AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 988, 11 February 1909, Page 10

AQUATICS.

The Hamilton regatta on Saturday proved very successful, the weather being fine, the attendance large, and the sport interesting.

The following is a list of events open to competitors in connection with the forthcoming carnival of the Auckland centre New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, to be held on March 6:—Novice handicap, 50yds; hand’caps, 50yds, 100yds, and 440yds; relay race (open to factories, athletic clubs, trades, etc.); school boys’ relay race; school boys’ race, under 14 years, 25yds; boys’ race under 17 years, 50vds; championship of Auckland, breast stroke. 200vds; secondary schools’ relay race; novelty and other events. Entries close on Saturday, February .27.

The Manukau Yacht Club will sail a race for the champion cup next Saturday, the entries being Heather, Anahera. Manola, Doreen and Clematis.

The auxiliary fishing cutter Laurina was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday evening. The six men on board were safely rescued by the ferry steamer Condor and a passing

yacht, but no steps appear to have been taken to beach the cutter, which might easily have been done, as she burned for two hours before sinking.

The power yacht Karoro left on Saturday for a fortnight’s cruise to the North, during which the caves on the Poor Knights will be explored if weather permits.

Ngatira is cruising at the Rawhiti, Bay of Islands. She met with a heavy roli on her passage North, and called at Kawau en route.

Ariki is away on a long cruise to the Bay of Plenty, and will probably put in at Gisborne.

William Webb, ex-champion sculler of the world, is at present in Dunedin undergoing electrical treatment by Mr. Booth for rheumatics in the arm, which he was reported to have been suffering from when he rowed Arnst. The question of another match with the present champion has been talked of, but it is understood that Webb prefers to say nothing on that point in the meantime, as he intends to train Whelch on the 'Wanganui River for his match with Fogwell, and hopes by Easter-time to know how he feels.

The inter-State challenge race for the Sayonara Cup was decided in three heats in Melbourne during the week. The challenging Sydney yacht was the Thelma, a twenty-year-old boat designed and built by Walter Reeks, the well-known Sydney designer, while the Cup was again defended by the much more modern Fife designed Sayonara. Although beaten. The old. straight-stemmer made a surprisingly good showing, as she won the first heat in a fresh breeze by less than a minute, lost the second in rgh 1 n gather by nine minutes, and the third in a fair breeze by a minute.

The cruising race on the programme of the Roval N.Z. Yacht Squadron did not prove very successful- Only Thelma (scratch), Rawer: o (23m.), and Aorere (30m.) started and Thelma won by smin. 3sec. from Rawene, winch just beat Aorere by 22sec. for second place. The course was to Mafia‘ia.

The Sydney 18-footer Australian won the championship of Australia on the Swan River, Perth, and her crew received a tremendous ovation from the huge crowds which I’ned the bank and followed the race.

The Westralian 14ft Elma won the inter-State championship in Sydney, beating the cracks of Port Jackson comfortably.

Mvra (N.S.W.) won the 10ft championship of Australia from Irene (Q ), Commonwealth (Q.), and ten others. Owing to mishans and capsizes but five completed the course.