AUSTRALASIAN FOURS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 759, 7 March 1910, Page 4

AUSTRALASIAN FOURS.

SUCCESS OF THE NEW ZEALANDERB. RACE DESCRIBED. Among .the passengers by .the s.s. Moeraki last week wore Hegglun Bros., who formed two of the Blenheim creii,' which gained second placo in tho Australasian champion, club "fours," hold on tho Derw-nt River, . Tasmania recently. Tho remaining. members of the crew, together with the Wanganui crew, which-won the contest, will probably return this week. Upon their arrival in Wellington they will be entertained by the New-Zealand Rowing Association. In its report of the contest, the "Daily Post"-(Hobart) states:—

"It was uniquo by reason of the fact that riot for over.a quarter of,a century have crews representative of tile various States competed against one another for a four-oared championship. .The first raco was held on the Denvent, and from all accounts uas close and exciting, but it is doubtful if it was as fine a race as yesterday's. There can be no doubt that'the contest, which is now tho talk of the city -and by this time of the mainland and iW Zealand capitals-will live for many years in the memory of all who saw it. Over (he final mile the struggle between Hir«! crews for second position was magni-fic-fnt. It may be thought that because one crew was able to assume a lead when loss than halt tho distance had been covered and keep it to the finish, the victory was a runaway one. Nothing of the sort, rho winners, although a comfortable distance ahead, were never once able to relax their efforts. Their pursuers were attacking with grim persistence during the w.hole ot tho race, and the slightest misdisaster Vauganui ' s 'P" rt might'have spell _ "After a couple of minutes' mano'euvrin" the starter got the seven bows level, anci as the: pistol shot rang. out. twenty-eight blades struck the water, in unison. There was no advantage -to any one boat, aud it was one of the most even starts for such a neld ever seen on the Dsrwent. Tho rate oi striking for the first, minute was as r , J! : -ir aSambi - e -1S ' DCTW ent-4G, Wide Baj 48, AVanganui 18, Blenheim 42, Sandy Bay ill, .and■ Adelaide 46. . For a huuaretl yards there was no appreciable advantagfl . crew, , but- at last Nagambio, Derwent, and Wanganui broico the line, .with Wide BafZl -Sandy Bay m close' attendance, and iilenheini and Adelaide University to--gl s i l '" i ~J ust hcre the b ? ceze freshened slightly, but caused no inconvonienco to the crews.,. At the :first bend a quarter of. a, mile from' tho ' start Wide Bay made ,a .: groat■ forward move, and pulled., up. to Wauganui the pair then showing the way to Nagambie and. Derwent, who were just anead ot Blenheim, while Sandy Bay and Adelaide wore together at the •n ar " ■>. •"° Qucenslander's spurt- was ill-sustained,, however, and after another quarter of a milo had been covcrea Wanganui had as.?umed tho lead and.were lialf a length ahead of iN'agambie. Blenheim moved up to Wids Bay and were • slightly ahead of Dorwent;, and at the .mile the order was ;Wangauui, Nagambie, Blenheim,' Wide Bay and Derwent together, and Sandy Bay just , ahead of Adelaide. A'length separated , the first and second crews, while there were: two lengths bohveen the ■jiext closest-boats.' Prom this point the New Zealand ■ champions were • n ? ve j : h l aded - ' Gradually they moved ahead, then' splendidly timed work at-' tracting-overyoiie's'-attention.-and it Was' apparent that-, their :-b'oat-*wa ; s nia'iitaiiiing its way - i'rom^catch•'- to ■ rccover| :: Nagambie wero'joined-'by-Blenheim, and' a struggle ensued' between ; those crews,' sheer strength on one side competing with loss-, strength but more science on the other. But tho- iDef wenters started • out to have a say in'this contest, and,-mow-ing finely toget-herJ-'-the -Hbbarlonians iet-' out after tho'leaaSrs! Having'a Icngtli and a half of-water to make up. At the-mile and a quarter the leading 'cuvisiqn contained Wabgamii; Nagamljie, Blenheim, and Derw.ont in that. ...order, but Hearing tho half distance , . . Blenheim : displaced Nagambie, and Derwent also moved up to the Victorians. When tho milo and a-half had been thrown behind Wanganui lind further improved' their position to four lengths from Nagambie, who "had again passed Blenheim and the leadersvivero rowing with liiachinelike precision, covering a greatamount of water: Derwent; after a great fight,' had closed- lip .- bii ■ Blenheim and a short'-distance further on wentpast .'the New; Zealanders-and drow up' on, Nagambie Attention now centred round. th« fight between these four crews,. Wide. Bay, Sandy Bay and Adelaide being quite forgotten. Approaching, the turn into the last mile, Waaiganui, who were now , hailed by everybody''as the victors, were three lengths irom Nagambie. For a while it looked as though the latter would, have to yield placo to Derwent, for the wearers of the Maltese cross were putting up a desperate fight, and had crept up to. the Victorians rudder.. Then Was-witnessed a ding-dong struggle, first one boat assuming the lead and then the other, while Blenheim were sticking to tho pair like grim death. .Entering tho last mile it could be seen that barring accidents Wanganui were certain winners, and it was also.-apparent-that the struggle had told on Dorwont, who with the - finish in sight, Nagambie and after a brief tussle. with Blenheim, wont under.to them-also. A last spurt on the part of the Derwenters carried them up to Blenheim :again, but the effort wastheir last, and Blenheim, rowirigwith. wonderful; power, went away iii chase "of Nagambie. Tho persistency of the second New Zealand crew had its reward, forwith the finish .in sight, Nagambie dropped back to third place, and thus the crews rowed to. the finish. The judgo was passed- with tho crews in tho following order:—Wanganui, three lengths ahead of Blenheim, Nagambie, half a length 1 away, third, lind Derwent two lengths bac'k\ fourth. Wide Bay was,fifth, Sandny Bay sixth, and Adelaido University last. Time, 20min. 42 3-ssec.