accident to a stretcher.

LAKE WAKATIPU SENIOR FOUROARED CHAMPIONSHIP, l.\ miles; prizes JSI2 and M.— Otago (J. R. Kerr, J. W. Smealon, E. V. Fairbairn, J. A. Hogg) 1, Invercargill Railway (L. L. Padget. J. Sutherland, K. McKillop, R. 0. Thomson) 9

The.se were Uie only two crews as Oamaru withdrew from the race. Railway got the best of the start and

eat. tnc Otayo noat by a length. tailwav was rowing 3(> to the minute

and Otau r ;> 32. The hitter's longer and steadier stroke, however, told and gradually overhauled the leaner, Doth were dead level at half way but. .the Otago irew then began to show out in front ana eventually won bv a lemrth after a clo-e race.

JUNIOR PAIRS, 1 mile ; prizes M and .£l Invercargill Railway (S. Shepherd and F. Padget) 1, North End (C. Purvis and R. J. Knox) 2, Otago W. M. Stewart and C R. Caffin) 3 The race was between first ana

ecoiiu lioat for the major part of the ■Miir-e. Invercargill then assume*.! a trom; leaa and won. bv four lengths.

SENIOR PAIRS, 1 mile; prizes £5 and JB2—Otago No I (J. R. Kerr and M. H Priest) 1, Invercargill Railway (J. Sutherland and M McKillop) 2, Otago No. 2 (J A. Hogg and J. W. Smeaton) 3.

No. 1 Otago team established a strong leaa 'early in the race and won ay several jlengihs.