AQUATIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8250, 24 February 1905, Page 1

AQUATIC.

NOTES. '(By JASON.) Though the waters of Lake Forsyth ,¥rere by no means perfect for outrigger , racing on Saturday, the weather was splendid for the spectators. -A moderately tuned sou-wester raised a nasty side jobble, which sorely tried the local crews as they are used to the placid surface of the Avon, and their system of low rigging, following naturally from their everyday experience, was all against them in the jumping water. The crews used to harbour rowing— Star, Akaroa and Lyttelton — probably regarded the conditions as near to approaching firstclass, and certain it is . that in the Senior Fours — when the water was at about its worst — the Star crew negotiated it with the greatest ease, and reached the landing-stage with scarcely a cupful aboard, while some of the others had the box compartment wellnigh half-filled, and Avon, in addition had gallons in the fore canvas compartment. There was a larger attendance of the publio than has been seen at the regatta for some years, this being partly due to a strong contingent of peninsula people, many of whom were doubtsless attracted by the fact that his Excellency the Governor had given his pa.tronage to the function. Those who went from town were almost wholly made tip of rowing . men and their friends and relations. \ There was some excellent racing and some exciting finishes,' and altogether it was an admirable day's sport. The prize-money was .well distributed, Christchurch Amateurs winning £24, Canterbury £21, Union £20, Star £19, Akaroa' £10, Avon' £2- Lyttelton alone failed to Bcore. The two most promising fouroared crews for future honours were Christchurch Amateur Maidens and Canterbury Youths. I was not overimpressed with the much-advertised Akaroa junior crew, which, while it may be strong and dashy, struck me as lacking some essential points necessary in the make-up of a successful four. AQUA gi The Senior Fours was not a race in the proper meaning of the word, for, barring the winning crew, and in a measure the Canterbury No. 1 crew, it .was a case of splash and slobber most of the way. Despite the difference between the boats at the finish, I feel fully satisfied that, under happier conditions as regards favourable water, the event would have seen a great contest. That the Stars owed their win largely to superior watermanship admits of no doubt whatever ; that on smooth water they could win as easily as they did on Saturday I don't think one qualified to express an opinion yquld be prepared to admit. As I have said more than once in referring to the training operations of the local- crews, all of them were just ordinary, and Star is on the same footing. Should the same Star crew compete for the championship, and win, or go near to winning, given that it is equal to its form or last Saturday, all I can sajr is that the quality of the colony's rowing Dannot be of a very high order at the present time. The Senior Pairs was a regular boil over. If anyone thought ,fche Canterbury crew had the slightest chance of winning I heard nothing of it. Indeed such a fancy could scarcely be expected, seeing that the crew had been made up at the last minute and had had only three or four rows together. The crew deserved its success, for the rowing was good, and there was a crispness about the work which was missing in the other two crews. There was a foul in the Double Sculls, shortly after the start, which no doubt greatly assisted Union in securing an easy win. Whether Star would have won but for their misfortune must remain a matter for speculation. At the time the race eventuated the water was comparatively good, and judging by the way Union dropped Canterbury I am inclined to think they would have won had there been no foul. Profiting

by their experience in the Pairs they had raised their riggers with good effect, and they were at no time troubled by the . choppy water which prevailed in the first half-mile. The Junior Fours produced the finest finish for first place of the day. Akaroa, the favourites, took premier place soon after the start, and near to the winning post it looked all over. The Christchurch Amateurs, however, put in a great finish and, to use a cycling expression, " jumped " their opponents on the post. These two finished well in front of the nearest crew, Avon, who also had a strong following, as did Canterbury. The stroke of the latter, however, cracked up about a furlong from home, and Avon only just managed to beat a very light Union crew, the members of which were making their first appearance at a regatta. There was intense excitement over the terrific struggle for first placed and regular attendants at regattas failed to call to mind anything in their experience surpassing that furious rush of Christchurch Amateurs which converted what appeared to be a hopeless case into a glorious victory. Disappointing as the result must have been to Akaroa, they at least have an honourable share in the incident, which" will often be referred to when the Christchurch Regatta of 1905 is reviewed by local wetbobs. The surprise of the Junior Double Sculls was the poor showing made by the Lyttelton representatives, who had handsomely beaten the opposition at the Lyttelton Regatta. Seeing that the crew was not in the best condition on that occasion, it was natural to suppose that the additional training would add some lengths to its speed over the mile. So far from this^being the case, the crew never had a chance, and failed to finish. It was a hot lot that went to the post, including as it did the Akaroa champions, and that speedy pair, M'Entee and Ryan, while Avon was also strongly represented. The only untried crew was Union, which had as bow one who had not previously competed at a regatta. The race was splendidly contested, though Akaroa always had a little the best of matters. Christchurch Amateurs just got the nose of their boat in before Union for second place, a dashy piece of sculling being responsible for this. The Maiden Fours was a good win for Christchurch Amateurs, who won at Akaroa, and have come on since then into a very sound crew. x The men are a husky lot, and they get a quick and hard commencement, and the general work is very solid. It was this crew which scored the sensational win in the Junior Fours. The interest in the event centred on the race for second place between Akaroa, Union and Avon, who finished in this order after a clinking go, Akaroa beating Union by barely half a length, while Union were only a foot or thereabouts in front of Avon. Canterbury were expected to do considerably better .on practice form, but like most of the others, their form went to pot in the rough water. Union, being physically stronger ■ than either Avon or Canterbury, and having no pretensions to form slogged along in great style, and put up a good performance for novices at regatta racing. In the Double Sculls Union, who won at Akaroa, had another easy thing. It was unfortunate that Canterbury failed to reach the post in time to start, and this fact not being known to the spectators at the time there was keen excitement as Canterbury and Union were seen contesting the finish, and excitement gave place to amazement when Canterbury stopped half a length or so from the finish just as everyone was agog to see which crew would emerge successful from the sprint. It was a neat little "have" on the part of the Canterbury crew. The race for the Youths' Fours, though not producing the closest finish, was probably the best contested event of tho day. Canterbury, a sturdy lot of young fellows, led most of the way, but never by a great deal, as the other two hammered away the whole course, and towards the finish Avon made such a slashing sprint that Canterbury had to put in every ounce they had in stock to maintain their slight advantage. It was a ding-dong finish between Union and Avon, the stroke of the former collapsing just before reaching the finish. This. was not unexpected, as it was known that he had been unwell for some- time, and a week before the regatta it was doubtful if the crew wouW start. The winning crew is one of the most taking, from bow to stroke, that has been seen here in the class for many a day. j-lie rowing is distinctly of a high grade, and it will be surprising if some of the members at least are not hear.d of later on in the higher classes. Avon is a neat little crew, considerably lighter than the winners, and row in. a taking style. Union is an uneven crew, but contains splendid racing material, though 'the work lacks the crispness and polish of the others. Union repeated their performance at Lyttelton by .'winning the Double Sculls, and in view of the stroke's indisposition it was a good performance to defeat such a sturdy couple as Brittain and Guthrie, the Canterbury representatives, and the not much inferior Avon lads. Mansfield, the Union bow, . has a regatta record for youths' races that must go near to equalling that of Whelah, of Akaroa. Last season he went through without a defeat, and this season he has four wins to his

credit, these Jn addition to many secured in previous seasons with \Vebb. He is about the most unlikely-looking lad one would pick out as a successful rower and sculler, and the source of his power is probably unknown to himself. He must possess great vitality, for he has no visible signs of physical powers. It was unfortunate that the starter had by force of circumstances to take up a position which compelled him to speak against the wind when getting crews into position. The outside crews in several of the event* say that owing to this they did not hear the word to go, and were only aware of the start by seeing otaer crews racing off. Mr Craddock could not well have gone to the other side of the course. To have done so would have placed him in danger of swamping. Even as it was ■< he and his companion were forced to use bailers. The regatta passed off with only one protest to be decided. That was in the Senior Double Sculls, and arose out of a foul between Star and Christchurch Amateurs. It occurred soon after the start, and in full view of the starter, who was able to definitely state that both boat 3 were off their course. This being the case, the committee had no option but to let the judge's placing stand. That conscientious and capable official, Mr J. R. Evans, did the bulk of the judging, the majority of the other judges having their time occupied in attendance on the Governor. Mr Evans is one of the old brigade who still take an active interest in the sport, and he is as keen now over the racing as in the years gone by when he himself was a regular competitor. It is doubtful if any of the local clubs will be represented in the championship next month, though crews for other events may go up. I heard at tae Lake on Saturday that Whelch was not likely to make we trip xo Wellington unless his club was sending other representatives. The arrangements for the carrying out of the regatta were as complete on Saturday as they were neglected last season. Thanks to the services of Mr H. D. Buchanan, the boat yard was in excellent order, and the staging for the convenience of launching boats was much appreciated, xhe dressing tent accommodation also was a great improvement on previous methods. Alto- i gather competitors found very little this time to complain of.