AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12550, 18 April 1904, Page 3

AQUATICS.

WEST END ROWING CLUB. The West Ehcl Rowing Club held trial fours on Saturday last under most favourable conditions, the weather being perfect. The club was '" At Home" to its friends, a large number of invitations having been sent out, with the result that the whole of the club's seating accommodation was severely taxed, the fair sex attending in very large numbers. The prizes for the trial fours were silver shields, presented by Mr. A. Kohn (a vice-president), and the winners also have their names inscribed on the large handsome shield presented by the same gentleman some years ago, and which adorns the walls of the boat- : house. Afternoon tea and refreshments were freely dispensed to all under the active management of the Ladies* Committee. , Music was provided'by the No. 1 Battalion ; Band and greatly enjoyed. The racing was j excellent, and the whole of the arrangements in connection with the same were carried out in perfect style by the committee of management of the club. The duties of starter were in the capable hands of Mr. J. Maxwell, and Mr. Reynolds (a vice-president of the club) granted the use of his'steam launch Whali for Mr. Maxwell and the club, thus enabling the events to be despatched in- good time. Four crews, stroked ,by, R. English, D. V. Hanna, A. Court, and F. Gutry, competed in the first race, , which, after, an excellent go," was won 'by the first-named. H. Sands, .1. 11. Bigelow, R. M. Doull, and H. N. Cossar stroked crews in the second race, which was won by R. ' M. Doull's four by something under a length after a most spirited contest. The third race, however, proved the event of the day; the foul crews, stroked by C. Wilson,'W. Wright, W. 0. Carlaw. and J. Carder, being bunched together all the way up till nearing home, when Carlaw's and Carder's crews, rowing with great determination, drew away from the other two by a few feet. When they finished' they were apparently locked together, and the verdict of the judge (.Mr. A. Kohn) was a dead heat between Carder's and Carlaw's crews, the other two crews being just .behind. After a short spell the four crews went out for lite filial to decide who should become the winners of the coveted trophies. The following were the competitors:— R. English (stroke). N. Cssher, R- Bigelow, S. M. Barry, and L. Weston (cox): R. M. Uoull (stroke). A. Quiti, S. i Barker. C. Dickcson, and C. Massey (cox); W. 0. Carlaw (stroke), T. English, G. Parvin, W. Cato, and F. Knight (cox); J. Carder (stroke), V. Carter, C. Camp, F. Rose, and S. Weston (cox). . This was another most spirited race, being of special interest. between the two crews who made » dead heat of the previous event, but Carder's crew lasting better just got home before Carlaw's combination, the other two crews being close haudv. This closed the afternoon's events — one of the most successful given in West End, everyone being highly pleased with the afternoon's function. It also rang down the curtain of boating fixtures in West End for the season 1903-*. Hearty cheers were given for the donoi .of the prizes, aftei which the . National- Anthem terminated the proeeed- { in»s. (

AUCKLAND ROWING CLUB. The last series of trial fours in. connection with the Auckland Rowing Club took place on Saturday afternoon last. The, racing was exceptionally brilliant, and the day was one well suited. for rowing events. Everything was managed admirably, and the officials "of the club worked most energetically. Mr. W. Brown acted as judge, and Mr. Hogan as starter. The first heat was fought ■ between crews stroked by L. Clark and H. f Jones. From th© start Jones' foil* drew away,, and were about a length and a-half ahead when Clark's combination spurted and came up with a fine rush. A great race ensued, and eventually Jones' crew won by no more than 2ft. The secon d heat was between crews stroked by A. Fookes, J. Carpenter, and A. Fleming. Fookes' four secured the lead when about half-way, and held it to the finish, winning by about half a length from Carpenter's combination, Fleming being well up third. The crews of the third boat were stroked by Lovett, Forshaw. arid Franklin, and after a very exciting "go" was won by Franklin's combination just beating Lovett's by a few feet. Forshaw unfortunately, lost his .seat, and practically dropped out of the race. In the final Jones', Fookes'. and Franklin's crews met, and from' a good start the three boats shot away together, and a splendid race followed, proving the fastest of the day. Fookes' combination, after a final spurt,-secured the judge's verdict by. about 2ft from Franklin's four, with Lovett's rowing a very good third. The first prize, presented by Messrs. Leo. Myers and (>. N. Pierce, was thus won by the following crew: A. Fookes (stroke), S. Hellaby. (3), Rosser (2), J. Jones (1), and the second prize, presented by Mr. A. J. Cooper, was won by "W. Franklin (stroke), T. Diamond (3), Dafgettv (2), rotter (1).

NORTH SHORE YACHT CLUB.

The final fixture of the season of the North Shore Yacht Club— race to Awaroa Bay, Waiheke —was held on Saturlay afternoon. The course was from eastern end of Victoria Wharf to Awaroa Bay; and finishing between Lookout Point and mark moored to the oastward of the point; 15 knots. The entries and handicaps were:—Thistle, scratch; •Spray, scratch; Okere, scratch; Wairere, scratch: Janet, 2m.; Huia, 3m.; Daisy, Bm.; Foueke, 11m.; Alofa, 15m.; Orangi, 18m.; Rewi, 24m. .Tanot and Orangi did not start. The handicaps were given at th& start, Rewi, the limit boat, starting at three o'clock, Mr. Wilkinson, the club's starter, getting the rest away promptly to their handicap times. Of the four limit boats Okere had slightly the best start, the limit boat being nearly down to Brown's Island by then. Okere, "Wairere and Thistle kept well to windward, and blanketing each other, allowed Spray, the other scratch boat, to get away a bit; Huia and Daisy were both well handled, carrying topsails, leading jibs, and spinnakers almost from the start. Janet, Wairere, Thistle, and Spray also carried leading jibs and spinnakers for some time, the latter boat carrying hers all the way down. The limit boat was caught by Huia off Rocky Bay, which, followed by Okere, led the others by a few minutes. Rewi, Daisy, Spray, and Thistle wore all within a hundred yards of each other as they neared the entranco to the bay, and the finish was timed by Mr. J. Alexander, from his launch Naomi 11., as follows:—Huia. sh. 23m. 55.; Okere, sh. 26m. 10s. ; Daisv, sh. 28m. 205.; Rewi, 51i. 28m. 405.; Thistle, 5h.. 30m. 155.; Spray, 51). 30m. 405.; Wairere, sh. 32m. 55.; Alofa, sh. 33m. 30s. OPoneke lost small overboard and gave up. After tea an enjoyable evening was spent ashore by invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, and refreshments having been handed round Mr. J. Alexander, in a neat speech, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Gordon for their hospitality, calling for three cheers for them, thus bringing to a pleasant conclusion the season of the club for 19031904. - ':'