CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16681, 13 March 1922, Page 7

CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA.

CHRISTCHURCH CREWS’ SUCCESSES. PROTEST OVER UMPIRE’S RULING. Special to the “Star.”) WANGANUI, March 13. The Canterbury crews which competed at the New Zealand championship regatta on Saturday acquitted themsselves well. Tho Canterbury Rowing Club's representative won the Maiden Fours in good style. They were in second position most of the distance, but- rowing well together they finished fast and won nicely at the end from the local Union Boating Club crew. There were six other starters. Christchurch Union, E. H. Ellis and T, H. Grenfell won the Junior Double Sculls by a narrow margin from "Wellington Rowing Club. ft was a great race, the finish being very exciting. The winners rowed in capital style, and well deserved their win. Tho Christchurch Union representatives, E. 8. Velvin and H. Adkins finished first in the Champion Pairs, the local Union Boating Club pair being second, and Avon third. Hamilton, Wairau and Aramolio also started. The start was a good one. but a strong wind and choppy water made the steering of the coxswainless boats very difficult. In the early stages the local Union crew drew away slightly. Avon had a mix-up with Hamilton, but neither lost much by the mishap. Christchurch Union, on the outside, began to draw on the leaders after going half a mile, as also did Avon. Three-quar-ters of a mile from home Christchurch were in front, with Avon and Union Boating Club together, thip latter pair being in midstream, with Christchurch Union close to the bank. Christchurch continued in the. lead until about three hundred yards from the povst, when Avon took charge. A little later the local Union Boating Club, who were slightly more than a length behind ther leaders, spurted, and were rapidly gaining when tho Avon boat swerved in front of the locals, and a foul occurred. The mixing-up enabled Christchurch to take the lead again and go on to win by six lengths from the Union Boating Club crew, who got going quicker after the foul than Avon. The mishap was most regrettable., as it spoilt what promised to be a most exciting finish. It- looked as if the- Avon bow momentarily weakened. and stro*ke pulled the boat round. Both Avon and Union Boating Club were out of their course, but if Avon had continued on a straight course no foul would h-.ive occurred. There was only about one hundred and fifty yards to go to the winning post, but the sprint which the local Unions were putting in would have carried them to the front if they had kept going at the same pace, while Avon would also probably have beaten Christchurch. Avon claimed a foul, the umpire giving his decision later in the day to the effect that the three placed boats should re-row the race, and the committee ordered me re-row at 7.45 o’clock this morning. This decision caused some dissatisfaction amongst the southerners, the opinion being expressed that Christchurch should have been declared winners and Avon placed second. Christchurch and Avon refused to re-row and the Union B.C. ha«l a row over this morning. A protest has been entered against the umpire's decision by the southerners, and this will have to lie decided by the New Zealand Council. The Christchurch Union crew put up p line race in the .Junior Clinker Fours. but Aver© beaten by three lengths by Star, of Wellington, a rattling good <t*.ay. The local i ni ui representatives, the Sharpe Bros., had an easy win in the (hampion Double Sculls, being much superior to tiie other contestants, of whom Hamilton proved better than Avon. Christchoich Union being unplaced. Archie Sharpe had previously won the single St ulls championship in hollow fashion from his only opponent. {>. Wilson, of "Wellington. This was Sharpe's first win in a championship out of six efforts. The big race of the day, the Champion Fours, was won all the way by Wanganui Union, who roived with almost perfect combination, catching as one man. pulling a long sweeping stroke right through, with great power, and swinging in unison. The winners were much superior to their opponents and must take rank as one of the bo it crews who ever Avon the Blue Ribband of the Dominion rowing world. The Maiden Pairs was Avo-n easily by the Canterbury Club, Brown arid Beaver, who roved well together. The Christchurch Union representatives scored in the Junior Pair, proving altogether superior to the opposiChristchurch Union finished first in tire three races, counting the disputed championship pairs, and Canterbury R.C. registered t aa t o aa ins CHAMPION PAIRS R E-ROW. CHRISTCHURCH C R EWS RHFUKIO TO START. ''Per Press Association.) WANG A NUT. March 13. Avon arid Christchurch Union re-

fused to re-rr v the Champion Pairs, leaving the local Union 80. crew to row over the court© this morning. The Christchurch crews have entered a protest against the umpire’s decision.

(Christchurch I T nion finished first when the event was decided on Saturday, hut owing to a foul which occurred between ’Wanganui Union and Avon near the finish, ‘ne umpire ordered the three crews to re-row the race this morning.)