THE ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 50

THE ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Championship Regatta, under the auspices of the New Zealand Rowing Association, was held on the northeastern shore of the harbour, off the Petone beach, on Saturday. It had been hoped that the sea would have been sufficiently smooth for this purpose nearer to Wellington; but when the committee met in the morning, it was decided, on the principle that it is better to be sure than sorry, to" go to Petone. The day proved beautifully fine, and the sea smooth for the mile and mile and a half races. In the two-mile event, the Champion Fours, there was a fairly strong sea at the starting point, towards Ngahauranga, and a good deal of spray was knocked about in the first part of the race. The regatta generally was highly successful. The arrangements were good, but better accommodation ought to be provided on shore for the officials and others ou the next occasion on which a regatta is held at Petone. An unfortunate delay took place in beginning the races, owing to some trouble in getting one of the buoys laid. There was a crowd of spectators on the Duco, which followed die races.

j The officials of the regatta were: — : President, Mr H. D. Bell: vice-presi-dents, Messrs A. S. Biss, J. Saunders, iW. Williams, J. P. Maxwell; judges, Messrs C. A. Knapp, W. H. Field, M.H.R., Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G.; umpire, Mr A. G. Fell; starter, Mr A. S. Biss; committee, Messrs G. H. Bej thune (chairman), H. L. Wiggins, W. M. I Tyers, W. Nidd, A. J. Bishop, C. Poll, j J. A. Horue, F. J. McClean, R. W. Mci Villey, G. Lauchlan, W. Brown, and j captains of visiting clubs competing at regatta; boat committee, Messrs W. Nidd, A. J. Bishop, H. W. Cooper and H. E. Richards; course committee, : Messrs G. C. Fache, G. Lauchlan, and N. ■ J. Tone; treasurer, Mr G. C. Fache; I hon. sechetary,Mr R. R. Smith.

The •win of the Kawatiri crew in the Champion Fours was very popular, and the men, on stepping out of their boat, were heartily congratulated on every side. They pulled with a fine stroke all the way, and really had the race in their possession when the last half-mile was entered upon. The following are the results :— ■ Champion Sculls (amateur rowing championship of New Zealand), in best-and-best boats. First. £lO and Pearce trophj', to be held for one year : second, £2. One mile and a half. J. F. McGrath, Otago Rowing Club 1 T. Spencer, Wellington Rowing Club 2 C. Poll, Petone Rowing Club ... 3 The other starters were:—G. Hutchison and W. E. 13endall, of the Star Boating Club. McGrath took the lead early in the race, and was never afterwards caught. Spencer came with a strong spurt within the last quarter of a mile, but McCarthy drew away easily, and won by a couple of lengths. Time, llmin 52 2-ssec-. Maiden Fours, in association clinkers. First, £10; second =£2. One mile. Star Boating Club —T. Hamer, bow : N. L. James, 2; F. D. Johnston, [ 3; W. R. C. Oswin, stroke ... 1 Union Boating Club, Wanganui—M. Ryan, bow.; W. White, 2: F. .Lampitt, 3 ; R. McGregor, stroke ; A. Rodgers, cox ... ... ... o C'anterblry Rowing Club—J. Guthrie, bow; C. H. Hobbs, 2; J. C. Irons,3; E. C. Little, stroke ; 11. Dunn, cox ... ... ... ... 3 Crews representing the following clubs also started:—Blenheim, Union (Napier), Wellington, and Nelson Rowing Clubs, and Aramoho Boating Club. One 1 of the two Star crews did not start. j Oswin’s crew, with the outside course, became prominent soon after the start, i the Wanganui, Nelson and Canterbury representatives also pulling well. The Star men steered too wide a course, and the Wanganui crew coming in the centre with a spurt at the finish, looked very likle winning, but the Stars, steering back to their course within the mark buoy, were able to hold their own and win by a length. The Nelson crew was fourth. Time, 7min 11 2-ssec. Junior Fours, in best-and-best boats. First, £l2; second, £2. One mile __ and a half. Kawatiri Rowing Club, Westport—W. Campbell, bow ; R. Atkinson, 2; S. Atkinson, 3; C. Sheriff, . stroke; B. Munson, cox ... 1 Union Boating Club, Wanganui—W. Jones, bow; J. Green, 2; J. Hamilton, 3; W. Sharpe, stroke; A. Rodgers, cox. „. ... 2 Canterbury Rowing Club—R. E. Lake, bow; H. Frost, 2; S. G. Styche, 3; G. Beauchamp, stroke; H. Daun, cox 3 The other crews were.—Blenheim, Star, Wellington and Aramoho. Kawatiri held a good position from the start, with Canterbury next, and the Wanganui crew also prominent. The Kawatiri crew, pulling very steadily, drew away in the last half-mile, and won easily by nearly four lengths, Canterbury just gaining third place from the Star crew, Wellington was fifth, Aramoho sixth, and Blenheim outdistanced. Time, lOmin 36 4-ssec. Champion Pairs (Amateur Rowing Championship of New Zealand), in best-and-best boats. First, £ls; second, £3. One mile and a half.

Wellington Rowing Club—J. R. Crawford, bow; A, Galbraith, stroke 1 Star Boating Club—A. D. Bayfield, bow; R. Pownall, stroke 2 These were the only competitors. The Wellington crew pulled away from their opponents, and won as they liked. Time, 12min Bsec. Maiden Sculls, in clinker boats provided by the committee. First, £4; second, £l. One mile. A. W. Humphreys, Wellington Rowing Club » ... ••• •” 1 T. Slinn, Petone Rowing Club ... 2 This race was rowed in heats. In the first heat Humphreys beat Hooke (Wellington Rowing Club), and in the second Slinn won, Bayfield (Star Boating Club) being second, as Ander (of the Aramoho Club), who finished second, went outside the mark buoy. In the final, Humphreys came away easily, and though Slinn made a desperate effort in the last few yards, Humphreys was able to stall off his effort, and win easily. Time, Bmin 22 2-ssec. Champion Fours (Amateur Rowing Championship of New Zealand), in boats with coxswains. First, £2O; second, £lO. Two miles. Kawatiri Rowing Club, Westport— W. Campbell, bow; R. Atkinson, 2; $. Atkinson, 3; C. Sheriff, stroke ; B. Munson, cox 1 Wellington Rowing Club—W. J. Spencer, bow; G. Spencer, 2; J. Spencer', 3;T. Spencer, stroke... 2 Canterbury Rowing Club—G. D. Mcllralth, bow : H. S. Hobbs, 2 ; W. A. O’Callaghan, 3; A. S. Hardy - Johnston, stroke; H. Daun, cox ... ... ... 3 Wanganui Rowing Club —J. M. Williams, bow; H. F. Tilley, 2; A. S. Anderson, 3; A. H. Lewis,

stroke; G. Lewis, cox ... 0 Aramoho Boating Club—S. Ellis, bow; A. Holmes, 2; T. O’Shannessey, 3; P. Keegan, stroke... 0 The Star Boating Club’s crew did not start, having given up their boat to the Aramoho crew. When the order was given to go, the Wellington men pulled to the front, and were in the lead when the crews had settled to work, while the Canterbury men, in the centre of the course, were close behind, second. Aramoho had the shore position, with Wanganui next, Canterbury next to Wanganui, then Wellington in fourth place, and Kawatiri on the outside. The men were pulling against the wind, and as there was a fairly strong sea at the head of the two-mile course, there was a good deal of splashing in the first quarter of a mile. Before the boats had gone very , far, Wanganui fouled with Aramoho, ! and thus put the latter crew out of the race. All the boats were at this time 1 closing in on the shore for the advantage of the smoothest water, so much so that in some cases oars were almost overlapping. The Wellington crew kept the lead as the half-mile was entered upon, but the Kawatiri representatives, with a fine, swinging stroke, ! carried their boat into first place before half a mile had been travelled. Fur- ; ther on, the Wellington men. with Can- ! terbury still close behind, set out to ; keep pace with the Westport men, and it was apparent then that the result ; of the race would rest with these three, | for Wanganui and Aramoho were now too far in the rear. The Kawatiri crew, working together beautifully, and show- : mg the benefits of the close training j they had undergone, began to draw | away, and by the time the last half- ! mile was entered upon, the result was ! a foregone conclusion, for the Westport men, comfortably defeating the challenges of both Wellington and Canterbury, came on, and won by a little over I a length, a fine race for second place ; resulting in favour of Wellington by a quarter of a length. Wanganui was : fourth, and Aramoho fifth. Time, 14min 33 3-ssec. Junior Pairs, in clinker boats. First, ; £6 ; second, £2. One mile. Blenheim Rowing Club—J, H. Morrison, bow; J. M. Jackson, stroke ... ... ... 2 j kelson Rowing Club—C. R. Cooke,' bow; W. E. Smith, stroke .. "2 i Aramoho Boating Club—H. Gurr, j bow; A. J. Haywood, stroke 3 ; A ci ; e ' v fr °m the Wellington Rowing Club also started. There was a good race between the Blenhenn and Nelson men, but Jackson and Morrison, with a fine stroke in the last few yards, beat off the other crew, 1 31 1. w °, u b * v a length and a half, Ara- | moho three or four lengths away. The 1 M ellington men broke an oar, and were j 56sec PUt ° Ut ° f the raCo ‘ Time > 7min 1 Champion Double Sculls (Amateur teui Rowing Championship of New Zealand) in best-and-best boats, j ’mst. £lo; second, £3. One mile and ! a half. ! Otago Rowing Club—M. H. Priest ! bow; J- F. McGrath, stroke 2 1 Wellington Rowing Club—A. Galbraith, bow; J. R. Crawford, < stroke ... ’ 0 Star Boating Club—6!' R. Bendaiij' ~ bow; W. E. Bendall, stroke ... 3 ort'KSSl- Ca "‘ erl ’ ur * a ln , llc l’ a(J been rowed, tion T n ’ who liad outside position at the start were in the lead, and Place from Wellington while further ou tho Star men took the

shore position from Canterbury .. the crews were at* this' ,tim« u «*S the shore closely., Witb*ab<£ifc"JjP» quarters of a mile still) to bo the Otago crew had a commands JS’ and were rowing with a fine easw?* The Wellington and Star meTl trok «-' pulling splendidly, but Canterburyoutdistanced. Five hundred varffiffc!^ 3 home Wellington. aw, in made a determined effort to irft ? terms, without success. They we™ °? done with, however, for thej suddenly came again within the last couple hundred yards, , and amid great excite! ment, drew their boat up to that Otago crew. The effort too 9 i for McGrath and Priest lasted & 1 enough to win by about three-auark»i ; of a length. The Star crew, six length j away, was third. Time, llmin 14 3-ascc. i Junior Double Sculls, in clinker Wd. i First, £6\ second, £2. One mile | Aramoho Boating Club—P. Keegan ’ bow; A. Aiider, stroke ... ~ V ! Blenheim Rowing Club—J. H. Mor-' - j rison, bow; J. M. Jackson* stroke ... ... ... « Wellington Rowing Club—A. Hiii ! bow; A. W. Humphreys, stroke 3 : The only other crew entered, one j from the Xelson Rowing Club, did not ; start. 1 ' The Aramoho crew took the lead when about half a mile had been travelled i ami remaining in front without diffil ! culty, won by about two lengths and a half; the Wellington crew a considerj able distance away. Time, Bmin 23seo, ! Youths’ Fours, in clinker boats. First 1 £10; second, £2. One mile. * Star Boating Club—T. Hamer, bow; ' X. L. James, 2; F. D. Johnston, 3; W. R. C. Oswin, stroke ... J i Wellington Rowing Club—C. R. ; Jones, bow; P. Coffey, 2; A. ; Galbraith, 3; O. Jones, stroke f I Blenheim Rowing Club—L. Packard, 1 bow; W. Girling, 2; F. Robinson, 3 ; E. T. Hegglun, stroke..?- f ! A crew from the Aramoho Boating j Club also started. ' The Star crew drew away at the start, and led till the finish, winning by a length and a half. Wellington and Blenheim finished on level terms for se- | cond place. Time, 6min 55sec. Senior Clinker Fours, open to any crew except winners of Champion Fours. | First, £ls; second, £3. One mile and a half. - Union Boating Club, Wanganui—W. Jones, bow; J. Green, 2; J. Hamilton, 3 ; W. Sharpe, stroke, A. Rodgers, cox ... 1 Wellington Rowing Club—W. J. : Spencer, bow ; G. Spencer, 2; J. Spencer. 3: T. Spencer, stroke... 2 Aramoho Boating Club—A. Holmes,* bow ; A. J. Haywood. 2 : A. Ander, 3; P. Keegan, stroke ... 3 Crews from the following clubs abo started:—Wanganui, Canterbury and Star. Won by three lengths, a length between second and third boats. Time, 10m in 42 3-ssec. The courses for the races were laid off by Mr X. J. Tone. i A smoke concert, given by the ft'el- ■ lington Rowing Association in honour of the visiting crews and officers of outi side clubs attending the regatta, was • held on Saturday night in the Star Club’s boathouse. Mr H. D. Bell, pre- ; sident of the Xew Zealand Rowing As- ' sociation, occupied the chair. The toast i of “The King” having been honoured, ; Mr A. G. Fell, of Picton, proposed “The j Xew Zealand Rowing Association,” sayj ing that the regatta was the best ever ■ held by the association. Mr H. D. Bell, ! in responding, spoke of the good feeling i existing between all the crews, and re- ! ferred to the success of the Kawatiri i crew in the Champion Fours, advising j other clubs to follow their example in ! practising consistently. The toast 'The I Visiting Crews” was proposed by Mr «• ; H. Bethune, chairman of the Wellington Association, who said that all the crews ! had had a fair course, And mentioned, j as a tribute to Wellington weather, that ' the rowing regatta in Wellington had j never yet been postponed. Mr John Marris, president of the Kawatiri Club, who replied, returned thanks for Ahe hospitable treatment which had been extended to the Kawatiri crew ana other visitors, and acknowledged particularly the courtesy shown to his crew by th i Star Boating Club. Tlie toast was also | responded to by Mr P. Struthers, cap- } tain of the Kawatiri crew; Mr R e dpatn, I captain of tlie Xelson Rowing Club; M | Wright, captain of the Union RowW» I Club, Xapier; Mr Frost, deputy-cap-tain of the Canterbury Rowing Cm > i and Mr A. S. Hardy-Johnston, strode ;of the Canterbury crew. The ot ! toasts were :—“Champions and Winu. ,of Regatta Races,” proposed by M ' R. Morison, and responded to by , I J. F. McGrath, champion sculler, Messrs S. Atkinson R. Crawford and A. Galbraith ton); “The Eighth Contingent, P‘ posed by Mr A. H. Barnett, r * Smitliers replying ; “Regatta Offi > proposed by Mr J. Swift, respo by Mr A. G. Fell (umpire) and Mr F. Smith (secretary of the Wellm^ I Rowing Association). Songs a tations were given by Messr - Bowen, R. Robertson, W. Macbctb, £ H. Hollis, J. D. Scott, J.Bvnfc jgg Pope, C. A. Hutton, F. HuttoJV I J. Russell, C. Furness, W. H. Warr , Widdop and P. Struthers.