CHAMPION REGATTA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1062, 27 February 1911, Page 6

CHAMPION REGATTA.

INTERESTING CONTESTS. BLENHEIM WINS THE CHAMPION FOURS. THE RACING REVIEWED. [By Tclozraph.—Press Association.! Wanganui, February 25. The New Zealand "Championship Regatta was held on the Wanganui "River this afternoon. The water was in an ideal state, but the weather spoiled the regatta from a spectacular point ct' view, rain falling most of the time. This was very unfortunate, as glorious weather had been experienced for practically several weeks. Some fine racing was witnessed, and tho prize money was well distributed. The following are-the results:— MAIDEN FOURS. One mile. First Prize, £10; second, £1. ■ Canterbury Rowing Club ; 1 Wanganui Union Boating Club 2 Wairau Rowing Club 3 Also started: Star 8.C., Wanganui E.G., Aramoho 8.C., and Wanganui Onion B.C. The crews were sent away on splendid terms.' Canterbury, rowing'strongly.soon drew ahead, closely pursued by Union (Diamond's crew), wlth< Waira'u . nest. Canterbury at the bridge had over a length's advantage from Union, Wanganui and tho other local Union crew being in the rear. Canterbury lost some of their lead by sweeping out rather wide, and Union No. 2 gradually closed up, but. tho southerners were not to be denied,- and finished at a strong pace.- They s won fairly comfortably by" some two lengths, Union and Wairau lighting out a great finish for second place. Aramoho was close up fourth. Time, smin. lGscc. CHAMPION FOURS. Two miles. First prize, £50; second, .ClO. Blenheim Rowing Club (R. Andrews, stroke, A. Jackson 3, E. T., Hegglun 2, C. Hegglun bow; G. Lucas . cox) .-. 1 Christchurch Union Rowing Club (E. O'Brien stroke, F. Fry 3, W. Duggan • 2,. H. R. Mansfield bow, J. Bradley cox), „.;......„..... 2 Wanganui Union Boating Club (J. Cotterill stroke, E. Rylands 3. W. . Dustin 3, D. Corby bow, H. Henley cox) :..;:....;....-...' 3

Also started: ' Aramolio and Picton. The race was rowed in heavy rainV After a. falso start through Wanganui Union's eagerness, the five crews got away togel;ber, Blenheim striking 41 (Wanganui Union 40, and Canterbury 39). The crews kept well together, "thenr being -very little between thein at the end of the first quarter of a mile,' with the. exception that Aramolio was falling behind. From here Blenheim,.having the sheltered position, gradually began to forge ahead, followed by Giristchurch Union and. the local Union. At the mile Blenheim appeared to bo fully a length ahead, with Christchurch nearly, clear of tho Union, and Picton nearly abreast. The first three mentioned crews were rowing well, and the pace was terrific. At the bridge Blenheim were well clear of the other crews and were Towing 36 to the minute. Christ-church-'Union were just ahead of the local Blues. Blenheim maintained the advantage to the 'finish? tho two Union crews making a great effort oyer the last quarter of a mile, and closing on the leaders, who, however, passed the post a clear two:lengths to the good. Christchurch was a quarter of a length ahead of the local Union, and Picton, a couple of lengliis away, fourth. Aramoho stopped at the bridge. Time, 10min.'48scc.'

MAIDEN.SCULLS. One mile. First prize,. £1; second, £1. .. Wanganui Union' IJ. Scanhell) 1 Aramoho B.C. (Peter Thompson) 2 Clifton E.O. (P. Clare) ....7. 3 Also started: Star B.C. (J. Bennett) and Wanganui Bowing (C..K P..Day).,. Scannell, though steering eratically, led practically from .the ...start, ...and won by half ia:'lo;igt-bJ-.'iGlat&;WflSf.<sloso up!,third. Time, 6min lOJscc. , . 'JUNIOR FOUBS'. One mile and.a half. I First .prise, .£10; second prize, £2. : Canterbury B.C. ...:...:...... ..:... 1 Union E.C. (Christcbnrch) .:.- 2 Also started: Star 8.C., Union . B.C. (Wanganui), Aramoho 8.C., Warran 8.C., and 'Wanganui B.C. '.'■' ' Prom a good start Canterbury were first to show in front, Picton and the local Unions being next. Passing the. bridge, Canterbury still led, with Wanganui Unions and Picton dead level a. length behind. The Wanganui Union then lost their • position, and Christchurch Unions went up. A quarter of a mile from, home Picton drew up to Canterbury, but spoiled their chances by going outside the buoy. Christchurch Unions almost .did likewise, but altered their course just in time. Canterbury won by a . length from Picton, who, however, were disqualified. Time, Bmin.'2osec.' ' ' ,' " ' CHAMPION SCULLS. One mile and a half. First prize, £10; second. .£2. St. George's (Auckland) E.C. (C. E. Stone) ...:..... 1 Wanganui E.C. (G. Marshall) 2 Wanganui E.C. (A. S. C. Anderson) ... 3 Jackson did.not go to the post, having eigit contestants. ■ . / From a capital start, Anderson and . Stone jumped off well, tho former quickly drawing away, while Marshall ./was chopped, and took tho inside position. Stono continued to hold the lead, though after going half a mile Marshall began to close up, • and "at the bridge there was only half a length between them. Westray, who was third, went into a cylinder and lost his chance. Marshall made a big effort from this point, but could not catch Stone, who won by two lengths from Marshall.. Anderson was seven lengths away third, and just'ahead of Wcstry. Tiino.Smin. dSsec.

YOUTHS' FOOTS. One milo. First prize, £7; second, .£2. Wanganui R.C. ... ~ 1 Union B.C. (Wanganui) 2 Ticton R.C. ~ 3 'Also started: Aramoho. The crows remained practically in line for threa .hundred' yards, when the Union's crew: drew ahead and passed, under the bridge half a length ahead of Aramoho, with. Wanganui close up, and Picton a length and a half away last. Half a mile'from home Wanganui passed Aramoho, and challenged Union, drawing even with them at a quarter of a. inile. An exciting finish resulted in Wanganui winning by a length, Aramoho being half a length away, and the third a couple of lengths further back. Time, smin. Usee. CHAMPION PAIRS. One milo and .a . ' half. First prize, <£12; and second prize, .£3. Union E.G. ' (Christchurch) 1 Union B.C .' „ .'.: 2 Picton R.C i .'.....- :... 3 This was a good race spoiled by the steering. The AVanganui and Christchurch Unions set off at p. great pace, but steered badly. Picton, who were iu the lee of the bank, pulled steadily, and when the'bridge was reached had headed Christchurch Union by half a length, Wanganui Unions being two lengths behind. Christchurch X'nion then bettered their position, and half a milo from home were level with Picton, who ran outsido the buoy. Wanganui Unions also fouled the buoy, but going on were awarded second place. The Picton crew is deserving of sympathy, as they rowed a fino race. Time, 9min. S 2-ssec. JUNIOR FOURS (Best and Best) One mile and a half.. First prize, .£l2; second, £2. Star B.C .1 Union R.C. (Christchurch) 2 From a good start Stars soon went to tho front, and steering a beautiful course were never pushed, winning easily by fr.roe lengths. • Wanganui died away at the bridge, but • Christchurch Unions, Picton, Aramoho, and Wanganui Unions made a splendid race, a couple of lengths covering them at any part .of tho ' race. Time, 9min. ssec. CHAMPION DOUBLE SCULLS. Union 8.C., Wanganui (H. Sharps * and J. Carrow) .:. ! Union R.C, Christchurch (J. Frv and E. O'Brien) ......".....:.. 2 Akaroa B.C. (F. Wcstenra and B. w! Hcnning) ... .;.(.. 3 Also started: Wanganui R.C. Wanganui set off at a big rate, followed tay Union. At the mile ■■ Wanganui Un-

ions had a slight load, Christchurch "Un-. ions beipg a length and a half away,.odd Akaroa a length Behind fourth. Tho same order was maintained -to -the bridge, where tho Unions wl.o steered badlv, had half a length's advantage,- Christchurch Unions and Akaroa being two and four lengths away respectively. Unions went on with a splendid stroke, and gradually increased the lead till a couple of hundred yards from lioine, where Anderson. (Wanganui stroke) collapsed- . Christ-. church Unions followed i|.o Wanganui" Unions, who won by four lengths. Time, Omin. 52sec " SENIOR FOURS. One mile and a quar-r ter. First prize, £15; second, £5. . Union .B.C. .(Wanganui) .............. f Picton E.C. .....]... .- % ' This proved an easy win for Wanganui Unions, who led from start to finish, andpassed -the post with an advantage of over j two lengths. Christchurch Unions were/ badly last. Time, 7min. 30scc.

COMMENTS ON THE BIG RACES, (Br JlKßcußr.) ■'/;":",; (By TelegtaDh-SpecialCorrfSßonfleirtJ.' Wanganui, February 25.Wanganui has lost another championship, the. four-oared rowing supremacy of the' Dominion.. The fact that another' title, tho double sculls,"was gained in its placo affords but little balm to the . enthusiastic Wanganuite.;. Last Saturday's defeat of the'champions in Wellington was not accepted by the critics as tho shadowforetelling- the coming event. It was considered that the difference in distance, and the fact that tho Union men would be performing on their own water, to-day, would more than make up for the/ margin of difference between tho crews, as evidenced in Wellington. In' fact, during the, last two days Blenheim( -as. a winning factor, had gone back in public favour. The Christchurch Union crew advanced correspondingly, and were ■■ the popular choice for second place.: ■* This turned out to bo correct placing as regards the ChristchuTch men, but according - ; to Wanganui ideas they rowed' second to the wrong crew. However, every credit is being given, to Blenheim for their very excellent performance, and the crew met with a hearty reception from the naturally disappointed' crowd., . . .'.-.-

- As was the case last Saturday, Bleh-" h'eini got a bad-start. ■ Picton-got : away I fastest, and had a slight lead on oho of the two Union crews at .two.hundred . yards.' Here Blenheim quickened, and got the lead, and thenceforth- were never -'_• troubled. •-'.'Andrews, once tho lead was " assured, swung out to. a nice, thirty-six .. •till the mile post was gained. With his men reaching out and rowing splendidly. ; The two.Unions fought a;-desperate'duel : i over the first .half, but gradually the!'/ Christchurch men crept away," rowing a V hard fortyrone per. minute,;- the Light,.' ';■ Blues doing forty. Shooting, .the .Ara-.;. mono Bridgo' about-three-quarters of'-a',' mile froft home Blenheim gave thespecta-' tors a taste of their quality by quickening up to 40, and got away. a ; bit. further; opening a gap of nearly two lengths ;pf , daylight from the .Christchurch. ; Union,. who now,had a length on the local men.-, . The position at the.mile and a half flag';! was unchanged, arid-hero.Andrews,"who.; was showing sighs of the strain, .slackened;,-.. down again-to 37 per minute. With';only :.■ a quarter of a mile to go, Blenheim 'were-:, rowing comfortably, and,. barring ac-.,V cidents, the race for first place was over. •■ The crew were working well to a man,and the form displayed .was a vast-inv. provement on the Wellington \- showing. V At this stage the champions, so"soon.to acauire tho prefix "ex," issued a hof> challenge to the Christchurch Union. Inch by inch they crept un, but the southerners had just enough mhand, and;, when the gun went for Blenheim's two-- ? victory Fry put.in.a.last flurry,which staved off. the attack and gained-, them second-place;by a short canvas..,.

■ As an exhibition of high-class rowing the race was all that :could. be desired,;' - but as - a contest it > fell .'short,'. of ex-.tY ; pectations: Blenheim's display, surprised »r their most-ardent, supporters—it- must . have; surprised themselves.' Andrews rowed a good heady race, and got air that was necessary out of his .men. just when, he wanted■ ; it."' 1 Jackson amkthe<two Heg-;'i-■! gluns worked hard and rowed excellent . i form, "Dick," No. 2, especially;'so. - .': Christchurch' Union were fceaten-byi a-■■-stronger." crew: -Theirrrowins-rfbTmrlwaa-. .;- not to blame:'. This also applies, though ' ' •not to such an extent, "to- the ex- .. champions. Their clockwork combination ■ : was all there, but there was a lack- of . "devil" in their, work, ~ and in the last, ■"> stages there was more than a tendency to "slide-shooting"' all through the boat, f " :

Of the" other championship's the bulk of public interest centred in the single sculls. It' was confidently expected" that " ,: this would be p. great struggle' between "Toby" Anderson, the Wanganui Club man, who won in Wellington last week, ' \ and Stone, of St. George's, Auckland, last year's champion.. This anticipation was not borne out by the. result.. Stone took; i. a slight lead shortly after the gun was ■■■._ fired and was followed by Marshall, who . created a surprise by overhauling and . . beating, his club mate Anderson easily. At tho bridge, about half way, the Auck- . lander was leading by abont a length and , was sculling cleanly, and: well, evidently with a lot in. hand. Shortly after Marshall made a > determined• run and drew .. almost level, but Stone responded .easily .. enough and:got away again: He an'd a half, with. Anderson- V three lengths away third. By the Stone hoists a record. He "is the one ; first to achieve the "hat trick," this being- ■.": the only occasion upon which this event has been won three years in' succession . -' by tho same man. The champion double sculls was chiefly remarkable for - tho - downfall of Anderson and Marshall (last year's champions).' Threo hundred yards ... from home, when the winners, Sharpe and ■•■■ Yarrow (Wanganui Union), were,leading. ; Fry and O'Brien, of .'Christchurch Union V;. by some three lengths, with the champion ■';.' duo a bad third, Anderson made a spas.. : modic spurt, and then absolutely col- .'._.' lapsed, falling back into the boat., -.V. Tho champion pairs was not exciting,; Canterbury Union winning all the way. '".'■' The only other starters, Picton and.Union (Wanganui), fell into an argument, with . a mark boat, with the result that the'.!.'". latter crew ran it down, and the Picton- /. itcs were disqualified for going outside it. Picton finished second only to .learn of their fate later, and the Wanganui men, who paddled home a time after with a . damaged bow were awarded second' place .. and money. • ,■■"". •; ; •■■■•'' -. '■■' '--.'r'.': ■ Last year's champions.had a able win in the senior fours, the Blenheimcrew being debarred by: their win in the big race. Of the other events,- the chief was the junior best and best fours. In this the, Star Club's crew, splendidly stroked by F. Alexander, u-hose third race it was, . simply left the and \won by .'■;. three leugths from Christchurch. Unions _ The Star men gave a good exhibition of hard,' clean rowing. > - -' ; - , Tho Canterbury maiden four 'scored , their events win for the season by their ,

"double." This is a 'really good' crow, and if it can be kept together Trill bo heard of in big racing in a seasoni--or two. ■ -. ' .•-.■■ ■-,-. :.',- The water and arrangements for the day . were excellent. There were only " two drawbacks, for which.- the executive. cannot beheld responsible.. These were the ... execrable weather)-and -the vagaries of the current in'.the course. This-latter . defect was a serious one', and meant that ,- until the tide turned- in the afternoon'.'. the boats' in the centre of the.;stream •had all the' advantage. The times bear v evidence to the flow of r the river. To. : take two extremes, the champion fours '-.-, was covered.in lOmin. 4Ssec, as against; the previous best of llmin. 22sec, and - the maiden fours, won by Canterbury, was covered in'omin. lGsoc, albeit' tha .i winners.were not raced'out. Last Saturday this * crow, pushed all the way by ~ Star, took Grain; 32see. for the same dis- •' tance. In all the races with fields too large to ■ permit of the crews working out into the'.'-'-' -stream, those with the outside and- con- i > tro positions won.' The unfortunates un- - ■ der the bank had a hop9less task. In the ■>"; Maiden and Clinker Junior- Fours: tke.r Star men drew. No. 1 positions,; as- also • did Bennett, this club's maiden sculler, h hence their non-appearance amongst the placed crews.. y, The. prize money was allocated as fol-- ' IOWS:— ''■•■.-•■'■ '■-!•-.I". 1 : - :■•-"-','.'. .. '~ ■-.:-■ ":.' ■:■-:- '. "v, £: : y Blcniieim ...............................50 .-; Wanganui. Union ....:.... 38 : ,;f Christchurch Union"..... .....30 .. ; . Canterbury ...:....;..................-■ 20. :V;;> ■ ; Star .". ;..™......;... ; ...... 12.-^.i: St. Georges :....:'......;.'..... •10 • ' Wanganui . ......;......:...:......... ;: 8 . -)C :Picton .....i. ;.....i.. : ...:..'..i.i- ■5- '-- : .:',-V ''.' Aramoko ....;.......i..;„;;,..;;„;., '■<•! ?:\i-'i'; :