RIVERTON REGATTA.

Western Star, 29 December 1914, Page 3

RIVERTON REGATTA.

President, Mr T. Trail; Starters, P.uwing: J. Geary, A.C. Mills. Motor Boats : G. 0. Cassels. Umpires, Rowing: Mr W. J- Pankhurst. Motor Boats: Mr G. Clark. Judges, Rowing; Messrs A. E. Willett, W. McKinnon. Motor Boats: Dr Trotter. Starters’ Stewards: E. J. Stevens’ and J. Green. Water Events’ Committee, Dr Gordon (Judge), H. E. Philp, F. C. Mills, E. K.’ Smythies, P. A. Bell. Secretary, Me H. J. Walden.

For quite a number of years past the Riverton Regatta Committee has been favoured with ideal weather for their animal fixture which takes place on Boxing Day. This year, however, the condi. tioiis were not so favourable as in former years. A strong south-west wind with occasional showers in the early morning no doubt kept many from being in attendance. Compared with the previous year the railway receipts showed a considerable falling off, the number travelling from Invercargill being 2200 as compared with 3709 for 1913. The boisterous weather which prevailed during past week also prevented a number of motor launches coming from Invercargill and the Bluff, consequently the entries for tho motor launch races suffered to some extent. The entries for the rowing events were, however, very satisfactory and some goods racing was witnessed. As will be seen from the follow, mg table the Railway Rowing Club annexed most of the prize money with Riverton second ;

Prize Firsts. Seconds. Money

During the day the Bth Regimental Hand discoursed an excellent programme of music which was appreciated by a large concourse of visitors who lined the south shore. It only remains to add that the -officials carried out their- re. spectivo duties in a praiseworthy manned -and the events were completed in good time. Tho r-suits wore as follow — Senior Fours ; two miles —Railway ; A. L. Pad get (st), J. Sutherland (3), F. McKillop (2), T. Findlay (bow) ... 1 Awarua—T. West (st), B. Johnston (3),

R. Cooper (2), T. Ross (bow) ... 2 Raihvay B did not start. The Senior Fours, which was this year the first race on the programme, was rowed on the course from the Narrows to the railway bridge to the accompaniment of a strong off-shore breeze. Soon after emerging from the Narrows Bluff took the lead, and from the hill above the bridge they appeared to have two lengths advantage. Railway' then came up with remarkable "Vapidity and completely turned the tables. At the end of the first niilrj their sprint had carried them to a position about three lengths in advance Railway vowed fairly easily in the homo stretch, while their opponents came home laboriously, and the railway boys claimed the victory by about five lengths. The victory of Railway in this event was expected even by the Aw r arua supporters, for although the orew they had to meet is a fairly strong one on paper it was not actually so, for West is said to have only left his bed a couple of days ago after a fairly serious illness, and on the whole the crew did not appear to have been prepared for so classic an event.

Maiden Pairs—Awarua: J. Lee (st), A. Wixon (bow) 1 Railway A.—F. R. Padget (st), A. G. Duthie (bow) 2 Railway B and Riverton also started. The winners had matters pretty well all their own way and won by half a dozen lengths with four lengths separating second and third, which position was occupied by Riverton. Railway B were well out of the contest after the first half mile. Junior Pairs —Railway A. : L. Cockroft (st), J. L. Wilson (bew) 1 Railway B. : S. Shepherd (st), T. Find. lay (bow) 2 Riverton, Invercargill and Awarua also started.

The jobblo on tho southerly course was becoming uncomfortable when these crews got away, and what advantage there was in position was held by Railway A., who had the shelter of the south bank for a considerable portion of the journey. Awarua on the far side had to face ugly water, and the result was that tho crews soon closed up, Railway A were soon in advance and had a lead of fully two lengths at half way. They were follow, ed by Railway 8., Awarua, Riverton and Invercargill in that order. The order changed somewhat as the result of the final sprint, and Railway A. were not in such advantage when they passed under tho Judge’s eye. The B. crew had come up a little and Riverton had given place to Invercargill while Awarua had dropped out as a contesting factor. At the finish Railway A. held the lead of about one and three quarter lengths, Invercargill being a length in the rear of Railway B, and half a length in advantage over Riverton. Maiden Fours—Riverton B. ; A. Gumming (st), J. Frew (3), V. Winton (2), F. Bromby (bow) , 1 Awarua: A. Galder (st), A, -Wixon (3), J. Leo (2), A. Metzer (bow) • 2 Riverton A. and Railway A. and B. also started. When about a third of the distance had been covered, Invercargill were ui the lead, with Awarua and Railway B. in close attendance. Riverton B. emerging from tile shelter, then went into a leading position and hold -an advantage of a couple of lengths when tho halfmile peg was passed, Invercargill,, Awn. •na and Railway B. following in that order. From this out tho raco proved to bo one of the most interesting of the day. Riverton B. managed to maintain the lead they had obtained as the result of their favourable position early in the race. Invercargill were unable to reduce the gap and meanwhile Aw a rue Were coming strong on tho inside. River, •on B. claimed tho victory by a coup!,' of lengths, and owing to their superior sprinting .'opacity Awarua were able to i iii. in to second position, but they only had about a foot to spam Junior Fours—Railway: L. Cockroft (st). J. 0, Wilson (3), S. Shepherd (2), F. P;idg?t (bow) Riverton: E. R. J. Stevens (st), It. Fi'ew (3), F. Beer (2), T. Bcgl (bow) ..: Awarua and Invercargill also started. The four crews engaged in this rr.i trot away on fairly even terms. Rail wav wens soon in the lead, and when half t

mile- had born covered they led Riverton by -almost a length and a half and Awarua by two lengths. They maintained a leading position to thei finish md passed the post three-quarters of a ength in advantage over Riverton when J le latter were coming strongly. InverargiH wore about a length behind Rivet, ton, and Awarua some distance away. ,uths’ Fours—Railway A. : L. Cock-i-oft (st), J. O. Wilson (3), S. Shophard (2), F. Padget (bow) 1 Invercargill: R. Mabson (st), J. McDonald (3), A. McDonald (2), H.

Wilcox (bow) Railway 8., Riverton A. and B. and Awai'ua also started. Invercargill went to the front with Riverton and Awarua coming fast in the veav Riverton were a potential factor m tlie race so far as second place was concerned, but their calculations were up set by tho fact that Invercargill was making good use of their opportunity when Railway A. entered upon their sprint, as the result of which they leapt into prominence and snatched victory from Invercargill by a length in the last quarter of .th 3 mile, while Awarua raced up into third place and left Riverton the fourth to finish. Maiden Double Sculls— Awarua: T. Ross (st), R. Cooper (bow) ... ... 1 Riverton: E. R. J. Stevens (st), 1.

Begley (bow) Railway 8., Invercargill and Railway A. also started.

A warn a went to the front in the early stages with Railway A. in very close ah. tendance, and when a quarter of a mile had been covered the two crews were racing side by side about half a length ahead of Railway B. Towards the finish Awarua held the lead by a couple of lengths by which they won, with Riverton second about a foot in advance of Railway. Junior Double Sculls —Railway: J. Sutherland (si), G'. Shepherd (bow) 1< Riverton: F. Baer (st), D. Frew (bow) 2 Invercargill and Awarua also started. Riverton and Invercargill had the best of the running but the race was interfered with to some extent by tire presence of motor craft on the course. After a half mile had been covered Invefcar. gill and Riverton were in a leading position with Railway second and Awafua •k-d. Railway sprinted strongly over' the last quarter of -a mile, with the resuit that they won by nearly three lengths from Riverton, with Invercargill third a length away. Senior Double Sculls—Railway A. : E. McKillop (st), R.O. Thompson (bow) 1 Railway C. : J. Sutherland (st), S. Shepherd (bow) 2 Neither Bluff nor the Railway B. crews put in an appearance, and the race was fought out between the Railway A. and C. crews, with the result that after a sh;ui’p 'encounter McKillop won by a couple of lengths. Boys’ Race (under 15) —King and Mills

won. There were only two starters and the win was an easy one. MOTOR EVENTS. Launch race (four times round buoy at Flagstaff)—R. Berndtson’s Eneka 1, H. Bc.-r’s Waituna 2, W. Stirling’s Makers 3. Row Boat Motor Race (for Erinru.de engines)—A. Provau’s Queen’s Prize 1, J. Ewan’s Nymph 2. Row Boat Motor Raco (for Evinrude engines)—J. Ewan’s Nymph 1. G. 0. Casset's Doreen 2, H. Akhurst’s Viking 3.

£ Railway 6 3 26 Riverton 1 3 9 Awarua 2 2 7 Invercargill 0 1 2