AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10420, 19 April 1897, Page 6

AQUATICS.

WEST END ROWING CLUB. The final outing of the West End Rowing Club for the present season took place on Saturday afternoon last at Lake Takapuna. The day was bitterly cold, which interfered greatly with the attendance, but those who braved the cold were treated to some excellent racing, Professor Carrollo acted as judge, and the following crews won the heats of the first round : Harris, Bach, H. Sands, and Stephenson. In the second round Bach's beat Harris' crew by a bare length, aud Stephenson's four were too good for H. Sands'. After an interval, the two winners went out to contest the final, which was won by Stephenson's four, Bach's crew getting the second prize. The following are the names of the two crews:—G. O. Stephenson, J. Hickson, F. M, Shortt, G. M. Main, with E. Carter (cox.), and B. Bach, F. Young, G. Mills, W. Bigelow, and Dawson Hanna (cox.) The Eagle arrived back just after seven p.m. On the trip up Professor Carrollo was warmly thanked for his trophies, and for the continued interest manifested in the welfare of the club, to which the Professor replied. Music was provided by the Newton Band, and was much appreciated. The rowing season is now practically at an end, the weather of Saturday last being wintry in the extreme.

THE LADIES' WHALEBOAT RACE. On Saturday afternoon the whaleboat race between ladies' crews from Auckland and Waitara, took place. The wind was blowing very strong from the south, making the water very lumpy, and the committee who had the arrangements in hand, decided to make the course at the lower end of the harbour, on the southern shore, in order that smooth water could be secured. Shortly after three o'clock the steam yacht Beatrice, which had been kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr. Mercer, left her moorings and proceeded down the harbour, followed shortly afterwards by the Devonport Ferry Company's steamer Osprey, with the two crews and a large number of excursionists. The Beatrice had the two competing whaleboats and her own dingy in tow, and when off Judge's Bay had to make a course in shore, owing to the sea being so heavy. Unfortunately the yacht's dingy filled, and the whaleboats had to cast off to save them being swamped, Messrs. Cossar aud Whitelaw getting into one of the boats, while the other stood by the dingy, which had broken away from the Beatrice in the meantime. The whaleboats then made for the Osprey, and were takeu in tow, and the Beatrice madeau attempt topickupherdingy, which was not successful. The boats then headed in for Kohiraarama, where the water was comparatively smooth, and it was decided to row the race along the beach, beats being placed at the eastern end for rounding, Mr. S. E. Hughes acted as starter from the Osprey, and got the two boats away very evenly, and a splendid contest ensued, both crews rowing excellently, the Auckland crew having decidedly the advantage owing to the clean, even stroke of the rowers. Down to the mark-boats the race was pretty even, but Auckland, owing to the smartness with which 0. Moore (the steersman) guided the boat, gained a good advantage, and notwithstanding that Waitara did their level best Auckland gradually drew ahead and finished about a length aud a quarter in advance. At the conclusion both crews were heartily cheered by the excursionists on both steamers, and after a short interval all returned to town. The committee desire to express their thanks to Mr. Mercer for his kindness in placing the Beatrice at their disposal during the afternoon, and for the courtesies he extended to their friends. ' On Saturday • evening, the Waitemata Rowing Club provided for the entertainment of the,tw6 crews by taking them to the performance at the Opera House, and on Sunday afternoon the ladies wen driven in a brako to Otahuhu. .••■;'•*-•';.;"•■ .-.»■'-•-