AQUATIC.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8418, 10 December 1894, Page 2

AQUATIC.

ÜBC President's Trophies. (By " Junior Stump.") The preliminary heats of the above popular races eventuated on Saturday last, when a good crowd assembled to witness the various contests. The first crews to try conclusions were stroked respectively by Doputy-Oaptain OroDin and the redoubtable Miok Keeg&n, j and exsotlv at 4.40 Mr E.Hsokett gottbem aw»y to an ezoellent start, when within the | first dozen strokes Gromn's team demonstrated their superiority by taking a lead which they increased to euoh an extent that at the groin, when two orews, one from the W. 8.0. and the other from the Aramoho shed joined issue a little exoitement Vas afforded, but it was not maintained, as Oronin gradually drew away, and won any how t Heat 2 wasconsidered a fairly open affair, the contestant strokes being Alf Gray and Williams, although the former olaimed a good few supporters. If anything Williams obtained a slight advantage in the start, but his orew, though rowing manfully, could Dot sucooisfully compete wich their better trained opponents, and Gray pulling a fine stroke landed his crew home easy winners by five lengths. The heat of tbe day was deoidedly the last, when O'Sbanessy and Peter Keegan met. Both crews were well trained and, I believe, carefully coaohed, and in oonsequenoe both were confident of snocessi Ted Uaokett again displayed his efficiency as a starter by getting both crews away on equal terms. For at least 800 yds what alight advantage there wns O'Shanessv olaimed, but Eeegan was not to be denied, and on reaching Dublin-street was oerUinly leading. The exoitement was intensified when at the groin O'Shanessy forged ahend fully three parts of a length, but Keegan again came and to past the Hospital the boats were neok and neok. so to apeak, till 50yds from home, when O'Shanessy oalled upon his men, who responded gamely, and shot out the winners by half a length, after one of the finest races ever witnessed on our stream. To-night at 6.15 Kendall meets Gray'and at 6.16 O'Shanessy meets Oronin, when grand contests must inevitably result. Inter alia, I may mention that an interesting feature of the day was the spectacle of a orew from the Wanganai E.O. shed attempting the muoh-despised stroke that originated in Aramoho last season. Surprise was depioted on their visages at the unusual pace they got out of their oraft. Verily imitation is really the sinoerestfoim of flattery.