RIVER REGATTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 10

RIVER REGATTA

PUBLIC SCHOOL BOYS EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA STRUGGLE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP By Telegraph—Pieas Association— Copyright (Received April 19, 5.8 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 19 For the first time in the history of the great public schools' regattas the events were rowed yesterday on the Nepean Hiver at Penrith, where the State and inter-Sate regattas aro regularly held. The decision to row on the Nepean in preference to the Parramatta was reached after years of controversy, and critics regard ill is year's regatta as a triumph for those who advocated the change.

Among other advantages the change enables all crows to compote simultaneously, thus obviating the necessity for heats. All the eight schools lined up for yester;lav's events. The main race was won by St. Joseph's College after a thrilling contest witnessed by nearly 40,000 |K > ople. St. Joseph s now has won the hn'ad of the river title five times. Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore'* 15 times, Sydney Grammar School IS, Sydney High School and St. Ignatius College 4 each. King's School and Newington College 1 each, iicots College has no win to its credit.

An unfortunate crow in this year's race was that of Shore who, when leading 50 yards from homo, "caught a crab," Shore and St. Joseph's had disputed the lra:l from the start, with Grammar third.

St. Joseph's, displaying a magnificent fighting spirit, held off a great challenge from Grammar, to win by a quarter of a length, with Shore half-a-length away third. The regatta was characterised by the customary enthusiasm and animation. Results were: —

Champion Eights (1J miles). —St. Joseph's, 1; Grammar, 2; Shore, 3. Time, 7m 56Js. First Fours. —St. Joseph's, 1; Shore, 2; Grammar, 3. Won by threo feet. Time, 5m 49 I-os. Second Fears. —Shore, 1; High School, 2; St. Joseph's, 3. Won by half-a-length. Time, 5m 52^s.