RIVERTON REGATTA

Southland Times, Issue 22774, 27 December 1935, Page 9

RIVERTON REGATTA

EXCELLENT SPORT AWARUA CHIEF PRIZE WINNERS SHOWERY WEATHER The annual Riverton Regatta held yesterday was, from the oarsman’s point of view, an unqualified success. The weather conditions were unpleasant, however, and light showers throughout the day hampered visibility and dampened the enthusiasm of the onlookers. The holiday crowd was a small one compared with the thousands who usually patronize this popular Boxing Day fixture. An interested spectator present was Mr A. Pasco, who has attended every regatta at Riverton for the cast 50 years. Mr Pasco still takes a keen interest in the sport and was always at the finishing line when the races concluded. The president of the regatta committee, Dr. N. G. Trotter, is also an enthusiast who has not missed the annual fixture for many years. Mr A. E. Budd, president of the Awarua Club, and Mr E. J. McLauchlan, president of the Invercargill Club, were also in attendance. In the rowing events some close finishes were seen. The big race of the day, the senior fours, was won by the Invercargill Club, while the junior fours was won by Awarua. The prize money was won as follows:— Awarua £26 Invercargill £2O Railway £l5 Riverton £l2 Mr W. McKay, the secretary, came through a heavy day with credit. The results were as follows: — SENIOR PAIRS. First £4 and Greenland Shield, second £2. Invercargill B —M. Pascoe (s) and C. W. Wilson 1 Awarua A—-C. West (s) and Hunter 2 Invercargill A—J. B. Pascoe (s) and C. W. Wilson 3 Also started: Railway A and B, Riverton A and B and Awarua B. At the purl Invercargill A, the crew nearest the south shore, were a short distance ahead. They were followed by Riverton A, who were rowing strongly. Awarua A came next. Invercargill B now asserted their superiority and went into first position, closely followed by Awarua A. Invercargill A were third. Because of the strong breeze Railway A and B fouled each other at the start and were never in the picture. JUNIOR PAIRS. First £4, second £1 10/-. Railway A—A. Sanders (s) and A. Wilson 1 Awarua B—F. Te Koeti (s) and M. West 2 Awarua A—A. Low (s) and O. Lindquist 3 Also started: Invercargill, Railway B and Riverton. Railway A and Awarua B were away first. It seemed from the wharf that Awarua B were at the purl first, closely followed by Railway A. In the run to the finishing line Railway A, rowing strongly, fought the distance out with Awarua. The former crew won by inches. MAIDEN PAIRS. First £3, second £l. Riverton A—L. Dean (s) and W. Parker 1 Railway A—J. Pickford (s) and T. Bain 2 Awarua B—L. Hawke (s) and T. West 3 Also started: Railway B, Invercargill, Awarua A and Riverton B. Railway A were ahead first, closely followed by Riverton A. Awarua B got away badly, but the rest of the boats started well. It seemed evident that the contest was between the two leading crews and they continued in front. At the purl Riverton quickened their stroke and passed Railway. The Riverton men kept up the pressure and won by a good margin.

YOUTHS’ PAIRS. First £3, second £l. Awarua A—J. Williamson (s, and N. Johnson 1 Riverton A—G. Bulman (s) and D. Cassels 2 Awarua B—T. Denny (s) and B. Gilroy 3 Also started: Riverton B and Railway A and B. When the "un sounded Awarua A shot into first position. Riverton A followed closely. At the purl the position of the two leading boats was unchanged, and at the finishing line Awarua beat Riverton by four lengths. Awarua B occupied third berth. JUNIOR FOURS.—First £7 and Aulsbrook Cup, second £2. Awarua—A. Low (s), L. Lindquest, F. Te Koeti and M. West 1 Railway—A. Sanders (s), A. Wilson, A. Reid and M. Reid 2 Invercargill—A. L. Wilson (s), J. G. Pasco, J. A. Checketts and E. B. Harvey 3 All the crews went away well together. Railway flew out from the start followed by Awarua and Invercargill. After a quarter of a mile had been covered. Awarua passed Railway and occupied first position. Threequarters of a mile from the finish Awarua were still well in front and this position was maintained till the finish of the race. Invercargill were rowing a very erratic course. Awarua won by two and a-half lengths from Railway. Invercargill were well back third. The winners rowed an excellent race. Much of the credit for their success must go to the club coach, N. R. McKenzie, who has worked assidiously with the crew. SENIOR FOURS.—First £lO and silver cup, second £2 10/-. Invercargill—J. B. Pasco (s), A. E. Cuff, M. A. Pasco and C. W. Wilson 1 Awarua A—G. Barton (s), E. Mclntyre, C. West and H. Johnsen 2 Railway—R. Sutton (s), E. Scammell, J. Hogan and J. Keppell 3 Also started: Riverton and Awarua BRailway and Invercargill went to the front at the start. About a mile from 'the starting line Invercargill drew out from the other crews. Railway wera 'next in second berth, while Awarua ‘were third. Nearing the finishing post Awarua went into second position and iwere gaining on the leaders. They were (gaining two feet at every stroke and at •the finish were a foot behind Invercargill. Railway were third. The two Awarua crews fouled each other at the start and a pocket head was broken on the B boat. They did not row the course in consequence. YOUTHS’ FOURS.—First £5, second »i2. Invercargill—A. McEwan (s), M. Murphy, J. Leonard and V. Pasco 1 Riverton A—G. Bulman (s), W. Bickley, R. Campbell and D. Cassels r K 2 Awarua A—J. Parry (s), N. Johnson, G. Williamson and B. Gilroy 3

Also started: Awarua B, Railway A and B, and Riverton B. Awarua A, the crew nearest the south shore, went out quickly from the gun. The crews off the north shore had a hard pull here because of the tide. At the furl Invercargill shot out and soon gained three lengths on Awarua. Invercargill were able to take advantage of the tide and they continued on to win fairly easily. Awarua, on the other hand had to pull against the stream and this hampered them considerably. Riverton A put up a good performance to secure second berth. Awarua A were third. MAIDEN FOURS. First £6 and K.P. Cup, second £2. Awarua—L. Hawke (s), T. West, O. Wares and J. Johnston 1 Riverton A.—L. Dean (s), W. Parker, J. Fleck and W. Saunders 2 Riverton B.—P. Keeler (s), G. Smith, C. Leary and D. Ferrier 3 Also started: Invercargill A and B, and Railway A and B. The two Riverton crews, viewed from the wharf, appeared to be leading shortly after the start. Awarua were making good progress and at the purl went ahead, a position held until the conclusion of the race. The winners steered a good course down the harbour, and were able to take advantage of the tide conditions. Awarua won by six lengths. There was a length between Riverton A and B, who were second and third. Both the Riverton crews rowed inside the buoy when the regulations stated that the race had to be rowed outside. Railway entered a written protest and the matter will be reviewed by the committee. JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS. First £3, second £l. Riverton —J. Agnew (s) and I. Agnew 1 Railway A.—A. Wilson (s) and A. Sanders 2 Railway B.—E. Scammell (s) and R. Sutton 3 Also started: Invercargill. All the crews were evenly matched and an even struggle resulted. Invercargill led to the purl closely followed by Riverton, the winners, and Railway A. Riverton, coming along the north bank, headed Invercargill and Railway A, and from the wharf they looked certain victors. Towards the finish Railway A challenged again, but the home crew, rowing well, were first home by a foot. There was a length between Railway A and B, who were second and third. YOUTHS’ DOUBLE SCULLS. First £3, second £l. Awarua. —N. Johnson (s) and J. Parry 1 Invercargill.—J. Leonard (s) and V. Pasco 2 Riverton B.—D. Cassels (s) and W. Bickley 3 Also started: Railway A and B and Riverton A. This race was rowed in a fairly heavy shower. Awarua and Invercargill were away first, and past the purl down the harbour Awarua were still in the lead. Riverton strongly challenged Invercargill still behind Awarua, but the home crew had to be content with third place. Awarua won by five lengths and there was one length between second and third. MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS. First £3, second £l. Railway A—A. Reid (s) and J. Pickford 1 Awarua B—Hawke (s) and Johnson 2 Invercargill—J. G. Pasco (s) and J. Checketts 3 Also started: Riverton A and B and Awarua A. Railway A gave an excellent performance and thoroughly deserved their win. A good finish was fought out, only a length separating the winners and Awarua B. Invercargill were two lengths further back. SENIOR DOUBLE SCULLS—First £4, second £l. Railway—J. Hogan (s) and J. Keppel 1 Riverton—H. Allison (s) and A. Beer 2 Awarua —C. West (s) and G. Burton 3 Also started: Invercargill. The winners, Railway, and Riverton, who occupied second place, fought out a stirring finish. Awarua, who were third, were well back.

SWIMMING. 50 Yards Men’s Pace (three entries) —G. Finlayson (scr) 1, E. Sopp (13sec) 2. 50 Yards Boys’ Race Under 16 (three entries) —J. Couling (15sec) 1, M. Crosby (llsec) 2. Diving Competition (six entries) —A. Branks 1, G. Finlayson 2. OTHER EVENTS. Open Motor Boat Race (four entries) —Dauntless (J. A. Heathcote, Invercargill) 1, Marino (S. Tall, InvercargiU) 2. . x a Canoe Race (seven entries)—A. Hazlemore 1, D. Wright 2, I. Beer 3. Sailing Race (eight entries): Desert Gold (A. Beer) 1, Miss Riverton (Mrs N. Beer) 2. Spray (J. Beer) 3. Stanton Brothers’ Rurioru was caught by a gust of wind and capsized at the turn near the wharf. The occupants were soon rescued.