AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 793, 18 May 1905, Page 12

AQUATICS.

(By *

"The Reefer.")

..Writing of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, the Licensed V ictuallers’ Gazette of April 7 says that the sporting surprise of last Saturday, the absolute eye-opener of the day, was the absurdly easy manner in which Oxford ran away from the Cambridge crew from Putney to Mortlake. It wasn't so much the fact that the Dark Blues were triumphant that made people stare as that anybody, especially those wise, watchful men of vast experience who report the “ form” of the rival crews at practice, should have suspected the Cambridge eight of being able to hold their own for a dozen yards. We were told it was an open affair ; that there wasn’t a pin to choose between the pair; that it would probably be the closest finish that ever baffled the optics of good-man judge. The betting was a shade in favour of Cambridge when the flag fel, and two minutes later it was "Marble Arch to a “ glassy” on Oxford. The Light Blues settled down to chase their opponents, and they kept up the pursuit doggedly for four and a-half miles; but they neither looked nor rowed like a winning crew. The judge said the winners had three lengths the better of it at the finish, but it is probable that Oxford could have won by any distance they liked.,The crew pulled up fresh as naint, and replied to the cheers that greeted their achievement with beaming, number six smiles and much waving of the hands. The Cambridge men, on the contrary, had had quite as much exercise as they required for one day. They were done to a turn, some of them hanging, dead beat, over their oars and threatening to tumble out of the boat. However, they recovered during the day, and the crowded audince at the Alhambra in the evening would have been hard put to it to decide, by an inspection of their faces, which were the victors and which the vanquished among the rivals who enjoyed the hospitality of the management.

Once again has Victoria won the eightoar inter-State championship. The race was rowed from Hyde Wharf to Searle s Monument, on the Parramatta Rivei, Sydney, on Saturday, all the six States being represented, which is a record. The race virtually rested between Victoria and Tasmania, the latter making a surprising good showing. They got going very quickly, Beauchamp setting a quick, short stroke. They led for a mile, when the nice even swing of the Victorians commenced to tell its tale, Donaid’s men gradually going to the front. The Tasmanians were by no means done with, but stuck to their opponents all the way. A quarter of a mile from home Beauchamp called on his men for a last effort, to which they gamely responded, but the dark blues, also quickening up, won by a length in IGmin. 24sec., a record for the course. New South Wales was a very bad third a dozen lengths away, with West Australia almost level with them. C. Tulloch, AV. Heath, H. Rowe, AV. Wright, H. G. Whitting, C. Donald, A. Chamley, J. Donald (stroke), and J. M. Macfarlane (cox.), comprised the winning crew. Writing of them prior to the race, “ Rex” says in the “ Referee” that theirs is a magnificent combination. It is a treat to witness the crew at work. Time, swing, hit, and leg drive appear perfect, and the boat runs with a beautiful rise as the weight of each stroke is applied. She is lifted bv the oars until she seems to skim the water, and shoots on. There is no fatal rush forward of the crew in this boat to check the run. It will be a grand crew indeed who can wrest A ictoria’s laurels from her present representatives.

The Tasmanian crew, which put up such a gallant fight, did not altogether please the critics in their training. Of them the “ Sydney Mail” said that Tasmania has a peculiar style, not much length, very little in the first part, but a furious lug at the finish, with a smait bounding away of the hands, and a steady recovery until reaching for the catch. The rowing is very different to that of any of the other crews. Stroke has little or no swing, and trusts to his arms, which bend too soon. There is also a pace-destroying hand. Apparently the writer was a good deal astray in his estimate.

As was very generally expected, the two Tasmanian scullers, Bonrke and Evans, were too good for the opposition in the Snigle Sculls Championship, the former winning by six lengths in 20min. 3:{sec. Ivens, of Victoria, was third.

Barney Kieran, Australia’s champion swimmer and world’s record-holder, left for England by the R.M.s. Oratava, in company with his friend, Mr. AV. H. Mitchell, who will act as adviser and trainer to the lad during his stay in England. The N.S.W. Amateur Swimming Association decided that Kieran shall compete at the two meetings of the

Royal Life-Savng Society (which body pays half his expenses), and in all the English amateur championships. It has been left to Messrs. Mitchell and AV. Henry (hon. secretary of the Royal LifeSaving Society) to say what other events (if any) Kieran may contest.

A long tow has recently been accomplished by the A.U.S.N. steamer. Warrego. She picked up the disabled steamer Pilbarra off Fele, and towed her into Suva, and from there on to Brisbane, a total of 2200 miles. For the most part of the way the weather was fine, but towards the close it became impossible to see the disabled steamer, which was 140 fathoms behind the Warrego.

With the completion of a number of orders, work at the various building yards has slackened off considerably. A fair number of motor 1 aunches are in hand, however, and no doubt matters will soon take a spurt again.