PINE ISLAND REGATTA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 73, 17 December 1891, Page 2

PINE ISLAND REGATTA.

The regatta was rendered little less than a fiasco by the unsatisfactory and apparently haphazard manner in which the starting and finishing posts were laid off. The course itself was left altogether undefined, except when the umpire gave a specific direction, as he did in some pases to row between the beacon off Hellyer’s Creek and the Hellyer’s Wharf. The current runs hard up this side of the r j ver » causing whirlpools and eddies, which entirely takes the way off' the boats, and strikes Pine Island, doubling back and ebbing hard down the western shore. A notable example pf the unfairness of the course was afforded in the Maiden under lost, The West End crew had the western station, and in the first dozen strokes No. 2 broke the blade short off his oar. The boat, being stroked on starboard side, was of course pulled round into the ebb, and in spite of rowing only three oars, swept rapidly away from the other, competitors an impossible feat under equal conditions I—who were struggling hard against a four-knot stream. The Ponsonbv crew saw the advantage the West End had' gained, and followed them into the favourable water. These crews distanced those rivals who rowed the course prescribed by the umpire. Maiden Whaleboats.—Waitemata, 1 ; City, 2. Hollow race. Waitemata had the pace and endurance, and took the lead as soon as they wanted it, and won by as much as they liked. This was a fearful exhibition of every fault imaginable, not even time being kept. Maiden under lost.—West End, 1 ; Ponsonby, 2 (these crews finished outside the marks); George’s, 3. Winning crew won with three oars. The race was shorn of all interest from reasons set out above. The winning crew, although they rowed fairly well together, lacked dash, and contented themselves with using the slides only, without any body work. Ponsonby rowed gamely, with a very fast stroke, but the sliding was very faulty. St. George’s exhibited best “ form,” rowing a clean stroke (with exception of stroke, who finished in the air), with plenty of swing. Stroke appeared to be out of condition and unable to set his men enough work. North Shore crew rowed well together and made a very creditable show. They lost several strokes through being pressed by other boats. h Junior-Senior.— Ponsonby, 1 ; Waitemata, 2. The latter was quite out-classed —the winning crew, really a first-class lot, rowing well together. No. 3 and stroke were originally in the crew selected to compete in the Championship. From the start the result could not be doubted, and the race was practically won at first?half mile. - Champion Gigs, two miles. — Auckland, 1 (finished outside the marks); Waitemata, 2 ; St. George’s, 3. This race was spoiled altogether by the bungling way the course was laid out. To begin with, the distance was barely .one and a half miles (instead of two), a fact which told very materially against St. George’s, who relied to a very large degree upon form to pull them through. The boats at the finish were spread over an expanse of water about one and a half miles wide, and the angle at which the posts were fixed gave a considerable advantage to the westernmost boat, the Auckland more especially, as it finished considerably wide of the mark. An examination

of the course showed that the boat that first passed the line of finish had rowed a considerably shorter distance than the Waitemata and St. George’s, and the popular opinion is that Waitemata had won as fairly as ever crew could win. The start was very tedious, the boats being at the post a considerable time before being got off. Waitemata apparently having the best, of it. They went off with their usual dash, rowing at 44, Auckland about the same, St. George’s 40. The first named drew away at once, and very soon left St. George’s, who were, between them and Auckland, a length behind. At the half mile, bow side of Auckland boat seemed to get the better of stroke side, the boat being driven to the west side of the river, followed by West End —Citv and Poverty Bay dropping behind from the jump. Meanwhile Waitemata and St. George’s were fighting out a duel in mid-stream. Waitemata rowed in much better form than ever before displayed by them. Their stroke at thieequarter mile was a little over 40, St. George s 34. At the mile Waitemata had increased their lead to two lengths, when St. George’s quickened slightly, and abreast of the Hellyer s Wharf made a gallant effort, succeeding in reaching the leaders’ rudder. From here out it was a ding-dong race, each crew alternately making a slight advantage, Waitemata’s stroke quickening up to 44 and St. George’s about 38. The finish was reached in Bmin. 37secs. —conclusive proof of the shortness of the course. In the last quarter mile bow of Waitemata boat appeared a good deal distressed, looking out of the boat and rolling. No. 3 rowed a splendid race, responding to every spurt set by stroke. Jervis, the stroke of St. George’s, rowed a splendid race with great dash, and had he been better supported by No. 2 the result would have been closer. The latter spoiled his crew by looking at his oar for almost the whole of the last half mile; he was also catching late and rolling. Bow and No. 3 rowed very game and hard, and were too strong for the other side. The Auckland and West End were so far away that the details of their rowing were not properly seen. The Auckland crew was not rowing together, and every man used just as much of his slide as he pleased. The effect was that each oar formed a different angle to the line of progression. Bow has a shocking habit of rowing with a kink in his inside arm. No. 2 did riot appear strong enough for the rest of the crew. No. 3is a tower of strength, but wants coaching. He does not put enough body work into his stroke, nor does he swing straight. Stroke rows very game, but his sliding is defective; the whole-crew double over the oars and rush the slides. It will be interesting to see the various crews compete again—we hope in January, at the Anniversary Regatta.

■Maiden Gigs.—St. George’s, 1 ; Ponsonby, 2 ; Waitemata, 3. This race was St. George’s from the start; their form was good, and they had any amount of strength. Their stroke was very slow, not more than 3°Senior under lost. —City, 1 ; West End, 2. City won after the first three-quarter mile, rowing well together and losing West End. Junior Gigs.—Three started. Ponsonby, who had previously won the Junior-Senior race, won by a length from St. George’s, North Shore third. The race was a level one up to the first mile, when Ponsonby drew away, rowing well and strong. No. 3 in St. George’s lasted grandly, and rowed a strong oar at the finish.

Senior Whaleboats.—Three started, Poverty Bay being scratched. This was the best race of the day. North Shore got away with a half length lead, Waitemata and West End level for the first half mile, when Waitemata spurted up to the North Shore, and the two boats were locked for nearly half a mile. Waitemata drew away and North Shore again drew up ; a dingdong race resulted in Waitemata winning by three-quarters of a length, West End a length behind North Shore.

Junior Gigs, under lost., miles.—A pretty race, the three starters being abreast for threequarters of a mile, when North Shore and St. George’s left City. At one mile St. George’s stroke showed signs of distress and North Shore got a length away. After passing Hellyer’s Creek, Gordon, recovering a bit. made a plucky effort and got almost on level terms with the Shore, who spurted in response, and

won by three quarters of a length. City struck . the beacon and capsized. > . . ■ In the Sculling Race there, was practically ; only one man, Keefe rowing powerfully and winning as he liked.