ROWING NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 704, 27 May 1879, Page 2

ROWING NOTES.

By Coxswain. Saturday afternoon proved, as I anticipated, that the crew who would be fortunate enough to man the " Undine" would be the victors in the final contest for the tankards. The day, it is to be regretted, was enpropitious. The crews stripped and paddled up to the starting point, shortly after 4 p.m., during a hard downpour of rain, with rather a stiff breeze of wind right across the river.. The start was made by Dr. Pollen, but unfortunately the boats fouled in getting away, a puff of wind having thrown the outside boat slightly out of her course ; but, if any advantage, at all, was gained, it was by the '* Mermaid," who managed to get into swing, first, and forge ahead with a lead of a yard or two. The " Undine," however, collared her, and on passing Mr. Brooke Taylor's residence, it was anybody's race. The The two boats rounded the corner together, pulling stroke and stroke, the "Mermaid" was now seen to quicken, and the cox was " the whites have it" ; when, unfortunately, their -< coxswain handled her so badly, that it quite neutralised the advantage they had gained. Barnard the cox of the ''Undine" did not fail to take a good position, and bring her first past the post, with nearly a length to the good. The sympathy of the onlookers was very manifest for the losers, who were advised to drown their cox, at once for losing them the race, but the advice was not taken, and the boat returned to the shed with her full compliment of hands. The " Undine V crew is to be congratulated on the manner in which they pulled, and a marked improvement was noticed in this finish to the one of the previous day. The "Mermaid's" pulled their best, and stroke and No. 3 had not much more left in them when they landed at the shed. This was without doubt the best rowed match of the year, although the finish was not as close as the first match, when the " Heavy's' " beat the " Light weights. " The brilliant close of this season promises well for the opening of the next. New boats are to be bought, and it is rumored that a half-cast crew intend challenging the Europeans. If this comes off, an exciting contest may be anticipated as an opening event. A very good crew can be picked from among the white portion of the Club, who, I think, will give any half-cast crew all their work to win. I must now close my notes, and wish the Club all the prosperity they deserYe, and thank the rival crews for the patient manner in which they have received my well-merited,,but feeble criticisms on their efforts. My whole . endeavor throughout has been by pointing out defects to improve the general style, and if I have not succeeded with all, I have with some.