AQUATIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6138, 26 March 1898, Page 6

AQUATIC.

CHAMPIONSHIP EEGATTA, [Per Press Association.]

DUKE DIN, March 25.

The weather was fine to-day, but a fresh southerly wind caused a rather lumpy sea, and it was not until three o'clock that a start was made to get ol' the minor events, and even then the water was in anything but a fit state to row in, At the conclusion of the ' proceedings an open boat, rigged as a brig, was blown up. Captain Falconer had charge of this, and it was a great success, the boat being blown to splinters and the water thrown to a great height. There was a large attendance of the public, including Lord and Lady Banfurly. Owing to the sea a change was made in the direction of the course, the men rowing down the harbour instead of up. In the first race a bad muddle was . made about the finish, and the men rowed for about three-quarters of a mile after the winning-post had been passed, owing to no gun being fired, and finished almost neck and neck, but Port Chalmers held the advantage. With the second race finished, the committee made a postponement until five o'clock, in order to see if there would be any improvement in the state of the water. The wind had slackened by five, and the programme was proceeded with, though a little later. on it was found advisable to postpone the championships until the morning. The following are the results : —

MAIDEN FOUBS (clinkers) ; one mile and a half —Port Chalmers Bowing Club, 1 ; Lyttelton Bowing Club, 2; North lind Boating Olub, ■_. The water was very lumpy, and there was a good deal of spUistiin-sr. Lyttelton, on the outside j had the worst water. The Port and Lyttelton hung together the whole way, and tliere was a slashing finish, Port Chalmers just winning on the post by a couple of feet

MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS (clinkers); one mile and a half— North End Boating Club, Dunedin, 1 ; Dunedin Amateur Boating Club, i ; Railway Rowing Club, Invercargill, 3. The Otago Rowing Club also r.tartsd. Tho winners steored the best course, and'at tho turn wore four lengths ahead of Dunedin, while the Invercargill men, who bad gone in shorewards for smooth water, had a longer course, and were some distance away. North End maintained its advantage all the way back, and won by about ten lengths.

OTAGO PLATE (clinker fours); one mile and a half— Duuedin Amateur Boating Club, I ; Awarua Boating Club, 2 ; Port Chalmers Rowing Club, 3. The Queen's Drive aud North End Boating Clubs also started. The Dunedin Amateur, the Port Chalmers and the Awarua were on pretty even terms to Ihe buoy, but coining back the first named forged ahead and eventually won by about a length, Port Chalmers a good third.

.JUNIOR DOUBLB SCULLS (clinkers) ; half-a-milc — Wairewa Boating Club, 1 ; Port Chalmers •Kowing Clnb, 2; North End Boating Club, 3. Won by two feet, after a fine race. Time— l2min 19sec.

This was the last race of the day, the light failing. The championship events will be got off at G. 30 a.m. on Saturday, and the clinker events in the afternoon.