PICTON REGATTA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 2

PICTON REGATTA.

. MARLBOROUGH MEN DO WELL. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Picton, January 2. Regatta day at Picton broke very inauspiciously. Tho day -.previous (New Year's Day proper) taw all the crews out putting the, iinal preparations on their training operations, on good water, but during tho night a hard nor'-westerly made its boisterous presence felt. Tho morning came in with showers of rain, and squalls that threatened to make a postponement necessary. The town gradually filloil up with crowds of disconsolate picnickers from Blenheim and the-Somuls, and most of the morning was spent iu alternately watching tho water on the course and bolting for shelter froth tho showers. The first race, tho Slaiden Pours, was timed for 11. a.m., but tho water, was then so bad that the executivo postponed tho event until noon.' At this time there was no improvement, and further postponements until 1 o'clock, and finally 2 o'clock, wcro ordered. By then tho iobble had moderated considerably, but the rain- was falling steadily, and a start was mado with'the programme, and . the seven maiden crews were sent to the post. MAIDEN FOURS.. -One mile; first prize .£B, second, £2. . Picton R.C.: J. Tims (stroke), R. Neill (S), L. Godfrey (2), W. Godfrey (bow) ' ......v 1 Star 8.C.: F. Alexander (stroke), F. G. Craig (3), K. C. Akers (2), \F. Abercrombie (bow) 2 Time, Gmin.:lssec. Seven crews started.. Picton and Star showed un early, aiid at halfway were .comfortably ahead of the field. In tho final quarter-mile Picton took the shelter of tho hill, and got away in the calmer, water, eventually winning by two lengths from Star, witfi Wairau three lengths away third. • , SENIOR FOURS. Picton; F. Burns (stroke), E. Kenny , (3), F. Scott (2), D. Godfrey (bow), ' H. Fredericks (cox) 1 Blenheim; R. Andrews (stroke),' A. Jackson (3), E. T. Hegglun (2), C. • Hegglun. (bow) 2 Time, 12min. Usee. - ... This event, the blue riband race of the day, provided ono of the biggest surprises seen in senior regatta rowing for. years. Tho Blenheim crew, consisting of. three members of the combination that rowed second to tho Wanganui Union crew = iir the Australasiau'championship in Hobar.t last Fcbrnarj', was opposed to a young i'icton combination, stroked by F;- Burns, stroke of the club's youths' crew, and consisting of another member of , the: youths' crew and two junior. oars. ■ In practice rowing the form displayed "ave no room for doubt that the. veteran black and white combination would romp home. Even tho most enthusiastic Pictonite admitted this.

. At tho guufiro Blenheim took the water, which was not at all good for best and best rowing, and' struck trouble immediately. By far the heavier, crew, they forced their boat through two or.three • waves in succession, and took a good deal aboard. Picton.meanwhile started off at, a lively 40 per minute, and by good boat-' manship so'on established a- big lead. Blenheim floundered hopelessly in the first quarter-mile, and shipped so much water that their after convpartinent filled, and the race was practically over. I'icton' settled down to a steady 35 per minute, with an occasional quickening up to <10 per minute, and simply romped, home, in the excellent time of 12min. Usee., Blenheim., arriving, nearly swamped,. 50- seconds later. I'icton's performance was an excellent one,, but in justice to :Blenheim it may be said (hey were favoured by the' conditions, the following wind and jobble suiting their short, lively stroke admirably. Nevertheless, by virtue of superior' boatmanship, and sheer sameness, the Pic-t-Qii crew thoroughly deserved- tho enthusiastic .rccoption-nccorded it, in defeating such a formidable combination. ■ MAIDEN PAIRS. One mile. . First prize second £2, Star B.C.—F. Alexander (stroke),. F. Abercrombie (bow), 1 i Wairau R.C.—C. Adam's (stroke), T. Gill (bow), 2. A.good rac.3 for threc ; quarters of a mile. -Hero Star, rowing well together, shot oiit' and wen by a length and a half, Wairau beating Picton by two feet for second place. JUNIOR PAIRS. . One mile. ■ First prize. JCG, second ,£2. ' Picton R.C.—l\ Norton (stroke), F. Bush (bow),, 1; .Star—C. H. Lawrence (stroke),' M. A. Turner (bow), 2. The only starters. Immediately prior to the start ■it was discovered that tlio Star boat was damaged, and tho Blenheim boat -was used., Picton";took. the,lead, early,, and won by three lengths,.'theStar :men being handicapped, by the 'strange boat. • 1 . ' .'.' 7 .