THE INTERCOLONIAL BOAT RACE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4241, 23 October 1874, Page 3

THE INTERCOLONIAL BOAT RACE.

The following is the account of the Intercolonial Boat Kaoe given in the Sydney Morning Herald :— At twenty-five minutes past form the Sydney crew doifed their overcoats on the point opposite Ryde, and took their places in the new gig built specially for the race by Greenland, of Melbourne. They seemed in splendid condition —muscles well developed, and facial expression indicative of a robust, thoroughly healthy course of training. Mr. G. H. Pitzhardinge, bow, weighed a trifle under list. ; Mr. B. J. Clarke, No. 2, list. 131 b. ; Mi’. B. A. Clarke, No. 3,12 at. 101 b. ; Mr. M. A. Pitzhardinge, stroke, list. 81bs.; L. McKay, coxswain, sst. 61bs. As soon as the umpires steamer arrived the Sydney crew along the southern shore for a preliminary breather, pulling about thirty-four strokes per minute. They were off the starting-point, at Mr. Bowden’s bathing-house, ere the Victorians were seen descending the road leading to the old pier at Byde, where they launched their gig, but as it was a lee-shore, were compelled to have her towed across the river and take their seats there. This occasioned so great a delay that Mr. Pitzhardiugo had to keep his crew paddling about to prevent them getting chilled, and it was not until five minutes past five o’clock that the Victorians pulled to the starting point. The crew consisted of J. P. Edington, bow, list. 21ba. ; H. W. Henderson, No. 2, list. 101 b. ; L. Kickham, No. 3, 12st. 51b, ; Z. Giles, stroke, list. 21b. ; J. Edwards, cox., Ist. 61b. Very little time was lost in taking up positions, Sydney having the northern shore and Melbourne the outside. The stiff nor'west breeze, _ though fair for the race, had raised quite a ripple on the water, and the young flood was running up strong when the starter sent the gigs away dead level, Sydney, first to catch the water, went off at about thirty-six strokes

per minute, Giles pulling a trifle faster; but his men, too low on the feather for anything like broken water, seemed flurried for a few strokes ; then, putting on a spurt, held their opponents for about 200. yards, Eitzhardinge’s four rowing a long powerful stroke, then steadily drew ahead, getting a clear lead before they had traversed half the distance to Kissing Point. At this place the steering of the Melbourne gig seemed most erratic, owing to the slight hold the rudder had on the water ; indeed, sometimes when the after section of the boat rose on a wave the steering gear was quite useless. To a close observer, Mr. Henderson’s right arm appeared to have given way before reaching Lang’s Point, and nothing but an accident could prevent Sydney regaining the lost championship. In vain Giles, working like a tiger, puts it on to thirty-eight a minute ; he seems to have to pull all on that side of the boat himself, as the rudder is almost hard across. Mr. Pitzhardinge’s men are drawing away every stroke, rowing well within themselves. The injunctions of the Marine Board were ignored by the steamer Bungaree and a steam-launch flying the E. and A. Mail Company’s flag, both of which gave the boats’ crew the benefit of a wash as they pulled down the long reach across the mouth of Hen and Chicken Bay. Melbourne misses a stroke as if fearful of being swamped, then away again in chase of their leaders, only to get served worse by the steam launch Bonita running such a sea on to them that the coxswain slewed his boat out of her course to save being filled, but a hearty chorus of groans which rang out from the Achilles caused the offending steamer to clear out of the way. Sydney steered the correct course to get out of the tide when making for Looking Glass Point, Melbourne keeping full in the tide, and the same as they pulled thence to Gladesville. Here Sydney took the south shore, and rowed by their club-house at thirty-seven per minute. They eased a little roundiug the point, and then on the home stretch made for the stake boat, with a telling thirty-six, finishing at their ease in 21 min. 59sec., amidst loud cheers; an equally high compliment being paid to their competitors, who were beaten by twenty lengths, for the plucky manner in which they had rowed a stern race. The result was at once despatched to Sydney by carrier pigeons. The Victorians rowed in a boat built by Edwards, and of the two gigs we believe she is faster than the Sydney boat in smooth water.