AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13028, 20 November 1905, Page 3

AQUATICS.

AUCKLAND ROWING CLUB. . The Auckland Rowing Club rowed their second trial fours of the season last Saturday. /".„. under most favourable weather conditions, -■ and the -heats were well contested. The >- w prizes were handsome trophies, presented by \y"j' Mr. W. Woodward (vice-president). Messrs. ;; 0. Murray and J. Wheeler acted as startere, S'y and Mr. A. Molloy filled the position of .{'■ judge. Eleven crews competed. The ; course was from St. Mary's Point, Ponsonby, ; to i the end. of the Hobson-street Wharf. ;, Three - crews competed in ' the' first heat, „ stroked by J. Lovett, A.V Fleming, and G. Griff en. This was a well-contested race for j> three-parts of the distance, when Lovett* 9 K crew (J. Lovett, Larking, J. Stevens, and C. »-." Garrett) took the lead, and won by a length p. from Fleming, Griff en being a good third |; Mt from Fleming. The second event proved! -, one of the best ever rowed by the club. ! „ Four crews, stroked by J. Forshaw,' C. O. ; ;; Hughes, G. Hogan, and W. Franklin, went <:; to the starting post. The four boats were J', abreast for half the course, when Franklin, ,i v ; and Hogan came to the fore, and held that *->; position 50yds from home, when they ■ had! . the misfortune to strike the backwash from •' a passing ferry'boat, which disorganised their ; _ combination. Forshaw and Hughes at this ~jW juncture spurted to the front, Forshaw, after A a hard fight, just beating Hughes • (whose ; >; stretcher gave way) by a foot, Hogan and £ : Franklin being a dead-heat, 2ft from Hughes. .. The third heat was. also an interesting race," >*:;■ four crews taking part, stroked by R. B. j, * Young, C. Murray, J. Hellaby, and A. G. V Focikes. Almost the whole course Was tra- : ' versed before there was any perceptible dif- «- ference in the positions of the crews, when;;; : Young and Murray took the lead, and re- .s;~ tained it, Young only beating Murray by ■j.:.:, lift for first place, Hellaby being third, 6ft + ■ from Murray, and only a few feet separating ■ Hellaby and Fookeg.. • The final brought out ~ three crews, stroked by" J. Lovett, J. Forshaw, and B. Young. Lovett took the lead, : and. won comfortably by one length from Forshaw, Young being a good third. On arriving at the boathouse the winning crew , and stroke received a great ovation, aiull three cheers were heartily given for Mr. Woodward.' , Refreshments were provided! during the afternoon..! ; The following were the members of the... winning crewJ. ; Lovett, Larking, J. Stevens, C. Garrett,.and T. Harris (cox).

DEVONPORT .-..YACHT CLUB. -.." The first cruising:race of the season of th*Devon port Yacht Club was sailed on Satyr-, day 'afternoon/ , There, was a, light-'southerly.; , breeze blowing, with very fine weather, and 7 the- handicaps 1 were off/ the wind,;'.as follows': —Ngatira, ! scratch; Wairere; : 6m. j>; Wairiki, 6m:; Thistle,;- 6m.; Janet, lra.% --.' Viola, -13m.; ; Gloriana, >,13m.;'|h.Euralie,,.,, 15m,; Freda, 15rm; Iris, 18m.; " Valdpra,- '; 20m.; Eileen, 26m. Mr. J. Collis' yacht ■ Mavourneeh'was'.the flagship, .'and; Captain.'}," George, McKenzie -arid 'Messrs. E.Binney' and ;J. H.'Frater' were the officers of the day.,. All-'' the i boats' entered came to the starting point, and were sent' away to ian -•'•' excellent start at half-past two. o'clock. Leading jibs were promptly in evidence on. : all the boats, and on rounding Brown's? Island spinnakers were set, the yachts presenting a very pretty sight with all sail set. : Ngatira was in the lead for some time/,with Wairere in close attendance, and the latter finished first, followed by Ngatira, Wairiki, Thistle, Gloriana, Freda and Janet. > The finishing times were:—Wairere, 4h. 46m. 405.; Ngatira, . 4h. 47m. 155.; Wairiki, 4h. 49m! 305.; Thistle, 4h. 55m. 225.; .Janet, 4h. 56m. 75.; Gloriana, 4h. 56m. 55.; Freda, 4h. 56rn. 65.; Viola, 4h. 57m. 555.; Eulalie, sh. Im. 35.; Valdora, sh. 2m. 295.; Eileen, sh. Bm.; Iris, sh. 14m. 30s. On time allow-r ance Wairere is first, Freda second, and ; Eileen third. The competing yachts were joined in the bay by several others to a total of about 16, and the crews, numbering about 70, were hospitably entertained by ;■ Mr. and Mrs. Gordon in the evening. Mr. J. B. Graham (commodore of the club) presided, and the time was passed in song and story. The commodore thanked Mr. and■'.:'■ Mrs. Gordon for their kindness to the elubr MANUKAU YACHT CLUB. ' Instead of holding the customary procesv sion of boats and manoeuvres, the Manukau. Yacht Club opened the season last Saturday by sailing the first race, to count points for the handicap cup. The handicaps were:: —Ngaroma, scratch; Maka Maile, 13m.; , Moa, 17m.; Sarah, 22m.; Alma, 24m.; : Ma>- >;.\ Bee, 27m.; Endeavour, ; 36m.; : : Mascotte,- s ! 37m.;, Spray, 41m.; Myrtle, 42m. ;■. Unknown, 45m;; Sea Gull, 48m.; Mavis, 50m. ;]■•; Petrel, 52m. Mr. Ira Sutherland' despatched the limit boat at twenty-three miiiutea past two p.m. There was a variable southerly wind blowing, with plenty of body " it, and favoured the limit boats on the beat down the first time. On the run back to the dolphin, Petrel continued to lead, and ' the times for the half journey were:—Petrel, 3h. 23m.; Spray, 3h. 29m.; Endeavour, 3h. 34m.; Mascotte, 3h. 36m.; MayBee, 3h. 41m. ;'•' Ngaroma, 3h. 57m. Tho scratch boat made up some time on th« second round, but could not catch the leaders. A good race between Spray and Petrel resulted in the former passing the post with half a minute to spare. The finishing times were:—Spray, 4h. 20m. 305., 1; Petrel, 4h. 21m., 2; Endeavour, 4h. 25m., 3; Mascotte, 4h. 28m.; May Bee, 4h. 29m.; and Ngaroma, 41). 31m. The. yachts' flags were flying at half-mast owing to a bereavement in the family of Mr. A. Jeffs, a club membei , and boat owner. ". /