WANGANUI BOWING ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13924, 7 March 1913, Page 2

WANGANUI BOWING ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REGATTA. Success of Union Crews. An Extraordinary Incident. Hie annual regatta under the auspices of the Wanganui flowing Association was brought to a conclusion after we; went to press yesterday. The',weather was fine, but a- strong westerly wind caused the water to be choppy in some parts of the course, particularly in the earlier races. There was a very fair attendance of spectators, and they were treated to a few really good races, one or two of the finishes being exceptionally close. On the other hand, the entries in several of the events were very poor, and it cannot be said that tho rowing in most of the races was of a high-class order. There can be no question as to the fine form of the Union champion crew, but unfortunately they had a row over in one event, and were opposed by only one crew—and that’ another from their own shed—in the other. In the cir cumstances, they were not called upon to show' what they could do, but from what was seen it is safe-to say that the in, lit blues are back to their very best for k. of three seasons ago, when they carrh.-l nil before them. In the Senior Sculls, Haio d Sharpe gave a good display, and easi v defeated E. McDonald and W. Stokes. The latter started with.his boat full of water, and Sharpe had not gone far bof.ire ns boat also filled'. McDonald's, too, ton shipped a lot of water, so that he isu was not so satisfactory as it might have been, though there is no doubt the be-' man won. Ai’chie Sharpe in the Jum.r Sculls (clinkers) showed that ho can gvt a lot of pace out of his boat, but his style leaves room for improvement. The rowing in the other events was not gw d, even the winning crows showing a sad lack of proper coaching. So far as the c nduct of the racing was concerned it w.ic very creditable, except for a most lameiuabiu occurrence in connection with the Youths' Fours. In the race in question three crews fought out a splendid struggle, and crossed the line apparently level. The. excited spectators on the bank ail rushed to ascertain the judges’ decision, but those officials could not be found. It transpired that- both gentlemen bad left their posts, evidently not expecting this raco to follow so quickly upon its predecessor, and not until after the boats had passed the winning-post did. they make their re-appearance. r J hey were surprised at having missed the'race, and subsequently apologised to the committee for their action. It was an extraordinary thing for both gentlemen to go away as they did, and particularly hard on the crews, the members of which—as well as the public generally—were disgusted when they realised what , had happened. The committee purposely appointed two judges in order to provide for such a contingency as one or other being called away temporarily, and it is,surprising that both officials should have left their stations Together in this way, Ithas been urged as an excuse that the Youths’ Fours was .started before its time, but this was not so. The crews were sent on their journey punctually to time, but not before time. Even if tile starter had let them go a minute or so before time, tins would be no excuse Tor both the judges being away from tho winning post when the contest finished. One or other should have been there all tho time. The affair is all, the more lamentable because a visiting crew probably finished the least little bit in front, though the three boats were so nearly in line that it would" have taken the judges all their time to say what the actual result was. As it was the committee had no option but to order the race; to be re-rowed at 5.30 to-uight, as it is provided by the conditions governing the racing: “No judge, no race.” The Clifton crow claimed that they had won the race, and declined to row again. They returned home to-day, as did also the Waitara erew. Both the local crews (Union and Wanganui) thought it unfair to ask Clifton to row again, and were willing to allow the visitors to take the first prize money. They took this view purely from a sportsmanlike spirit, and not because they were convinced Clifton bad won tho race—as the finish was too close to permit of any certainty on that score. It was a regrettable occurrence, and the two officials themselves expressed their keen sorrow at the bungle caused -by their neglect to properly discharge the duties alloted them. CONCLUDING RESULTS. YOUTHS’ FOURS (Association Clinkers. First £7, second £l. One mile). UNION BOAT CLUJ? (C. Hea-Iy. (stk.), J. Brown (3), K. Crotfy (2), W. Darby (bow) 0 CLIFTON ROWING CLUB (W. Spindle (stk.), P. Feck (3, L. Feck (3), R. Laurence (bow) 0 WANGANUI ROWING CLUB (fi. Faber (stk.), G. Barton (3), E. Morgan (2), F. Faber (bow) 0 Also started—Waitara Rowing' Club: E. L. Clarke (stk.), F. G. McDavitt (3), E. Johnson (2), F. L. Smaill (bow); Aramoho Boating Club: A. Phillips (stlc,), E. O’Grady (3), W. J. Guilford (3), J. O’Keefe (bow). This provided a magnificent struggle, but ended in a most unsatisfactory manner, as there were no judges at the win-, uing post. Five crows started, and Union led for the first half-mile, when Clifton took charge from Union and vvanganui, and he'd the lead to the bridge, where Union and Wanganui began to draw up. From hero these three crews were hard at it, a ding-dong battle being fought out, Clifton made a great effort to. maintain their advantage, but gradually Union and Vvanganui crept up, and the boats were almost in lino over the last quarter of a m— Clifton still had a slight lead 100 yards from the post, from Union, with Wanganui a little further back, and' a desperate finish was witnessed, the three boats being almost in line when they shot, past the post, it was a most exciting finish, and a. rush was made by the spectators on the bank to hear the judges' v It was then discovered that the officials in question were both missing, and the race was, consequently, null and void. JUNIOR. SCULLS (Association Clinkers. First .£4, second £l. One Mile). UNION B.C. (A. Sharpe) 1 ARAAIOHO B.C. (R. Caldwell) 2 j WANGANUI E.C. No. 2 McKcg- j uey) ' 3 i Wanganui R.C. No. 1 . F. D. Banks), i and Clifton E.C. (M. Caii.j ako started. I Sharpe and Caiawefl drew away from 1 the others from tho start, and rowed on fairly even terms to the bridge, where Sharpe was in front. From here the light blue sculler bad the race in safe keeping, and, fiiiisuiug with a spurt, oeafc Caldwell comfortably by three lengths. Mclicguey four lengths further away. Banks got too close into the willows, and stopped before reaching the Aranioho shed. ,

JUNIOR, FOURS (Association Clinkers. For crews of and under lOst. First £7, second £l. One Milo.) ARAMOHO BOATING CLUB (J. Hodge (stk.), P. Paul (3), L Greenlees (2), F. Dickson (bpw) 1 BOAT CLUB (C. Prince, (stk.), L. Russell (3), C. Callaghan (3), P. 1 Palmer (bow) /2 Tho crews were level for about’a .quarter of a mile, when Aramoho forgedt ahead, and drawing away non casi.y by nearly throe lengths.

JUNIOR POURS (B. and B. First £lO, second £2. l-i miles). UNION BOAT CLUB (light bluc)-M. Grotty (stk.), S. S. Dustin (3), E. Siddells (2), , \V. Coombes (bow) 1 WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB (maroon jersey, two white bands, , waits cap)—H. Hinchcliffa (stk.), E. Cairns (3), S. Shilling (2), T. Jenkins (bow) 2 ARAMOHO BOATING CL U B (white, with .scarlet bands)--A. Phillips (stk.), E. O’Grady (3), W. J. Guildford (2), o. O’Keefe (bow) .... 3 WANGANUI ROWING CLUB (Red, with 6-inch black band) —11. M. Douglas (stk.), H. E. Jones (3), S. Woon (2), R. Northover (bow) 0 Union, occupying number three position, hopped off smartest, and established a lead, which they gradually increased to half a length at the end of the first half mile; Wellington rowing second. Here the light bines suddenly ■ increased their lead to a length and a-lialf, and drawing further away scored decisively by three lengths from Wellington, Wanganui stopped before reaching the bridge, while Aramoho did not finish the race out. MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS (Association Clinkers. First £5, second £l,, One mile). UNION BOAT CLUB (light blue)-M. Prideaux (stk.), C. Dustin (b0w),... 1 ARAMOHO BOATING CLUB (white, with scarlet bands)—E. Brider (stk.), R. Bull (bow) 2 Wanganui R.C. (E. J. Day (stk.), and J. Day (Ixnv), also started. This was a good race for three-quarters of a mile. Aramoho led to the liridgv from Union, but the latter then closed up, and drew out, finally winning easily by two lengths. Wanganui stopped a quarter of a mile from home. SENIOR FOURS.—Association Clinkers. First ,£l2, second £3, 1| miles. UNION B.C. (J. Cottcrill (stk.), E. Rylands (3), H. Sharpe (2), D. Corby (now) ; I The light blue crew had .this event to themselves, and simply paddled over the course. The Union crews were very siicccssful, carrying off seven events, and winning -£57 in prize-money, or one pound more than the - light blues secured last year. The. following table shows the races and money won. by the siicccssfAl clubs: Clab. Ists. 2nds. 3rds. Prize money I Union 7 2 1 £57 Aramoho ..2 3 3 .£ls "Wanganui' 1 22 £lO I Wellington