ROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19783, 5 March 1927, Page 4

ROWING

EARLY BOAT RACE FIRST INTERPROVINCIAL FOURS. (By “Sampan.”) To-day’s regatta is graced by visitors from tho Commonwealth. It will enhance Wanganui’s popular regatta, and given fair climatic conditions to-day’s rowing event should be of more than ordinary interest. Harking away back to the early ’seventies, it may not come amiss to record tho first interprovincial boat race. Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago had regular fixtures. In 1871 the interprovincial race was mooted, and the following was advertised:— Intercolonial Four-oared Boat Race. Open to Australian colonies and New Zealand; any description of boat; distance 3 miles. Entrance £5 ss. First prize £l5O, money or plate! No Australian crews entered. Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago comprised the entrants. Auckland drew out owing to local troubles the last three provinces only competing. Boats In-rigged. Out-riggers were comparative novelties, in-riggers being most popular. The above race was fixed for Monday, February 19, 1872, at 3 p.m., when it was high hide and “dead” water. The race caused the keenest of interest, and both tho Wcllingtonian and the Otago four were confident of ningThe monster Calcutta Sweep showed the betting odds fairly correct. In those far-off days one could bet openly and the odds were 3 to 1 Lyttelton, 2 to 1 Kaiapoi, 4 to 1 Wellington, 5 to 1 Otago, and long odds on Ilissus. The course selected was on the Heathcote Estuary, away above the Fisherman’s Hut, finishing at Monck’s Gate at what to-day is known as Redcliffs, near Sumner, Christchurch. The course gave every satisfaction to the crews and under most favourable conditions the Regatta was one that attracted an immense gathering. I’ll pass the minor events and write about the big event. When the crews paddled out to the starting buoy Hie Waterlily (Lyttelton) were the favourites. Wellington were well backed and not a few predicted a win for them. Wellington Well Away. At the’ start Wellington, excellently stroked by Lennox, got well away and made the pace a cracker. Waterlily, hanging on to Wellington’s quarter for a time, had a very strenuous battle for the lead. Ilissus and Otago fouled and got into a hopeless muddle and dropped right out. Wellington still leading, Waterlily going strong, Kaiapoi Amalgamated—magnificently stroked by Burnip—coming along splendidly. Sabrina, Otago, plugged along gallantly, and Illissus, even at that early stage, was outpaced. Waterliy, well handled by O’Neill, took inside’place, and Cuff rattled his crew once clear of the ruck, and wrestled the lead from Wellington. Tho Waterlily hummed along splendidly, stroked by that stalwart oarsman, Albert Cuff, and from the Fishermen’s Huts to McCormack’s the race was never in doubt. At the first bend the Wellingtonians steered a bad course. George Wright, tho Kaiapoi’s cox, took advantage of this, and gained second place. Waterlily still Jed, Kaiapoi rowing quite at their best, the pace being a “clinker.” The Wellingtonians, stroked by Lennox, quite earned thc plaudits of the crowd, and when the gun fired a well-contest-ed race found Waterlily (Lyttelton) 1, Pere (Kaiapoi Amalgamated) 2, Wellington (Star Club) 3. Sabrina (Christchurch Union and Heathcote) 4, Endeavour (Kaiapoi Amalgamated) 5, Otago 6, Ilissus 7. The finish was one that those who took part therein are not likely to forget. In those days there was not the fine distinctions as regards “pros.’’ All were sports in the elastic sense. All sorts and conditions of tho community were to be found in those crews, and the fathers of some of our best sports of to-day, both on the water, cricket field, and football ground. The Waterlily crow comprised Harrison (bow) Ost. 81b., E. W. Roper list. 121 b., Walter Cameron, 13st. 21b., Albert Cuff, list. 71b. Crews and Boats. The Kaiapoi Amalgamated crew was: W. Wright lOst. 121 b., R. M. Wright list. 721 b., Geo. Jameson 12st. sAlb., Burnip 13st. 21b. Here, again, the sporting clement is in evidence. Endeavour (Avon R.C.). —Joe Dawson (bow) list. 121 b., Alec Reese list. 101 b., Jem Dawson list. 51b., Dan Reese list. 51b. Even hero sport, especially cricket, proves thc sporting proclivities! Bowing men of those days built up thc various flourishing clubs that Now Zealand boasts of to-day. The oldtimers laid a solid foundation. They rowed, built their own boats, and fostered a sport that is worth fostering. The Waterlily was built by Harrison, of Lyttelton, and weighed 1051 b. R. H. Matthews, of Kaiapoi, built the Pere, which weighed 2001 b., while the Wellington boat weighed 1501 b. The Sabrina, built by Salter, England, weighed 1201 b. The late Mr Dan Reese, of Christchurch, built the Endeavour, weight 1301 b., and the Otago boat was built by Green, of Dunedin, and weighed 1391 b. The Ilissus was built by Clasper, of England, and weighed 1301 b.

WANGANUI REGATTA IMPORTANT AQUATIC FIXTURE. VICTORIAN CREW’S APPEARANCE The appearance of the Wendouree crow (Victoria) lends interest to today’s annual regatta, which will be hold on the championship course, all races finishing at Cal ver’s Corner. The Australians have been training from the Aramoho shed, using the Aramoho boats, and have created a favourable impression. To-day they will compete, in the two senior events, one race over two miles and the other over a mile and a-half. During their stay in New Zealand they will row at the Wellington regatta next Saturday, and at Pic-ton, which is the championship regatta, in a fortnight. In view of their future engagements their per formanc.es to-day will bo watched with interest. Attractive Programme. The programme for to-day’s regatta is attractive, ami has brought to Wan ganui crews from Wellington, Petone. New Plymouth, Waitara, and Victoria Of cardinal interest aro the senioi events, particularly the fours, in which the three local clubs will line up with the men from Victoria. The following are the crews:— The crews will be as follows: — No.l position (city side), Wendouree* J. R. Jopling (stroke), W. R Todd (3), G-. Hutchins (2), and R. S Merriman bow). No. 2. Union: C. A. Healej (stroke), Gailbraith (3), A. Moss (2) and W. Kruse (bow). No. 3 Wanganui: A. Gurney (stroke), F. Boulton (3), C. Carrell (2) and E. Doughty bow). No. 4, Aramoho: D. Mill (stroke), R Abercrombie (3), A. Fromont (2) and L. Hayward bow). The second senior event will be ovpi miles, and will conclude the programme. The same crews will participate. Position of Crews. The following is the programme along with the position of the crews:— Maiden Fours (open).—No. 1, Ara moho 8.C.; No. 2, Aramoho No. 1; 3 Clifton R.C.; 4, Star (Wellington); 5 Wanganui R.C.; 6, Union 8.C.; 7, Ness Plymouth R.C. Maiden Single Sculls. —1. Union B.C. A. Jackson; 2, Wanganui, R. Murie; 3 Wanganui D.C., Caiman; 4, Aramoho L. Coates. Junior Fours, B and B, miles.—l Waiteinata; 2, Union 8.C.; 3, Petone. Senior Single Sculls, 1$ miles.— 1 Wanganui, H. Dyke; 2, Wendouree (Victoria); 3, Union, E. O. Traill; 4, Hamilton, 1, W., St. Clair. Youths’ Fours. —1, Wanganui; 2. Star; 3, Aramoho; 4, Union. Maiden Double Sculls. —1, Aramoho; 2, Union, 3; Wanganui. Senior Fours, B and B, 2 miles.— Wendouree (Victoria); 2, Union; 3j Wanganui; 4, Aramoho. Junior Fours (ClinKer), 14 miles.—l Clifton; 2, Petone; 3, Aramoho; 4 Wanganui; 5, Union; 6, Waitemata. Junior Single Sculls.—l, Wanganui R. Murie; 2, Aramoho, L. Coates; 3 Union, S. Nolan; 4, Wanganui, D. Cal man; 5, Wanganui, E. Aflame. Maiden Fours. —1, Aramoho No. 1; 2 Wanganui; 3, Union No. 2; 4, Aramohc No. 2; 5, Union No. 1. Senior Fours, miles.—l, Wan ganui; 2, Aramoho; 3, Wendouree; 4, Union. Race for McLeod Cup.—l, Cliftor R.C.; 2, Aramoho Club’s No. 2; 3, New Plymouth; 4, Aramoho No. 1. Thi? race should have been decided at Ne\? Plymouth on Now Year’s Day, but ow ing to rough weather, the contest had to be postponed. Permission has been granted to hold the race in Wanganui.