HAMILTON REGATTA.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16711, 29 January 1926, Page 5

HAMILTON REGATTA.

BIG CROWD ATTENDS WELL CONTESTED RACES.

MOLESWORTH WINS THE SCULLS

Glorious weather again favoured the Hamilton Anniversary Regalia oil the Waikafo River to-day. The Beautifying Society, which controls the banks of lire river, went lo the trouble of having the swards mown, and as the surroundings are at the present lime looking at fheir best, the scene, with the big crowd of people who attended the regatta, was one of "beauty and animation. The pogramme was a lengthy one of J 3 events, embracing all classes of rowing and sculling, and as the entries were large the function proven very successful. Competitors from the Auckland, Mercer, St. George's, W'aitemata, West End, and North Shore Rowing Club* were present, but the Wanganui and Whangarei clubs, which usually arc represented, had no members present on this occasion. The biggest entries were in the Maiden Fours, in which the Mercer and West End Clubs had each two crews pulling, while Waitcmata, Auckland, St George's and North Shore each put a four in. The next strongest class wa'j the Junior Pair Oar, for which there were seven entries. The arrangements, as usual, were good, and though there is always difficulty in getting rowing events off to time, owing to the fact that many of the competitors row in several of the races, and time is necessary for them to have a spell, yet to-day's events were got off fairly promptly. The judges were Messrs 11. Wilson, A. G. Ross, and A. C. Norden, Auckland Rowing Association representatives, all old hands at the game and their decisions were not Questioned. The umpire was Mr C. H. Holloway, and the starter Mr H. 11. Buchanan.

The local Pipe Band was in attendance and with the assistance of a number of national dancers helped to entertain the visitors during the spells between the races. '- :

Following are the results up to the lime of going to press:—

JUNIOR FOURS 1-J miles.

Hamilton (R. Cruicksbank str, G. Stewart 3, W. Kane 2, G. Morris bow) .. St. George's (P. Hammond str, W..„ Spensley 3, D. T. Hargreaves 2, S. H. Good bow) Auckland (R. Stacey str., R. Chappell 3, A. Coults 2, R. Martin bow

The race opened well, the crews keeping together for nearly a mile, when Hamilton and St. George's began to draw out, and they steadily left the remaining crews in their wake. A stiff pull followed for the last quarter of a mile between the two loading crews, but Hamilton managed to Improve on a slight lead and finished with half a length of water showing. Time, llmin 30sec. MAIDEN FOURS. 10 st; 1 mile.

Waitemata (C. G. Fcaron str, J. M. Stevenson 3, J. McAnally 2, W. McPhail bow Mercer No. 1 crew (W. J. Oliver str, A. Pitt 3, L. Allen 2, L. Parsons bow West End No. 1 (R. Snowden str, G. Dowling 3, L. McDonald 2, M.

Taylor bow) 3 Six crews entered. Waitemata shot out from the pistol and maintained their lead the whole distance. They were pressed pretty hard, however, for almost the whole course, particularly by Mercer and West End. After the'Railway Bridge had been passed the leading crew commenced to exert additional effort, and gradually widened the breach between themselves and Mercer to three lengths, with which advantage they passed the post. The race was a hard on" for all the crews, however, and all finished out under Bmin.- The winners' time was 7min 54sec.

MAIDEN' SINGLE SCULLS (OPEN). 1 Mile.

R. Cruickshanks (Hamilton) 1 J. Pogarty (West End) 1 A. Stewart (Waiternata) 3 The race was an easy one for the Hamilton man, who secured and maintained an early lead. Pulling a long, even stroke, Cruickshank increased the opening between himself and Fogarty, and had no difficulty in reaching home with ten lengths in hand. Fogarty, unaccustomed io the stream, got held' up between the two bridges, but this did not affect the result. Time, 10m 7s.

MAIDEN FOURS. s . Open. One mile. St. George's (J. Blakey str, S. Soloman 3, Schrafft 2, C. D'Antheran bow) 1 Waiternata (C. G, Fearon str, J. M. Stevenson 3, C. T. Keegan 2, T. I. Impey bow) 2 Hamilton (A. Patterson str, A. Aplin 3, R.-dlill 2, P. Edwards bow) 3

This was the most exciting race. up to this time. There were four entries, Mercer No. 1 being the last crew. The start -was a good one, and all the competitors were eager to secure a maiden ■victory. They pulled level for a quarter of a mile, when the Mercer team began to fall behind. Hamilton at the Traffic Bridge had nearly a length lead. Then ensued a great race for the remainder of the distance. ~St. George’s got well under the far bank, while Waitcmata forced Hamilton close into the near bank, and it was difficult for the onlookers to discern who was in the lead. As Hie post was approached St. George’s pdt more weight into their work, and gained a little, while Waitcmata had Hamilton still jambed into the bank, and . the ciews were mixing thqir oars right until the pistol sounded. St. George’s were given the decision by half a length, a canvas only separating second and third. The lime was 7min 45 see. JUNIOR FOURS (OPEN). 14 Miles. Hamilton (E. Tasker str., F. C. Corlett 3, S. Gave 2, E. A. Waters bow) 1 St. George’s (K. D. Page str,, W. 11. Woolhouse 3, V. Hargreaves 2, F. Hammond bow) 2 North Shore (D. Davies str., J. Laing 3, R. Oiiphant 2, W. Dean bow) . . . ~ • ■ • There were live entries, and the race proved a very easy one for the Hamilton crew, who, despite the fact tha l ' they were left at the start, took charge of the course early ,and never fell back, winning by ten lengths on an easy stroke. St. George’s pulled across the Waitcmata front. From the bridge onwards the race was a walk-over for Hamilton. St. George’s and North Shore, however, had a good go for second place. Time 11m. 30s. SENIOR SINGLE SCULLS. G. D. MolesvVorth (Hamilton) 1

W. A. Stevenson (Waiternata) 2 D. Smith (Waiternata) 3 There were only three entries, St.Clair (Hamilton) and S: Davis (North Shore) withdrawing. The race was a hard fought one, Moleswort-h finally getting slightly in advance after passinig the traffic bridge, never once letcontinued at foot of nest column.)

ting go his advantage, although he was seriously challenged by Stevenson. The race finished with Molesworth leading by a length, and Smith not very far behind. Time, 7m. 465.