AQUATIOS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 455, 13 April 1899, Page 7

AQUATIOS

[By

Muritai.]

On Saturday afternoon last the West End Bowing Club held its fifth trial fours of the season, and with the exception of the water being a bit lumpy the affair was one of the most successful ever held by this popular club. The weather was gloriously fine, and about 700 friends took advantage of the club’s invitation. A competent committee carried out the arrangements, which included a liberal supply of light refreshments to the visitors. The racing was very interesting, eighteen crews competing. There were three races of six crews each, the winners of each heat receiving a prize. The three crews left in then competed for the first, second, and third prizes, presented respectively by Mr M. McLean (president), Mr C. J. Farr and Mr J. A. Cooper (vicepresidents). Crews stroked by Messrs Fricker, White, Hewson, Hickson, Hodges, and Richmond went out for the first heat. Mr J. Clarke got the six boats away to a splendid start, and after a ding-dong race Hewson’s crew, with a splendid spurt when only a few lengths fro a home, won by half a length from Hickson's, Richmond’s being third. The crews for the second heat were stroked by Messrs Conway, Oswald, Cook, A. Stephenson, Holland, and Boyce. Ihere was considerable delay at the start of this event, some of the crews trying to get the best of it, and it would be as well—for the benefiit of spectators and those competitors who wish for a fair start — if the club could see its way to give the starter power to either fine the anxious ones or disqualify them for the race’ The boats eventually went away to a fairly good start, Conway’s crew winning by three-quarters of a length from Oswald’s, Cook’s third. The chances of Holland’s and A. Stephenson’s crews were spoilt by a bad foul. Crews stroked by Messrs Littleproud, Lowden, G. O. Stephenson, E. C. Stephenson, Rylance, and Rees started in the third heat, and Rees’s crew easily beat Dowden’s, G. O. Stephei son s being third. An hour’s interval was given before the final was rowed, and during this time the trophies won at previous trial fours were presented. The three crews left in the final were : —-Messrs Hews;n (stroke), Matthews, E. Mason, E. Dowden, and H. Stein (cox) ; Mtssrs Conway (stroke), f. Maxwell, A. Miller, L. Shepherd, and S. Clark (cox) ; Messrs Rees (stroke), Carrigan, Bach, Gittos, and VI eston (cox). From a good start the crews were pretty level until hallway; when Conway’s crew drew away and looked like winning, but about fifty yai ds from home Hewson’s crew put in a splendi 1 spurt, which they sustained to the finish, and won by three-quarters of a length amid loud and well-earned applause, Rees’s crew pulling, up. The North Shore Rowing Club also held trial fours on Saturday at Brick Bay, and so far as rowing was concerned the competitors were better favored than their West End brethren, the

water on the northern shore being quite smooth. This club has gone ahead wonderfully during the season, and looks like regaining its old-time prestige. This is due in a great measure to the help and interest given by the ladies ; and their help is very practical, for they not only row in some of the races, but they give a good share of the trophies. Take, for instance, last Saturday’s trials : the valuable gold scarf pins, with the initials of the club engraved therein, were given by ladies of the Shore, who also took part in ladies’ trials; and Miss Doris Townshend took the place of a boy coxswain and steered an outrigger to victory in a heat and the final, afterwards steering the winning boat in the ladies’ pair-oar. Notwithstanding the great counter attraction of the balloon ascent, there was a good crowd present. The first heat was won by G. Cardno’s crew, J. Sullivan’s being second. In the second heat W. Pitt’s crew beat W. Swinnerton’s. The third heat was won by J. Cardno’s crew, who beat F. Burgess’s. This left three for the final, which was won by J. Cardno’s crew, George Cardno’s being second, and W. Pitt’s third. The winners were—J. Cardno (stroke), H. Mann, P. Walsh, P. Wood. The final of the ladies’ pair-oar resulted : — Misses Townshend and Jenkins beat Misses Brown and Johnson.

The Auckland Rowing Club held trial fours on Saturday for trophies presented by Dr Baker. The final was a grand struggle between crews stroked by J. Whelan and A. Dacre, the former winning by two lengths. The winning team comprised —J. Whelan (stroke), H. E. Brown, J. Chisholm, and W. Grey.