THE CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10359, 14 May 1895, Page 3

THE CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

OTAGO WINS THE FOURS AND SODLLS. (Peb Unhed Pbess Association.) ... . t Picton, April 17. After two postponements the Championship regatta came off to-day under .the most favourable circnmstanoes, the weather being warm and sunny, and fche water aboufc as smooth as possible. The gathering passed off most successfully, and great credit; is given fco the Regatta Committee and officials for the completeness of tbeir arrangements. Mr F D Kesteven, oaptain of the Christchurch Union Club, made an excellent starter; Mr A G Johnston, of Wellington, carried cut the duties of umpire and timekeeper to the entire satisfaction of all concerned; Mr W H Montgomery, M.H.R., was a capable judge,*' and 4ir John Duncan supervised all other matters, lateen all round, the crews competing were an improvement on those of last year's gathering, and some of the times recorded-were very fast With regard to the racing, fche Stars showed tar and away the best form in fche Maiden hours, and won as they liked. The result of the Champion Pours was in many respscfcs a surprise, there being a strong public fancy for Auckland or Lyttelton. Tie Queen's Drive crew went away afc the fall of the flag at a tremendous pace, and in the first 300 yds had established a lead of two or three lengths. Auckland and Lyttelton, who were next to each other on the far side from the starter, were never prominent, and the struggle for places was confined to the crews on the other side of fche course, viz.—Queen's Drive Blenheim, and Wanganui Unions. Nelson soon arepped behind. The Wellington crew went well for a mile, but the pace fchen became too ho. for them. When aboufc half the distance had been covered, Blenheim and Wanganui Unions put in a strong challenge for first; place, and gained on the leading crew, but Wright kept; his men at it and won a grea. race by threequarters of a length, Blenheim a third oE a length in front of the Wanganui men; Auckland baafc Lyttelton by about 3ft for fourth place the latter having lets than a length from Wellington, who had a few feet advantage of Wairewa.. The Nelson crew finished last, aboufc sis lengths behind tha winning, boat;. The eight boats presented a pretty sight as they passed the wharves in a bunch. The win of the Queen'o Drive men was a very popular one, and the other crews admit fchey were outpaced by a batter crew.. Thb Sfc. George (Auckland) started favourites for the Junior Batswing Fours, but they were beaten by a light, hardy crew from fche Picton Rowing Club. For the third year in succession Samuels and Crosbie carried off tho Chamnion Pairs and tha Champion Double Sculls. * In the Pairs Blenheim and Wellington pushed them for half the distance, bufc after that they fcook things comfortably and won easily. The Wairewa men rowed pluckily in the Double Sculls, but never seriously troubled the .winners. _, The Champion Jumor Outrigged Fours brought out a "field..'of six boats, the Stars bsing ; the omy absentees.. Mr Kesfceven sent them away to such a fine start thafc he waa' enthusiastically cheered by the people on board the umpire's steamer. The St. George's crew were thought to have the best; chance. In the Wellington crew Swindling • (bowman of Champion Fours) took Sargeant's place as No. 2, the latter having, to return __ome,_bufc the alteration did nofc affect; the combination of the crew, and they, won a fine race by a couple of lengths. The Sfc. George men must have had a lot; taken oufc of them in the Junior Batswing event, and they think this ruined their chance Ihe time (Bmin 42sec) shows that the race was a hot one. Barrett was unable to start ih the Champion Sculls.. 'The Wellington Rowing Club offered him the use of Young's boat, but the slide was too short for him. M'Grath, who was made favourite, won handsomely by three or four lengths from Chapman, who rowed a splendidrace, and beatGrahameby a similar distance. Page finished fourth, but Daly and Young gave up on account of their boats'leaking. The Dnnedin man showed much improved form and rowed with far better judgment than last year. His win was extremely popular. One of the greatest surprises of the day was the defeat of the Auckland four by the Picton crew in the Senior Batswing Fours, the northerners being looked upon as a certainty for the event. The local men won from start to finish. The Blenheim four had ho difficulty in annexing the Senior Clinker Race, although the Unions (Wanganui) stuck to them pluckily. The following are the moneys won by the various' clubs:—Queen's Drive, £50; Union (Christchurch), £24; Picton, £23; Blenheim, £20; Wellington, £14; Dunedin, £10; Union (Wanganui), £9 ; Star, £8 ; St.1 George, £5-. Wairewa, £4; Auckland, . £4; Nelson, Lyttelton, Wanganui, and Canterbury,' nil: All the northern and southern crews leave by the Grafton at 9 o'clock to-night for Wellington. Results:—

Champion Fours. Two miles.—Prizes, £50, £10. and £5. . Queen's Drive Boating Club, Port Chalmers— * H. Pritchard (bow). J. Yeoman (2), F. Keenah (3), T. N. Wright (stroke), H. AVard (cox) ... 1 Blenheim Rowing Club—J. M'Laine, W_ Seymour, F. Seymour, G. Seymour (stroke) ' . . 2 Union Boating Club. Wanganui—p. Keegan,' T. O'Shannessy, J. Keegan, M. Keegan (stroke) 3

Also started : Auckland, who finished fourth ; Lyttelton, fifth; Wellington and Wairewa made a dead heat of it for sixth place, while Nelson was last.

The Queen's Drive crew, rowing 39 to the minute, dashed to the front from a sood start, with Wellington and Lyttelton next. Tbe Queen's Drive, showing splendid pace and swing, soon had a lead of over a length, and when half a mile had been covered it was seen that. the public fancies, Auckland and Lyttelton, could not ,win. Wanganui and Blenheim spurted after threequarters of amile had been covered. At the mile post Wanganui again spurted, and the coxswain tried to pass Blenheim first on one side and then on the other, but could not succeed. From this out the. positions of the boats could not be distinctly gauged from the umpire's boat,,which was far too slow to keep up with the race. The finish presented a fine sight, the boats being ■nicely . bunched together. Time, llmin 41sec, which was 19 seconds faster than last year. Maiden.—Star (Wellington) 1. Union (Wanganui) 2, ""Nelson 3. Won by eight lengths. •-

Champion Pairs. One mile and a-half.—Prizes, £12 and ____-'■

Union Rowing Club (Christchurch)—W. IV Samuel, (bow), R. F. Crosbie (stroke) ... 1 Wellington Rowing Club—W. Sim (bow), S. Waters (stroke) - 2

The Star crew were' scratched. The Christchurch pair went oft with the lead, but were hard ■pushed most of the way, -winning eventually by about three lengths, a few feet separating Wellington from Blenheim, which crew was third, with Picton last. The Blenheim crew steered very erratically. Time, 9min 29sec.

Junior Batswing Fours.— Picton 1,, St. George (Auckland) 2, Union (Wanganui) 3. Won by two lengths. Time, 9min 53 3-ssec. Champion Sculls. One mile and a-half.—Prizes, / £10 and £2. . M'Grath (Dunedin Amateur Boating Club)... I R. C. Chapman (Wairewa Boating Club) ... 2 P. Graham (Wellington Rowing Club)... ... 3 M'Grath led from the start and won rather easily by about three lengths, a similar distance between Chapman and Grahem. J. Page (Lyttelton) was fourth, some distance behind. Daly j (Canterbury) and Young (Wellington) gave up. Barrett did not start, as he had no boat. Time, 9min 45_ec, as compared with lOmin lOsec last year. Junior Outrigger Fours.—Wellington I, St. George (Auckland) 2, Nelson 3. Won by two lengths. Senior Batswing Fours. Two miles. —Prizes £15 and£l -■ ; Picton Rowing Club—X. Norton (bow), W. Marshall (2), T. Jackson (3), H. M'Cormick (stroke) .' ... ... ... i Auckland Rowing Club—(Same crew as in Champion Fours) ... 2 Union (Wanganui) was third. Blenheim did not start. The Picton crew, which had been altered at the last moment, won with the greatest of ease by six or eight leneths from Auckland, the Wanganui men hopelessly in the rear. ' Time, 12min 49£ sec. Champion Double Sculls. One mile-and a-J .half.—Prizes. £12and £2. j

Union (Christchurch)—W. F. Samuels (bow), ' R. F. Croshie (stroke) _:. ... -.;. -■'. p Wairewa—W. Reed (bow), C. Chapman Cstrokiej 2. These were the only Btarters, Wellington and Auckland being scratched. The"two" boats kept" together until a quarter of a mile from home, when the Ghristchurch men opened out and left* their opponents aa they liked. Time, 9min, or lljsec faster than last year. Senior Clinker Fours. Blenheim—J. M'Laine (bow), W. Seymour (2), F. Seymour (3), G. Seymour (stroke) ... ... 1 Wanganui (Union) was second, and Nelson third. This was a good - race for a mile, when Blenheim drew away from the Union, who fn turn left the Nelson crew, about two lengths separating each boat at the finish. Time, 12min I6£sec. . . . On their return to Otago the Queen's Drive crew and M'Grath received a most enthusiastic welcome. They were entertained by the Otago Rowing Association at a smoke concert, and were also feted at Port Chalmers.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs - I have already advised the intention of the Government to subsidise a trial shipment of horses to the old country. It is now staged that the Stock department is issuing a circular to the effect thafc in order to encourage an experimental shipment of heavy draught and 'bus horses and hunters to England an officer will bo appointed to inspect; and approve auy horses which shippers may propose to, send. This officer will examine the horses to be sent, place a reasonable value upon them, and should he consider them of a good uestandh. g type and quality suitable for the market fchey will be passed. Should there then be a los upon the shipment the Government will shere the loss upon oDe-half the amount of freight, the loss to be estimated on the values plac id npon the horses by the Government officer.