CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5532, 6 April 1896, Page 1

CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

. [Per Press Association.] j . PICTON/Apbil 4. ' •When the morning broke the prospects of the? success of the first day's racing in connection >with the Annual Cnampionship Regatta, held under the auspices pf the New. Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, were the reverse of cheerful. The wind was blowing hard from the - southeast, accompanied by drenching .rain, and grave doubts were entertained as to whether racing boats would be able vfco face the heavy. sea which was running off Mabel Island. Towards noon, however, the wind lulled considerably, and the thick rain beat down what little sea rremained. The committee then met and decided to carry out the : programme as arranged. The bad weather. . interfered considerably with the attend--ance of the public, and the exoursion train from Blenheim was very poorly patronised.' Unless fine weather is experienced on \Mon-' day, the finances of the local Regatta Com-' inittee will be .severely strained to meet all liabilities^ The. race for "the Maiden Fours was si treat to witness. The Canter- • bury men were, if anything, favourites, but'the weight and strength of the Picton crew told.in the last half-mile,, and they got home rather comfortably at the finish by two lengths. Canterbury and Wellington made a ding-dong go of it all the way. Wellington were, leading when the gun was fired for first boat past the post, but Canterbury ,got the last stroke in and • secured the verdict by two feet. The Junior Pairs showed only ordinary racing.. Cowlishaw and Daly were strong favourites' for the Champion Pairs, and they won.as they, liked, the others .forming, a very long. procession. Canterbury steered magnifi- • • cently, and.had a lot in them at the finish, which probably accounts for the large difference .in the time as compared with last year's event. Chapman and Reed 'rowed a game race, but the Seymour Brothers were apparently short of practice in, the.boat. The Junior Fours Brought .out five crews, but, contrary to expectation, the struggle, at the finish was confined to ♦ two boats. Mr E. C. BatMn acted as starter, and in. every instance his efforts were eminently successful. Messrs M. J. Kilgour and H. F. Logan carried out the duties of judges and gave every satisfaction, as also did Mr A. G-. Johnson as umpire. The Torea acted as umpire's steamer, and showed far more pace than •she did in .a similar capacity last year, when she was useless as a medium by which to view the various contests. The following are detailed results of the day's iracing.:— ■ MAIDEN CLINKER FOUBS.—Prizes £6 and £2. ■•■•■■■■ One mile and a half. Picton Bowing Club^H. Western, bow; A. Western, 'i; A. Smith, 3j V. Fredericks, ; ', stroke; Bartlett, cox ... .... ... ... ; 1 Canterbury Bowing Club ... ... .'.. ... 2 Wellington Bowing Club ... ... ... ... 3 This was a magnificent race. Shortly ' after the' start Picton dropped astern, and in half a mile were fufiy three lengths behind the other two boats, which were on' even terms. When three-quarters of a mile had been covered Picton began to 'draw arp, and a furlong from liome the thxee .boats were'level. . Pietpn had the best of. the struggle and won by'two lengths, Canterbury and Wellington fight: . ing out a desperate .finish; which resulted^ in favour of the soiit^rners^y-Wpfeefc:, ;,_.^As crews were enthiflsiastically cheered fpr" ■ '" fine racing, Time^ —llmin 45sec. JUNIOR CLINKEB PAIBB (rowed"in heats of two crews.each).—Prizes £6 and. £2. Oaemile. iftEOT Bound. ' . •■' ,, Wil:'.''- • First heat. ' - '■'■ 1-■<:'-■' ..... Star Boating Club (Wollington)—F. -Hume,' ••'.•■ bow; E. B. /rrimnell, stroke; W. Brown. COX .... ;.. - r ..: ; V..' * '... ,':'■:-.-. $'„' { 1 Nelson Bowing Club—C.Bedworth, bow ;.W. ■ . . TomlmsoT), strokej Gully, cox;.. ... ..;, 2 Woiiteadlj.. v. . : ' ; '. '. -■-■■ ; Seeondheat. i Wellington I owing Club—W. Pa*y, bow; E. . P. Coady, stroke; Tihgey, cox..;' ... ... .1 Star Boating Club (Wellington)-^!'. Home, bow; G. C. Crawford, stroke; Warren, cox" ... 2 ." Won rather easily, after a much'faster xaee than the,first heat. • The Wellington Club's representatives 1 (A. M'Laren bow and A- Hill stroke) were ' drawn for. the third heat against Picton (A. Smith bow, C.: Frederick stroke), but in face 'of the^^gruelhng, they had received in the Maiden Fours, the former allowed 1 the heat to go by default. ; . . Nelson Rowifflg Club (F. Washbourne ;. bow:. and EL', E. Law stroke) drew the bye in the second round, .whiJi will be rowed ./ early on Monday. Trimnell (Star) meets Low (Nellpon), and Coady (Wellington) rows Fredericks (Picton). , "CHAMPION' PAIBS.-Pri?es £12 and JE2. One mile and a half. Canterbury Bowing Club—J. Y.~Daly, bow; F. I. Cowlishaw, stroke. ... ... ■ ... 1 Wairewa Bowing Club—W. Eeea.bo* ;C. Chapmap, Stroke , ... ■..,••... ... 2 Blenheim Bowing Clvb —F. Seymour, bow; G.. Seymoar, stroke .... ... ... 3 .Wellington Sowing ClalnJj, M'Kee, bow; A. Sargeant; stroke ...-;... ... .;'.'■ ... 4 ■Star Boating Club (Wellington)—W. E. Bendall,. . '• bow;'.A-W. Newton, stroke :.. .. ...• . ... 5 ' This event was rowed,in the face of a -drenching and bitterly cold rain, but the waterwas perfect. Blenheim were.quickest :off the mark, ;but in fifty yards Canterbury

took the lead, and, steering a splendid course, kept in the van to the finish, winning by two lengths. Blenheim held second position for about half -a-mile, when Chapman and Reed displaced them and went tin chase of the leaders, but Canterbury were plainly rowing well within themselves. In the. last quarter-mile Reed caught a bad crab, but the mishap had :■ no : effect on the result. Blenheim finished about eight lengths behind Wairewa. There was fully a dozen lengths between Blenheim and Wellington, and even, a greater distance between Wellington and Star. Blenheim, Wellington and Star steered most erratically, the two firstnamed being the chief offenders. The time was J.omin 46sec, which is lznin 17sec slower .than the time of Crosbie and Samuels in the same event last year. •JUNIOB OUTBIGGED FOUBS.— Prizes £12 and •....' £3. One mile and v, half. Picton Bowing Club— C. Cribb, bow; A. : Western, 2 ; C. Western, 3 ; G. Kenny, , stroke jA. Card, cox ... ... 1 Star Bowing Club (Wellington) ... 2 Canterbury, flowing Club ... 3 Nelson .Homing Club ... " ... ... 4 Wellington Bowing Club ... • ... 5 Nelson and Wellington were outpaced after about half a mile had been covered, and Canterbury were .also dropping astern, leaving Stars and Picton to fight out the finish. Another ding-dong race was witnessed, but the- Picton men had better staying powers, and won by half a length. Crawford rowed a fine race, and stuck gamely to his work throughout. Canterbury were about three lengths' away third, and Nelson, were, several lengths behind Canterbury.; Wellington slowed down as they neared the wharf. The Star crew were very late in leaving the skids, and had tto go down to the start-ing-post at a good pace, which must have taken a lot out of the men. The Picton . crew showed vastly improved form since their appearance, at the New Year's Day. regatta-, and their win was naturally very popular. ' Time — lOmin 42sec, as compared with Bmin 42sec last year. . ■ ■ '. ' • Apßii 5. During the night the wind shifted i-ound to the north,'.and the rain cleared, off, with the result that splendid weather was experienced to day. and promises to : continue so over to-morrow. The crews engaged in to-morrow's events had a final spin to-day, the water being as smooth as could be desired. The disappointing exhibition given by Seymour Brothers in the Champion Pairs has had the effect of lowering .the Blenheim crew in public estimation, and Queen's Drive mil start favourites.. Wanganui Union have put in good work here, and the general impression is that they will again row well forward. Richardson, coach of the Blenheim crew, is confident-of the ability, of his men to pull off the event. The chances of Wellington and Star are not seriously considered. /In the event of all the members of the winning crew being unable to gp ; to Australia it is thought "that the selection committee will have some difficialty in' picking a crew. • M'Gratb, Who is favourite for the Champion Sculls, would be able to go to Australia. Chapman and Reid ' (Wairewa) : are expected to win the -KJhampibn Double Sculls, Queen's Drive the 0 Senior Clinker Fours, Wellington the Ladies' Plate and Picton the Junior Pair. The Championship Fours will be 1 rowed about twelve,, o'clock just; rafter the .aixival,-of ,the. excur'sio4 steamers !fiomVV^ell|ngton.; ,;. >. ' ,