PICTON REGATTA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 1, 3 January 1910, Page 7

PICTON REGATTA.

PICTON "SCOOP THE POOL."

WATERMANSHIP v. SPEED

A ROUGH AND CHOPPY

COURSE

The annual regatta of the Picton Bowing Club was held on New Year's Day oH the Picton harbor m fine weather, but on a choppy and unfavorable sea, which only constant use would enable any oarsmen to succeed upon. There was a large and enthusiastic attendance of the public, who watched with much interest the different races rowed. From the hrst race it soon became apparent that Picton were in for a good innings, as the water favored them and was against the visiting oarsmen, and that the racing, instead! of being a test of speed, would be a test oi seamanship. Great disappointment was experienced at the suspension oi J. M. Jackson and the refusal of the New Zealand Council to; permrt him to row 'even under protest until an appeal lodged by the Blenheim Rowing Club is dealt with. A. Thompson was selected at the last moment to row No. 2, and W .J. Glrlmg took Jackson's place as stroke of the senior four. They might have saved themselves the trouble of going to the post, as the sea was altogether]; too rough • for the frail boat they had to row m,. arid time after time they werte swamped and had to pull mto Shakspere Bay to empty the *ator from their craft, and at length they had to give up the idea of racing. The Wellington Stars and ;? |he Picton " seniors were the only crefs to face the starter,'and immediately after the start the first-mentioned . crew swamped and had to be picked; up by the Waitohi and the starter's launch, and were conveyed to Mabel Island,: t . whew .tfcfjy r eventually, succeeded m getting into their >pat, and, padded back to the boat shed. nßlenheim, a,U4v a lot"--of manoeuvring, gofc Daek to>the landing*; and. did not attempt to tace in the senior pairs.' r rictpn . tbis ,had.a,w.alkrOYer in this race, ,88 they did in the others, wip tM exertion of the junior pairs, maiden <J6uble sculls and the maiden fours. Bach of these races was cjosely con&sted, arid Picton had toj row hard to"stall off defeat in the maiden fours and the junior pairs, while in the double sculls they were beaten * /by Stars, and succeeded hi beating Blenheim only by they narrowest of for second; hqiprs. ;Theßlen- * heim maiden four crew, was faltered at the last moment owing to No. 3 being ' sick, and Jack Bentfey was substi- •; tuted and H. Patchett rowed m place ' «f J. O'Rourke, who was injured some days ago. The crew was not given the slightest possible chance of winliing, but they pressed th£ir opponents hard all the way, and; put up a very creditable performance. Several miniature yacht races wjere sailed across the harbor from thp reclamation works to, the parade,land were won by yachts from Wellington. Tub races, greasy pole performinces. and other events were also got5 oS( and served to interest the lar^e attendance of the publieic Thef Marjafoa,. from Wellington, brought bver 1500 passengers. The Waitohi Brass Band played an interesting programme during the afternoon and considerably enlivened the proceedings. ; The various worked W<ell, ajid the regatta went off without a hitch of any kind. Following are the results :— Maiden Fours (clinker), pne mile. First prjze £6; second MB. . Picten R.C.—N. Godfrey (str), F. < Bush (3), H. Whiting _(2). L. Godfrey (bow), C. Petrie (cox) 1 Star B.C.—P. R. Pye-Smith (str), S. S- Butt (3), P. R.. Stansell / (2), J. C A. Dudley (tjow) ... 2 Blenheim R.C.—G. Paul (sfcr), J. Bentley (3), H.: Patchett (2), R. Bentley (bow) ... f 3 ■ ...-, Also started: Wellington R.C Picton, pulling a short- choppy stroke, went away with a good lead, and were never headedj winning by-'i couple of lengths, leaving Blenheim and Stars to.fi^ht out si, good jfiriish for second place. Time, 7min losec. Senior Fours (bestr-and-best), two miles. First prize £12; second £2. ■ . ■-. -•- : :: Pieton R.C.—A. Perano (ssr), F. Carrick (3) ; C. Perano (2), D. Perano (bow), H. Fretlericks ; (cox) .l.Ti.. ■.:., ... :. 1. Star B.C.—E. C. Little (str), T. R. Heffer (3), M. A. Turner (2), H. S. Barrow (bow)■.-•■' ■•• 2 The only starters. Picton practically had a walk-over, Stars being swamped, but they afterwards rowed over the course. No time was taken. Maiden Double Sculls, one mile. First prize £5; second £2. Star B.C.—W. H. Brewer ) (str), ■ M. A. Turner (bow) .1. ... I Picton R.C. No. •!.—F. Scott (str), A. Whiting (bow); ... 2 Blenheim R.C—R. Dunckley!(str), G. C. Griffiths (bow) . .;; ... 3 Also started: Wellington R.C. This was the best race of theilay, and the issue was in doubt, almost until the gun signalled that the judge had fceen passed. Stars winning byihalf a length, Picton beating Blenheirii by a few inches for second money. Time, 6min 56sec. \ Junior Fours (best-and-best), one and a half miles. First prize £8; second £4. Picton R.C.-JF. Burns (str), fe. Kenny (3), R .Andrews (2), f. Norton (bow) ; . \ Ht&T B.C.—R. M. Brewer (str)j L. A. Marchant (3), B. Laurence (2), A. Lambert (bow) 2 Wellington R.C—H. McKinley (str),- W. Shilling. (3). 4, Shilling (2), C. Furness (bow) 3 Also started: Blenheim R. C -i j Aitken (str), G. Martella (3), F. Mogl ridge (2), W. Jackson (bow). Blenlieim went well for about 100 yards and held a half length lead, when Martella's slide came adrift, and Ijhus put an end to any winning chancethe Blenheim crew had. • Time, 9min 35sec. Youths' Fours (clinker), one ra\[ e FSa:st prize £6; second £3. . Picton R.C—F. Burns (str), ii Godfrey (3), N. Godfrey (2j! L. Cragg (bow) i Star B.C.—D. H. Bridge fetr)' C E. Holmes (3), H. H. Dean (2),<>W. Bennett (bow)'... .. - 2 Blenheim R.C.—O. Freeth (str) * W. Southgate (3), S. Paul (2) B. Hester (bow) '.[ 3 Also started: Wellington R C Won easily by half a dozen lengths • a good race between second and third. Time, 6min 45see. Senior Pairs (best-and-best), one and a ■ half miles. First prize £7 • second £2. ' Picton R.C—A. Perano (str), F. Carrick (bow) i Star B.C.—E. C Little (str), T. Heffer (bow) .... 9 The only starters. Won easily Time, llmin 7sec. '

Junior Pairs (clinker), one mile. First prize £5; second £3. Pieton R.C.—R. Andrews - (str), E. Kenny (bow) 1 Star B.C.—R. M. Brewer (str), L. A. Max'chant (bow) ... 2 Blenheim R.C;—J'. Aitken (str), G. Martelß (bow) ... ... ... 3 The only starters. A ding-dong race all the way, resulting in a victory for Pieton by half a length, six inches separating Stars and Blenheim for second place. Time, 7min losec.