FINE RACES AT AKAROA REGATTA

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 3

FINE RACES AT AKAROA REGATTA

UNION CLUB IN THE LEAD FOR D.C.L. CUP. The Akaroa Regatta Club added to its list of successful regattas yesterday, the annual New Year’s Day fixture being favoured with fine and bright weather. The course was comparatively calm, only slight swells being caused by the light southerly breeze. The rowing events attracted good entries and the events were started well up to time. There were some close finishes, and a large crowd came from Chris tchureli and other places to witness the sport. The Union Club won most points for the D.C.D. Cup, which is awarded for most points gained by a club at the season’s regattas. The points scored were as follow:—Union 22. Avon 21, Akaroa 19, Canterbury 15, Lyttelton S, SumnerRedcliffs 5. Much of the success of the Akaroa, crews is due to the coaching o_ Mr George Whelch. the club's captain, who has been untirirjg in his work of fostering the interests of rowing in Akaroa. That club’s performance is all the more meritorious when it_ is noted that entries were made only in the youths and maiden events. Akaroa won all the maiden races in good style. gaining prizes to the value of £lB. This is the first occasion since the war that the Akaroa Club have prevailed to any extent at a regatta. The D.C.L. Cup was won last season by the Canterbury Club. An open handicap yacht race, for yachts over 14ft, was held in conjunction with the rowing regatta. The race was won by Irene, of which G. Brasse.,l was skipper. Following are the results of the events: — YOUTHS’ SINGLE SCULLS. (For Thacker Shield.) Union (G. Toner) 1 Avon (H. Warlow) 2 Akaroa (I. Penlington) 3 The only starters. Toner, who won the Shield twelve months ago, rowed a splendid race and won easily. MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS. Akaroa (D. Reid, W. W. Reid) 1 Lyttelton (S. Sinclair, A. Burbery) . . 2 Avon (A. Andrews, A. K. Woodham) 3 The winners had the race fairly well in hand from the start. There was a keen contest for second place, into which Lyttelton went just ahead of Avon. Time—4min ISsec. JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS. Canterbury (J. O. M’Giffen, T. 11. M’Combs) 1 Avon (C. Bishop, L. Patterson) 3 Sumner-Redcliffs (O. Johnstone, R. C. Neville) 3 Union also started. Canterbury rowed a long, strong stroke, and gi-adually worked their way to a three-lengths’ advantage over Avon and Sumner-Redcliffs. The two last-named fought out a sterling race for second place, which Avon took by a few feet. Time—4min 43sec. SENIOR FOUR-OAR. Avon (G. Rush worth. F. H. Thompson, C. A. Stiles, G. Jordan) .... 1 Union (F. Rogers. G. Duggan, W. Whittington, W. Greenway) .... 2 Canterbury (D. St C. Gunn, C. S. Morris, C. F. Gilby* S. W. Cox) . . 3 The only starters. From a good start the crews were on even terms for awhile, until Avon commenced gradually to draw away. They were nearly a length ahead opposite the jetty, and. before the finishing post was reached they had increased their advantage to two lengths, with Canterbury, who were not combining very well, one and a half lengths behind Union. YOUTHS’ DOUBLE SCULLS. Union (G. Toner, C. Cooper) 1 Akaroa (T. E. Armstrong, W. Thompson) 2 Canterbury (I. V. Smith, D. V. Alston) 3 Union gained a slight advantage near the start, and Akaroa lost ground through poor steering. The race, which was won by two lengths, was covered in the fast time of 4min 18sec. Avon and Sumner-Redcliffs also started. JUNIOR PAIR-OAR. Canterbury (J. Q. M’Giffen, C. K. Pritchett) 1 Sumner-Redcliffs (O. Johnstone, R. C. Neville) 2 Lyttelton (W. Butcher, R. Sneddon) 3 Avon also started. Lyttelton lost ground through steering too far out. Canterbury took the lead opposite the jetty and maintained their advantage to win by a length and a quarter. Time —4min 31sec. YOUTHS’ FOUR-OAR. Union (I. Thomson, K. Brown, G. Toner, C. Cooper) 1 Canterbury (I. G. Smith, S. W. Cox, D. V. Alston, E. C. S. Andrew) 2 Avon (C. Wright, H. Warlow, G. Wright, G. Bowden) 3 Akaroa and Lyttelton also started. Union and Canterbury led from tlie start, and the race resolved itself into a great contest between these two crews. Finally Union established a short lead, holding about a quarter of a length at the finish. Avon were half a length away third. Akaroa finished well, but again followed an erratic course. Time—4min 31sec. MAIDEN FOUR-OAR. Akaroa (D. Reid. W. W. Reid, R. Keegan. F. Fyfe) 1 Avon (A. K. Woodham, A. Andrews, R. Price. L. Patterson) 2 Lyttelton (W. Marshall, S. Sinclair, A. Burbery, J. Whitford) 3 Akaroa had the lead opposite the jetty and maintained it to the finish, winning easily. Canterbury finished third, but were disqualified for steering outside of the finishing posts. Time—4min 21 sec. SENIOR PAIR-OAR. Avon (C. A. Stiles, F. H. Thompson) 3 Union No. 2 (F. Rogers, G. Duggan) 2 Union No. 1 (W. Whittington, W. Greenway) 3 Canterbury and Avon No. 2 also started. Avon asserted their superiority throughout, with Rogers and Duggan ( putting up a great fight to finish two lengths behind Avon, who were rowing easily. The third crew were three lengths behind the winners. Time—• 4 min 3 6 sec. MAIDEN PAIR-OAR. Akaroa (R. Keegan, F. Fv r fe) 1 Lyttelton No. 2 (A. Burbery, S. Sinclair) 2 Sumner-Redcliffs (W. Kilner, J. Wing) 3 Avon, Union. Canterbury and Lyttel-1 ton No. 1 also started. Sumner-Red-cliffs started off with a great burst and were over half a length ahead when a quarter of the course had been covered. Akaroa then gradually wore them down and were over a length ahead opposite the jetty, by whicli stage Lyttelton No. 2 had passed Sumner-Redcliffs. Akaroa went on to win easily by four lengths, with Sumner-Redcliffs two lengths behind Lyttelton No. 2. OPEN HANDICAP YACHT RACE. Irene, 40niin (G. Brassell) 1 Wairaana, scr (T. Harkess) 2 Miro, 3min (E. J. Kingston) 3 Kia Ora. Yvonne and Mameena also started. Won by a quarter of a mile, with Miro fairly close behind W’aimana. ELLESMERE AQUATIC CLUB. Speed y outboard motor boats from the Canterbury Outboard Club’s fleet were the principal attraction at the Ellesmere Aquatic Club's annual regatta end sports meeting: at Taumutu yesterday. Perfect weather conditions favoured the club for the first time in four years. The regatta has always been a popular picnic* outing, and yesterday dozens of cars arrived from Christchurch and all parts of the district, bringing holidaymakers to see the sports and generally to enjoy the day by the water. The acquatic events were held on Lake Ellesmere just inside the outlet (at present open) and racing conditions, apart from a light breeze and somewhat choppy water during the afternoon, were excellent. This is the first time that outboard boats have beer seen on the lake, and onlookers who had not previously seen these racing craft in action were most Enthusiastic. The remainder of the programme was almost forgotten while everybody crowded on to the beach. Rowing- and swimming contests, a programme of athletic events, a tug-of- . war and a number of competitors, were I amongst the day’s attractions. Many children were present, and a series of races was held for them. The Ellesmere Brass Band supplied music at intervals throughout the day. Amongst those present were Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, patron of the club, and Mr D. Jones, M.P. Outboard. Events. Three outboard races of three beats each were held, and the pilots encountered different conditions as the day wore on. The course was buoyed parallel with the shore and almost in the same direction as a current which tlowed up the lake. The water was fairly calm foi the first race, hut in the afternoon a breeze sprang up and choppv water made the course a trifle rough. The following six boats competed, the names of the pilots being given in parentheses: Baby Boy (P. Williamson!, C Class: Heck (A. Pedtler). Riki <T. Kellaway), Sea Hm-se (R. Watson). Countrv Boy (R. M’Millan), ail B Class; and Whoopee (C. Collins), I) Class. Baby Boy developed engine trouble at the start, and could not be got going tor any of the events. The last boat Whoopee competed in all three events, but bad engine trouble in the last. The best showing on the day was made hv O unity Roy, and her pilot, K. M’Millan.

y HHH@HSH®S!H®HH@IHIS@HSBI o deserves praise for the very consistent g performance of his craft. Each event e was two miHes in length, twice round a one-mile course, but in a motor-boat event before the final outboard contest one of the competitors fouled a buoy and di'agged it out of position. Mr A. A. 1 M’Loan was judge and handicapper, and Mr B. Stinea was time-keeper. 2 Results:— 3 FIRST RACE.

Pirst Seat. Country Boy (lmin ITsec) .... 1 d Sea Horse (lmin 17sec) 2 a Whoopee (lmin 42sec) 2 1. Riki (58sec> * n Heck (50sec) 5 e Time — 3min 2stec. '• Second Heat. , a Heck (50sec) J 1 Country Boy (lmin ISsec) .... f Whoopee (lmin 42sec) j Riki (58sec) * Sea Horse (lmin ITsec) *» j Time — lmin 2Ssec. 2 Third Heat. 2 Sea Horse (lmin ITsec) 1 o Country Boy (lmin ISsec) .... 2 e, Whoopee (lmin 42sec) 3 t. Biki (50sec) 4 Heck (52sec) d.n.f. Time — 3min 7sec. Total Points. Country Boy 1122 Sea Horse 1017 Whoopee 972 ‘ Riki 8S7 * Heck 6u6 SECOND RACE. First Heat. £ Country Boy (38sec) 1 Sea Horse (35sec) 2 Riki (4sec) 3 t ' Heck (lOsec) 4 e Whoopee did not start because of eny gine trouble. Time — 2min 35sec. D Second Heat. > Sea Horse (SOsec) 1 T Country Boy (35sec) 2 e Riki (3 sec) 3 e Heck (12sec) 4 Time — 2min 35sec. 2 Third Heat. Riki (00) 1 s Heck (ISsec) 2 V Country Boy (40sec) 3 Sea Horse (35sec) 4 a Time — 2min 59sec. j Total Points. y Country Eqv 1085 f Sea Horse . ‘ 1050 e Riki 1048 s Heck 039 > THIRD RACE. <i First Heat. Country Boy (2Ssec) 1 Riki (lsec) 2 Sea Horse (2 lsec) 3 Whoopee (48sec) 4 y Time — 2min 32sec. 1 Second Heat. v ® Sea Horse (21 sec) 1 ' Whoopee (48sec) 2 ‘ Country Boy (30sec) 3 ■J Heck (1.2seci 4 Time — 2min SSsec. Third Heat. " Heck (12sec) 1 1 Country Boy (SOsec) 2 v Whoopee (48sec) 3 ‘(3 Riki (lsec) 4 Time — 2min 4 8 sec. £ Total Points. t Country Boy 1085 5. Whoopee 07 4 p Sea Horse 7 24 v Heck 0 8 0 , Riki 650