THE CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11938, 11 January 1901, Page 3

THE CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

WELCOME TO SUCCESSFUL OARSMEN.

A very pleasant social fathering was held in the Kia-Ora Tea fiooms last evening by the Otago Rowing Club to do honour to two of their most prominent members—Mr J. M'Grath and Mr M. Priest, -who. achieved distinction at the recent championship regatta at Lvttelton, Mr M'Grath having won the Champion Sculls, and, with Mr Priest, the Champion Double Sculls. Mr J. White presided, and amongst the large number present were Messrs J. A. Millar. M.H.R., J. M. Galhuvay, W. Crow, R. S.' M'Gowan, and •T. James (N.Z.A.R.A.), A. E. Jay (hon. secretary O.Tt.A.). W. P. Hedirkins, W. Farquharson, and C. Columb (D.A.8.C.), A. Newton (Star Boating Club, Wellington), A Walker (Awaruu Boating Club, Bluff), W. Wills (N.E.8.C.). J. C. Stables (0.R.A.), J. H. Chapman (0.Y.C.). Messrs L. W. Harris, E. C. Woodward, F. W. P. Jackson, A. F. Taylor, F. W. Itnynor, J. G. Moody, .James Hcwlison, R. IT. Hain, F. B. Dick, and .T. Houston (trainer of the champions). An apology for the absence of Mr C. P. M. Butterworth was received. The toast of '.'The Queen" having been enthusiastically honoured. • The Chairman observed that he need not tell them that they had met that evening to do honour to Messrs M'Grath and Priest, who so nobly represented the club at the If to championship meeting. Fc would not refer to thorn any further at that point, but ho would like to state that the rowing men of Otago had during this crisis in the history of Iho Empire sent out exceedingly worthy champions to the battlefields— (Appltiuse.) The rowing men of Port Chalmers and Dundin had added not a few to the number who had gone forward to fight and to die on behalf of the Empire.—(Applause.) And if the necessity arose there was not one of them in that room who would not be prepared to volunteer if they were accepted. However, if they could not co to the front, all could, in the words of Mr Chamberlain, uphold the aims and hands of those who had crone forward to fight the battles of the Empire.— (Applause.) When volunteers for the sixth contingent were called for there was an immediate rii6h. and the trouble was. as Colonel Webb remarket!, to make a selection. These rtmarks were apropos in that all of those who were boating men would make ?ood fighting men, because a man who was to succeed in roving must keep himself in the very best of trim.—(Applause.) He was afraid that the public when asked to support athletic institutions did not appraiso (hem at their full value, and did not recognise their worth in the community, or eho none of them would ever 1m allowed to languish. He would call upon liis friend Mr .T. A. Millar to propose th" tnn.it of "Tl.(i Champion?." ■ Mr Millar said he was very proud to he with them that night for two reasons—first, to welcome those who so worthi'v upheld the honour of Otatro: and, secondly, to rcjoice with the. Otago Club that the ll ' members were si successful. The Otn?n Club used to he the club of the colony.—(Applause.* Tt f P ll on bad times, lint some of the old spirits kept things poing till now they were fast their old position.—(Applause.) All the old members of (he-club, as well as-the present workinir memh°rs, must- feel proud on an occasion like tin's. Personally, he would like to know if the cbib were i ,r > mmi who would be ready to take Mr M'GratVi nosit'on. because Mr M'Orntfi could not Instfor ever.—fLnuirhtnr.) He had held , pi\championships, and if flip club did mot train up their vounsr members the chnmp : on would one dav hnve to siv that t.he men of the club were not 'ike they used to bo.—(Laughter and onnbusp.) The speaker then gave a brief sketch of Mr M'Grath's corner. Mr M'Grath, he stated, came into prominence as an oarsmen when iw'ng in the how seat on the boat that won tbc Chnmnion Fmr-oared Tnrigged Cic Race 0 f £iqo at. the Exhibition regatta in IP-90. Associated with Mm on that occasion was Neil Mattcrson (of Svdnpy), and ore time champion of England. Charles Rtenhenson (champion sculler bf New 55?alend). and T'-"n TWis. tlm well-known rower and sculler. Behind such an firwiy of talent, and receiving tuition from «uch men. was it to he wondered at that a vountr fellow with brains and mupe'e should also make a name for himself. At. the Port Chalmers regatta the same yr:,r Mr M'Gmth vowed 2 in Iho winning boat, of t''e Senior Fours, stroked by Ben Davis: and at t !, e seme regatta t'ie guest of the evening made his debut in the class cf anuntics in whic l ' he hod figured so nrominentlv—viz., scul'ing. On this, his first attempt. lie secured a second nlac. coming in behind hi 6 mentor, Ben Davis. The next appearance in nubl'c was at the Duncdin regatta in March followintr. where, in a dinpev race, he had tbe misfortune to swnwp. Fc also competed in a similar race in 1891, being unplaced. In April, 189?-, Mr M'Grath won his first sculling race, boating Falamoujitain

(well 'known in Port Chalmers). With this race ended what is known as Mr M'Grath's professional career. As an amateur Mr M'Grath joined the Otago Rowing Club (the club for which he still wore tho colours) in 1692, and representing them at Port Chalmers successfully stroked to victory the Senior Fours and Pairs. In February, 1893, lie had to content himself with second place to the formidable Queen's Drive Four, and with almost the same crew was credited with two third positions the following year _At the same time, however, lie maintained his supremacy as a sculler, winning both the 1694 and 1595 Sculling Handicaps. On Boxing Day, 1895 lie won the big Sculling Eaee, beating Chapman (of Canterbury, who had just proved successful in winning the Championship of Victoria) and Graham (of Wellington), and wound up the season by again annexing the Dunedin Sculls. Losing the championship at Picton in 1896, Mr M'Grath visited Canterbury to again try conclusions with his erstwhile victor (Chapman), and waß again unsuccessful. At Dunedin in 1897 lie won the Sculls, and also stroked the winning crew m the Double Sculls, the first race of its kind held hore. This performance was repeated at Port Chalmers regatta at the end of the year. In 1893 at the Championship regatta ho won both Single and Doublo Scullin'' Championships, and also represented his piovinee in the first race of its ever rowed in New Zealand—an intcrprovincial eight-oar race. This crew was succfsful. though opposed to a crew which comprised tho six rowing champions of the year. In 1899 ho was one of the four to win the hisj torical Henley Cup. Ha rowed unplaced in ' Pairs at Port Chalmers, and, with his present clnbmate and brother champion, Mr M. Priest, he won the Double Sculls, and at Henley in 1900 repeated this performance, besides securing tho Pairs with another of tho famous Priest family as tho othor member of tho crew. Mr M'Grath had so many championships (hat special mention should bo mado of them. Ho first competed in the classic events in 1893, then journeying to .Canterbury under the care of that enthusiastic sportsman Mr Leslie Wilson, who as captain of the club at tho timo did his utmost to have Otago represented. It was worthy of mention that the Otago Cluli's representative won the first and last championships that have comc to this province, and on each occasion had been brought from Lake Forsyth by the same man. In 1894 Mr M'Grath was unsuccessful, and on his return journey defeated his victor, M. Kcefe, in the Pearce Sculls at (he Wellington regatta. In 1895 Mr M'Grath again asserted himself, only to lose the championship in 1896. Ho did not take part in 1897. but won in 1898, also winning in the Double Sculling Championship. Ho did not take part in 1899 or 1900, but won both Single and Double Sculling Championships this year. No less than six times Mr M'Grath had been succssful in the championship events. As to Mr 31. 11. Priest, he made his first appearance at Port Chalmers, then rowing in the Maiden Fours crew who were placed second. Tho following year also in the Maiden Fours Race ho was placed third. In 1897 Mr Priest stroked a erew in the Youths' Fours into second position, and in 1893 was partner to his brother in tho Double Sculls dnd stroke of tho Maiden Fours at the Ravensboiirnc regatta. In 1899. after stroking the second crew in the Maiden Double Sculls, ho took his placo behind M'Grath in the Seniors, which they won. He repeated this performance at Henley, and this year 'reached the top of tho ladder by winning one of the laurel crowns of the aquatic world.—(Applause.) Mr Millar then callcd upon those present to drink to the health of the champions, which was done with great fervour and with musical honours, Mr M'Grath, in responding, was received with a vigorous round of applause. He stated that what little they did, they did for the honour of Otago, and tlioy would be pleased to do it again.—(Applause.) Training was very hard work, and a man who trained naturally liked to win. They had (rained hard and had been successful, and, perhaps h? would be pardoned for saying it, (hey were a little proud of it.—(Applause.) However, they hoped to do tho same again.—(Applause.) Mr Priest also suitably responded. Mr Gallaway, in proposing the toast of "The New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association," supposed that this toast had been placed in his hands owing to his connection with tho Otago Rugby Union, because, although he had always taken an interest in rowing, he confessed he had but a superficial acquaintance with the workings of the various rowj'ng clubs. In all athletic sports, it seemed to him, it was absolutely necessary to have one governing body, and he thought that the good work that had been done by the association would be greatly increased if, instead of the clubs in New Zealand having direct representation in the governing bedy, each provincial district was governed as in football by a local body represented on the central body. It appeared to him to be a mistake that a central body should he, as it were, a court of the first instance. It ought only to be a court of appeal. Matters ought to lie discussed and settled by the local body with a final right of appeal to the central body. It seemed to- him that there was a natural connection between the amateur sportsman and the volunteer soldier. They had this in common: .each of them worked, not for pay. but for honour and glory—(applause),—and in this the commencement of the twentieth century the value of the amateur soldier had been proved to the world.— (Applause.) It was a proud thing in these days to call oneself a subject of the British Empire; but with that pride responsibility must be accepted, and he ventured to say that the true measure of responsibility had not yet been demonstrated. It appeared (o him that in these days, when every Continental Power was hungering after the acquisition of new territory, it became merely a question of time when the eyes of Europe would be directed to our own colony of New Zealand — the brightest and richest jewel ill the Imperial crown,—(Applause.) The days. were nast when wars were waged in the cause of religion. Wars, like everything else nowadays, had a commercial basis, and the time was fast coming when keen competition for new markets and the desire to crush one another in commercial competition must inevitably lead to a great European war. When those days came it was obvious our .colony would have to bear its part, r.ot only by sending men to strengthen the British army, but also by doing that which was, in his opinion, the highest act of patriotism: rfelieve the mother country from all anxiety about the protection of our .own shores.—(Apnlause.) Then the public would recognise the value and the necessity of athletic training. He hoped that every man that devoted time and energy to athletic sports would remember that the great aim and object of these snorts were to train the sportsmen to defond his country and to uphold the glorious heritage handed down by his forefathers. It seemed to him it was the duty of every man to train his children to remember Great Britain's heroic deeds, to tell them of the growth and loyalty of the Greater Britain; but. above all things, to teach them to strive after the greatest Britain—reverenced of all nations, the truest, most just, tho grandest and most noble Empire this world should ever see.—(Loud applause.) He proposed the toast of the "N.Z.A.R.A." Mr James responded. He stated that the proposed change in the governing hodv would result in the formation of a New Zealand association on lines similar to those suggested by Mr Gallaway. • Other toasts honoured were:—"TheQ.R.A.." proposed by Mr F. W. Mitchell, and responded to bv Messrs A. E. Jay and L. AV. Wilson; " The Visitors," nronosed bv tho Chairman, and responded to 'by Messrs Newton. Farquharaon, Walker, Chapman, and Stables; and "The Press." A very enioyable musical programme was gone through, items being contributed by Messrs L. L. Kirkcaldy, F. G. Williams, P. •T. Priest. L. Hay, F. Rayuer, .T. Hageitt, G. C. Matheson. — Good," L. Harris, T. G. Mmers, C. E. Statham. T. Deehan, and J. Matthewson. The accompaniments were played by Messrs F. B. Dick and J. Haegitt.