ON THE WATER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19809, 28 November 1919, Page 2

ON THE WATER.

NOTES BY “ PROW.’"'

The three local rowing cluhs have now chosen Ihoir Akaroa crews, alchallengers may make some alterations, and training foi the regatta is setting; in in earnest. , The Union Ohih’s trial double sculls were linisdncl on M'eduesdny night. Following are the results .---First heat: Woodward and Humm neat Thompson and Treadwell; second heat: "Weir and J. Yates beat Hanna and Aschoff; third heat: Turnpenny ■ and Osbnrno heat 0. Grenfell and It. Grnifell; semifinal: 'Weir beat Turnpenny; final: Weir bent Woodward. Windward was nervy at the start of the final and lost hia slide once. Weir led all the way, winning with n substantial margin. Union’s selection of crew fur Akaroa is as follows:—Senior pairs and cbnhle sculls~A, Adkins and F. Adkins. Junior fours—ll. Mann, J- .Mureh, G. Wilson and 0. Timbrill). Maiden fours—A Freeman, H. C. Ross, S. Hemingsen and .Ij. Byers. Youths’ fours—T. 11, Grenfell, J. Ellis, B. Grenfell and L. Kirk. Junior double sculls—B. Mann and J, Mureh- j Maiden double sculls—A. Freeman j and H. C. Ross. Youths’ double sculls-T. H. Grenfell and J. Ellis. The crews are hard at work. ' The ! senior pairs and double suills men have I been challenged and Piu- ! will. Dwyer, Whittington. Mai- j manche and C. Yates nave cliallonged the maiden fours crow, aim there are three challenge crews for the maiden double sculls, namely, Whittington, and Byers. Stevenson and Allison, and Dwyer ana Truman. These challenges are a. healthful sign, i and should result in some interesting races on the river nest week. The senior challenge race will probably be rowed nest Wednesday evening.. The C.R-G. trial double sculls crews have been drawn. The laces will be sculled in the Cam and Ripple, commencing on December IP. over a halfmile course. The draw is os follows: Elam and Ashton, Chatfield and Cocks, A. K. Johnston ii;,d M. Johnston, Hood and Mahahu, Davies and Batchelor, Joughin and Sinclair. Armstrong and Smith, Craig and Kingham. The Canterbury Rowing Club have made a strong choice' for' Akaroa, hut challenges are expected. The crews are as follow; Senior pairs—M. J. Guthrie (stroke), P. S. Hills (bow). Junior fours—F. J. S, t wart (stroke), H. B. H- Knight (3), A C. 0. Alien (2) C. H. Clemens (bow). Maiden four—A. G. P.uson (stroke), &. P. Godfrey (3), F. Millar (2), W, L. Johnston (bow). Youths’ four—l. T. Chesson (stroke), R. R-. C- Spooner (3). T B. J. Donnelly (2), J. H. A. Moore (bow). Junior double sculls--V. D. Hewer (stroke), S, P. Dalton (low). Maiden double sculls—U. M, Stewart (stroke), M. J. Guthrie (bow). Youths’ double sculls—K. S- Otley (stroke), C. F. Crosbie (bow). The Canterbury Rowing Club have lost a good oarsman in M r E. C. Day, one of their members who has gone to Hamilton. Mr Day was n member of tho yictorious crew’ in the club’s president’s fours. The Wanganui inter-school race will bo rowed on December 16. There wa* some doubt as to whetuer Boys’ High School would ho able to make tho trip, but their participation is now practically assured. They will he represented by L. Jennings (stroke). R. T. Sands (3), G. T. Alley (-3) and J. U Forsyth (bow). The College crew will be': IV.’ R. Manning (stroke), K. H. Hargreaves (3) W. J. G. Turnbull (2) and j\. Ir. Uox (bow). The sending of two College _ crews to Wanganui was under consideration, but it was found to be impracticable for them t> row on tlio river. Both College and School have been doing a good deal of training, and there is no doubt that College should ho able to put up tho best diailay of oarsmanship. However. Schools crew are big, tough follows, and are relying on “beef” to bring tno.r bow ahead before tho finishing pQ<d, is reached, '[’lie average weight is a lion i. I2st. They have a very forceful lift and leg drive. If by any chanro they should be unable to go to Wanganui local race with College will probably be arranged. The Akaroa Boating Ciiih’s sheds have a. lively appearance, members taking a keen interest in'training. Tho weather during last week was not at all favourable for training and tho ! water was rough- The coming regatta, . which, given fine- weather, promises to i be a great success, is being eagerly ■ looked forward to.

POWER BOATING AND SAILING. No little interest centres in the New Brighton Power Boat Club’s schemes for a new boathouse. Mr ?\ Howarth, a member of the dub, submitted to a recent meeting of the committee two plans. Tito matter was gono into fully, and it was decided that a, two-storeyed building should be erected, with a. floor space of about 62 \ 21, feel. The inclusion of a largo room suitable for socials, ladies’ and gentlemen’s rooms, a committee room and a. billiard room, a. kitchen and a. big balcony overlooking the rivor was favoured.

Messrs Hawarth and H:iv ring ton were asked to collaborate in preparing plans on tho lines laid down, and a deputation consisting of tho Commodore (Mr C. 11. Winny), the chib captain (Mr Hawker) and the. secretary (Mr Y. S. Dyer) was appointed to wait on the New Brighton Borough Council, place before them an outline of the, club's building scheme, and try to arrange for tho acquiring of a suitable site.

It is not intended to erect the clubhouse on the present site, but if possible on the opposite side of the river, on a reserve below tho bridge. It is intended that the building shall front right on to the river, with a Hoat for boatmen to laud at. The estimated cost of the building is between £7130 and £BOO.

The membership of the club has now reached a highly gratifying mark, and the fact that the club is prepared_ to launch out on such an attractive building scheme shows that it feels confident of continued and increasing popularity. The present clubhouse, which ha.s certainly been much outgrown by the membership, will probably be retained as a small workshop. The repairing of the staging nearby is a matter which will also engage the club's attention.

A itfid flood tide and a futa easterly breeze favoured the Christchurch Sailing and Power Boat Club’s race , for yachts over. 18ft on Saturday, but only ‘five boats g6t off the mark- However, the .start was a, good one. Turning [nr the last buoy, the AVarnu and the Te Ari fought for lirst place. AVhen nearly round '• 28 “’ the AA’arnn collided with the To Ari, and damaged her so severely that she was unable to continue the contest. The Hippie (12miU) got to the winning post first, leaving the AVaran (scr) .second and the Moana (2min) 8. The Alma (12rnin) akto started.

. If, is probable that the Christchurch Sailing and Power Boat Club will be well represented at the Lyttelton Begatta. Members of the club seem to bo looking forward to the sailing races. The entries will be announced in the near future.

A slack tide made for speed in the Brighton Power Boat Club’s race for boats of over 8 knots on Saturday. Tbe Intruder covered tbe course—from Pleasant Point jetty to stake 28 and back—in lomin, winning the race. She did much letter than her linudicapper anticipated, and won easily. i f c . aill ° second in llmin, Ti > e sc^*' third in llmin lOseo. The P.D.Q. was apparently running very sweetly, but it is not improbable that, the Mischief will make a better showing on a hiture occasion.

A very close finish was seen in the. race for boats under 8 knobs. The Punri got home, in 2inin oOsec, gaining u'' 6 b P'ace. Hard on her tail was the Bobs, which covered tho course iu -linin -ilsec. Sim was troubled by the Burin’s backwash, which seriously retarded her progress. The Nautilus finished third iu 20min osec.

Six new members were elected to the Brighton Power Boat Club at meeting of the club's committee. The Lyttelton Bcgntta programme was received.

The Brighton Power Boat Club’s halfseason’s racing programme- has now been officially approved. On December 20, January j ;,nd January 17 races lor the Boland Trophy will he held, two classes, one for boats of under 8 knots and one for boat.- of over 8 knots, will be raced on each date. The. course will ho from Pleasant, Point pier round the buoy and back.

Jlnces for tho F.ngineons' Cup, open to boats of over 8 knots, and for the (mining -Memorial Cup for boats of under 8 knots, will follow. I he. conditions for these races are;—Ihree boats or no race, tour boats or no second prize, five boats or no third pme, champion flag to ho given for hoxh classes; prizes, Ids, 7s 6d and os for combined classes, and 10s. 7s 6d and os for separate classes; boats winning first prize to be penalised JOsee, second prize 20sec, anil third’prize lOsec in the next race; improvement, allowance ol: one minute on oath handicap.

I he. Akaroa Sailing Club’s first race vas participated in by the Beverio (1.. J. VangionD, the Hover (,]. Hammond), and the Materbcctlc (G. A, Hammond). The Reverie won. The same boats competed in the second race, when the IVaterbectle turned the tables by coming in first with the Reverie second.

I lie Harbour Board’s trip flown the Avon on Wednesday was admirably timed, and great credit is due to the Brighton Power Boat Club, and to Mr W. J. Walter, a member of the board, tor their efforts regarding the matter. Xow that the improvement of the upper reaches of the Avon is under consideration and a conference of local bodies will probably be called, the needs of tile lower reaches must he brought into the public view, so that its far as possible the whole problem may he tackled comprehensively and efficiently. This may, of course, he .somewhat difficult because the Harbour Board, have control of the lower part of the river, -whereas the Drainage Board, flic Domains Board, and other local bodies are vested with authority in respect of the upper part. It ' might quite easily happen, however that remedial measures taken in regard to one. part of the river might very detrimentally affect the other part. The futility of a scheme lacking co-ordination is selfapparent-

There is no doubt that the hoard were given a very good demonstration of some, of the drawbacks of the river in its present state. They could not fail to he impressed by the unevenness of the river bed when they wore several times almost jerked off. their balance by tho boat; hitting those annoying hummocks which are scattered .so indiscriminately iu the water, and hy,being- twice stuck so firmly iti mudhanks, despite the most careful navigation, that poling and swaying had to be resorted to to free the boat.

' By the way, it is of interest to note that the launch was navigated a good part of the wav hy a lieutenant-com-mander who drew royalties on three vanquished German submarines. Doubtless ho would hear testimony to the value of the training which he. received at the club. This brings “Prow” to llio fringe of a. subject which he intends to deal with next week—Lord Jcllicoe’s remarks concerning the wisdom of encouraging local boating.

Tho need of re-staking was not so much in evidence ns it would have been had the, tide been full in, hut the visitors were able to see the decrepit stakes which at present give the merest hints of the course of the channel. Boatmen have done what they can to maintain the slaking, hut they feel that it is a fair thing to ask the. Harbour Board to drive in sonic substantial posts, as well ns to improve the channel.

The reminiscences concerning oldtime boating which wore, exchanged brought into sharp relief the decline in the usefulness of the Avon, ami made one wonder how on earth the deterioration had been allowed to proceed so far. There is yet time to set it right, if it is done at once ami done well.

Note.— Prow,” who writes weekly boating notes for the “Star,” welcomes contributions regarding till forms of ilie sport- The notes appear each Friday, and relate briefly to local boating. As a. good deal of work is out ailed in collecting information, written contributions tire especially welcome.