HEATHCOTE REGATTA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 852, 20 February 1871, Page 2

HEATHCOTE REGATTA.

Although hastily conceived and comparatively late in being carried out, the regatta at -•umner on Saturday may fairly be regarded as a success. The committee had many difficulties to contend with more than would at first sight appear, but they have emerged from ibe trial with infinite credit to all. Not only had they a very unpleasant difficulty in respect of the Lyttelton four-oar race to reconcile, but they had also to fight against the npatby of the Lyttelton and Kaiapoi Clubs, who fr m the first evinced but the faintest desire to contribute either men or boats. Such waa the influence these had upon the matter that it is a questionable point whether the gathering would ever have beeu carried through but for tho handsome liberality of Mr W. Maxwell. I his g ntleman, as already known, gave a valuable cup for amateur pairoar competition, and thus a good workable btaia was provided. Those who participated in the amusement of rj-iturday may therefore thank him in the main for the pleasure afforded them. A lovelier day than that vouchsafed for the regatta could not have been wished for by the most fastidious. With Queen's weather of a most brilliant character was combined .sufficient witid to cool the atmosphere and to ensure the success of the ever desirable sailing race. Consequent upon this a body of spectators which, in tbe ab-teuce of a public holiday, must be deemed highly satisfactory, took part in the proceedings of the day. There must have been quite 700 preseat, not a few of the number being from Lyttelton and Kaiapoi. All races were made to finish in front ot the flat in the bay where Mr Monck's resideuce is situate, and this, accordingly, became the great stand puiut of the assemblage. The flit and sides of the spurs afford ample facilities tor a purpose of this kind, and a good view was thus secured of every race. There were not co many caterers for publio refreshment or amusement as at the generality of regattas, hut still there was a sufficiency for the comfort of aM. Mr Day, of the Sumi.oi* Hotel, and Mr James Heath, of the Shak< speare Hotel, Christchurch, were the only providoret of hotel refreshment, whilst tht> itinerant order of caterers for public amusement was s >lely represented by the now familiar electric machine. 'I he racing was announced to commence at half-past two o'clock, out it was fuly an hour after before the first race was started; lhe course was as near straight as could be obtained, and taken altogether was a very good one. lhe start was from the -ishermau's hut at the m -uth of the Avon, and tbe finish is already noted. There was necessarily one rather wide detour in order to avoid a mud tat, but if races were commenced about an hour before flood tide, two houra' racing might be secured without even necesMtating this, consequently, with a little method, a good regatta might always be seemed here. >o much indeed was this established* on Saturday that Mr Montgomery made a voluntary promise to contribute £I*o towarda a regatta next year, in order to excite a continuance of these gatherings on tho river. ' Such conduct is worthy of emulation, and if so taken up, the Heathcote regatta will not, as previously anticipated, be allowed to' fall through. I The first event on the card was a pair-oar

cc, open to amateurs (non-artisans) only for r Maxwell's cup. The entries were scarcely numerous or the race so good as expecte*. Ie Iria, which was manned by the crew wbo .re pu led second to the two Wrights of aiapoi in all the pair-oar contests of the esent season, and thus were not only expe;nced hands, but had trained well for the >easion. They were manifestly superior to c other crews, bnt those of the Stranger id. Undine both deserve high commendaon for the manner in whioh they pulled irough to the very finish. The silling race as a gift to Mr Day, whose boat was nearly rice the size of any other entry. Mr Monck ade the best of his craft, but the wind was io light for light-rigged vessels, otherwise a would have been much closer at the finish. !e deserves credit for the manner in which c handled bis vessel. The four-oared race as from the first little more than a alk - over for the new Black Eagle, hich sported its old crew, whilst dissnsion had evidently crept into the ranks of leir opponents. A split in the Lurline crew ividel it between the Nameless and the airline, the remaining oars being made up a best could. The Nameless, we should say, i the ne * boat belonging to the Heathcote lowing Club, and was borrowed at the last toment by two of the old Lurline crew. She i a very promising-looking craft, and with a roper crew *ill, we predict, show well to ie front. She is much like the new Black lagle, but, a little wider, say about as much s the Kagle is wider than the Tamesis. She i a fine clean-built boat, and we are at a loss o understand why her own club did not enter ier in the race, unless it was that Pavitt and )avis had bad too much of it tn tbe Cup race, nd wished to* save themselves for the Alomers Pair < lar. After the race, we undertand the crew who pulled the Nameless ffered to change boats with the crew of the iagle for a two-mile race ; but on the latter greeing, the challenge was withdrawn. The 'amesis also did not sport her old crew in his event, and was evidently too lightly nanned for her company. The Doub'e .culling Race was the most unsatisfactory >ne of the day. Of ail things, a walk-over in i regatta where there is a plentitude of boats it command is the most annoying, and his was keenly felt by the spectators on Saturday The Clutha, a double-sculling milt boat imported by Mr Gilchrist, was post entered, but, strange to say, scratched at ihe very last mom.nt. Mr Crosbie's Phosphorous, alno built tor double scullers, together with the Cygnet and Swan, were also understood to be amongst the intended entries, but none of them came to the scratch. It may be that some objection was taken to the old Black Eagle — a four-oar racing boat —having been specially shortened, as to come within tbe prescribed length of keel ; but. athe race waß open to all comers, no restric tions imposed as to cutting down, the boat could not be disqualified. But even had all the boats been pulled, we conceive that the Eagle would have won. Tbe Champion Pairoared Race was an easy race ior the new Black Eagle, and calls for no comment None of the races being very close run, we do not give the time occupied in contesting them. Paik Oaxed Race, open to all Members of howing Clubs in the province who • do not get their living bi hodily labour, for a Challenge Cup, value £18 10s; to be won twice by the same- Club on either the Heathcote or the Waimakariri; 2 miles on the Heathcote, over a straight course, finishing near Mr Monk's house. Entrance lOs 6d. Iris, A.XC. 1 Stranger, H.R.C. ... ... ... 2 Undine, U.R.C. ... ... ... 0 Tamesis. C.X.C ... ... ... 0 The Iris and stranger cut ont the running, the former gradually, but surely forging to the front, and, notwithstanding a p'ueky struggle by the crew of the Stranger, established a good lead at the end of the first mile. From this point but little interest -was created, the Iris winning easily by eight or ten lengths, and the Stranger heading the Undine by two or three lengths. Tbe crew of the Iris were J. Slater and E. Howell, and that of the Stranger, Pavitt and Davis. Sailing Race, for open boats. Entrance : lOs. Distance 3 miles. Mr J. Day's Blue Jacket ... ... 1 Mr Monck's Saucy Lass ... ... 2 Mr Davis* > wallow, another boat of Mr Pay's, and a fisherman's boat a'so contested. There waß a good breeze which being well on the quarter, the merits of the respective sailing masters were fully tested. The Blue Jacket took the lead at the outset and kept it to the finish, winning as she liked. Four-Oared Gig Race, open to all Clubs iv the province. Entrance, £1 ls. Course, 2| miles, finishing at the same place as the Cup Race. Four boats to start, or no second prize. New Black Ragle, A.R.C. ... ... 1 Nameless, TJ.K.C. ... ... ... 2 Lurline, U.R.C. ... ... ... o Tamesis, C-R.O. ... ... ... 0 The Eagle went to the fore at the start and though she kept the channel of the river -whilst the others saved a considerable detour by taking a straight course kept it to the finish, winning easy by several lengths. Tbe Crew was the same as pulled at Christchurch and Lyttelton. Double Scui.uk* Race, without cox. Prizes, two cups. Entrance, free Course, 1 mile ; boats under 24 feet long. Old Black Eagle ...w.o. The crew in this race were D. Reese, (stroke), Joseph, and Dawson. Three feet had been cut off the stern of the boat to reduce her to the prescribed length. Champion Pair-Oahbd Race, open to all owners. Prize, £10 10s, with a Cup of the value of £4 4s, given by Mr Sandstein. , Entrance, ios 6d. Course, same as in -Cup Race. Second boat to receire the entrance money. .New Black Eagl*. A.R.C. 1 Undine, U R,C. ... ... ... 2 B«anger, H.R.C. ... 9

The Black Eagle took np the lead soon after starting, whilst the Undine gradually drew away from the Stranger, and took her water though, according to the rules, somewhat too soon. The coxswain of the Black Ragle when opposite the winning post went very near to losing the race for his club. He took his boat down the wrong channel, and got stuck on a mud flat. The crew, however, contrived to jump out, carry boat across the spit, and pull home before tbeir opponents could get a-head. The crew of the boat were James Dawson (stroke), A. Reese, and Tully (cox); the Undine were Dartnall and Wood, and the Stranger Pavitt and Davis. A protect was lodged by the latter against the crew of the Undine for taking their water before being the stipulated length a-head The protest will be decided by the committee at a future meeting. Thus ended the day's proceedings, and it should be remarked that Mr Maxwell, as president, Mr W. Montgom try, as commodore, Mr Hesketh, as judge — Mr Mellish not being present— Capt M'Clatchie, as starter, and Mr Crosbie, as timekeeper, together with the members of committee, were all zealous in promoting the general success of the day.