THE PICTON REGATTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10099, 7 April 1896, Page 6

THE PICTON REGATTA.

SECOND DAY. [BY TBLKQK A I'll. I'RKSS ASSOCIATION]. Picto.n", Monday, The second day's programme of the Championship Regatta was carried out satis-, factorily, although the Senior Clinker Fours had to be postponed till next morning. Up to nine o'clock it was a perfect morning, but an easterly wind was blowing towards noon, and raised a lumpy sea along the first half of the course for the Championship Fours, necessitating the postponement of this event for some hours. The water was fairly smooth for the shorter distance events, and these were got oil' according to programme. As the afternoon wore on the breeze lulled and the big race was decided shortly before five o'clock. The attendance numbered several thousands, large a proportion of whom came from Blenheim. The Penguin ran an excursion from Wellington, bringing about 801) excursionists. The officers again carried out their duties to the satisfaction of all concerned, and were heartily congratulated upon the successful termination of the gathering. The racing was again of a highly interesting order. Chapman and Reed had a fairly ea3y win in the Champion Double Sculls, and they started such warm favourites that only Wellington would face them. The three competing crews in the Ladies' Plate event gave a fine exhibition of rowing, and for more than half the distance the result was considerably in doubt. The condition of the Wellington men told in the last half-mile. The Champion Sculls, which was rowed in perfectly smooth water, prodifeed a sensational struggle, and resulted in the downfall of the favourite and las; year's winner, J. McGrath. McCormick's performance in tackling the Dttnedin man time after time was worthy of all praise, especially as lie was rowing in a strange boat, and one that did not altogether suit him. His challenges earlier in the race took a lot out of him, and enabled Chapman to beat him in the last quarter of a mile. Chapman struggled splendidly throughout, and tin' way in which he went at McCormick after the latter had beaten off McGrath was a sight to remember. He was completely exhausted at the finish, and had to be assisted out of his sculler. His win was au extremely popular one, and was hailed with tremendous enthusiasm. The five crews engaged in the Champion Fours reached the starting post punctually at noon, by which hour thete was a nasty lumpy sea on the upper reaches of the course. Queen's Drive and Star had the good fortune to get to the post without shipping any water, but it was soon seen that Blenheim, Wanganui Unions, and Wellington were in difficulties, and were making for the shore to empty their boats. The Torea, with the umpire, the secretary of the Rowing Association, and the local committee on board, steamed over to these crews, and on asking what the trouble was the ' strokes one and all replied than they absolutely declined to row in the present condition of the water. It was there and then decided to postpone the race until later in the day, and on the umpire announcing the decision to the Stars and Queen's Drive, they expressed themselves quite satisfied with the decision. The crews hereupon paddled back to the sheds. By live o'clock the water had become as smooth as could be wished, and the spectators were treated to another magnificent race. The favourites won.- They had to row all they knew for the whole distance, as Blenheim were going stronger in the last half-mile than they had done in the earlier part ot the race. The tactics pursued by the Waueanui Unions in order to get inside position perhaps cost them the race, for they made up several lengths in the last three-quarters of a mile, and finished more gamely than any other crew in it. The Torea, the umpire-boat, was rather slow from which to obtain a clear view of the racing, especially in last three-quarters of a mile, but from here there was no mistaking the fact that Queen's Drive had a commanding lead. Their win was a popular one.

The following are the details of the day's racing :— Junior Clinkers Pairs. One mile. Prizes, £6 and £2. First heat: Nelson R.C. heat Star B.C. by a length after a splendid race. Second heat: Picton R.C. defeated Wellington R.C. by two lengths after a hard race for threequarters of the distance. Final heat: Picton rowed over and took the first prize, Nelson declining to start. Ladies Plate, in outriggers. One mile and a-half. Prizes, £10 and £2, Wellington R.G 1 Star B.C 2 Picton R.C. ' 3 These were the only starters. Nelson made a mistake as to the hour of starting the race, and did not get to the post in time. The illness of Cowlishaw caused the Canterbury crew to scratch, as they felt that to row with a substitute would seriously affect their chance. For more than half the distance the three crews kept pretty well abreast, but after that Wellington opened out, ami rowing in fine form slowly forged ahead and won by two lengths, a similar distance separating Star and Picton. Time, 9m. 345. Champion Double Sculls. One mile and a-half. Prizes, £12 and £2. Wairewa 8.C.; G. Chapman (bow), W. Reid (stroke) 1 Wellington R.C.: C. Poll (bow), F. B. Young (stroke) 2 Star and Canterbury were the absentees. Wairewa went away from the start, and were never headed, winning by three or four lengths. Time, 9m. 30 4-55., which is 19s. slower than last year, Champion Sculls. Ono mile and a-half, Prizes, £10 and £2. Wairewa R C. (C. Chapman) ... 1 Picton R.C. (H. McCormick) ... 2 Wellington R.C. (P. Graham) ... 3 Tho Dtinedin Amateur B.C. (J. McGratli) also started. Graham dashed away with the lead, which he heldforabouc3ooyards, McCormick being last. After half a mile had been covered McGrath spnrtod and took fully a length ahead of Chapman and Graham, who were on terms. McCormick then put in a strong challenge, and although rowing roughly, he gradually closed on thoso in front of him, and passing both Chapman and Graham got on terms with McGrath. The latter spurt ad and drew away fully a length, and the Picton man again dropped astern; but it was not for long. About half a mile from home ho again challenged McGrath, and the latter, after a brief effort, gave up, and as the umpire's boat passed him he.

called out that be had been sei ? 7j stitch. Seeing McGrath's cC"'. ( the Chapman, who was at this stage ham by about a length, by a ra spurt got on terms with Mc(; o rm?,L tli;ent soon established a lead from him wm'l*?' 1 kept to the finish, winning by about, ch he and a-half, Graham being a lencth L '^ third. Time, 10m. 10 1-5 s., as "conit* ay i with 9m. 45 s. for last year. "Van*! Champion Fodbs. Two miles, Iw, „, n and £10. x uze 3. £30 Queen's Drive li.C . Blenheim R C ... _ '" J Wellington R.C. ... ' : Star B.C. .. ; ;;; . Union 8.C., Wangamii ... " .- Mr. Batkin sent the crews away to splendid start, Wellington being the quick,! off the murk. As soon as the botva ~, properly under weigh Queen's Drive reheated their memorable performance of last Land went away from the other crews as if shot out of a gun, and had soon established • lead of two or three lengths. At the half mile buoy Wellington and Blenheim had •' lead of the Star and Unions, but there v -' scarcely a length between these four hoar? At this distance Keegau's crew, who Wer " lying at the far side of the line ne St Blenheim, dropped behind aud crossed to the other aide of the course at the rear of th other boats. This, of course, lost them seveu lengths. At the half distance lilenheim Star, and Wellington were on pretty even terms, Queen's Drive beins still ,i couple ,l lengths in the lead. Blenheim then made a forward move, leaving Wellington and Star to light out third position. The Unions however, had still to be reckoned with for half-a-mile from home they got on a series ol magnificent spurt.", and closed on the Star* and Wellington. Their effort was too' late for on the firing of the gun they were still a quarter of a length behind the Stars Queen's Drive won by a length and a third from Blenheim, who were a length ami a quarter in front of Wellington. Stars were I', third of a length away fourth, and Unions last. Time, 12m. lis., as compared w.th 11 m. 41s. Inst year. The Senior Clinkers Fours will be rowed at nine o'clock to-morrow morning.