OAR CHAMPIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1358, 8 February 1912, Page 6

OAR CHAMPIONS.

I DOMINION REGATTAPiCTON'S HEFTY CREW. WANGANUI GOOD. STONE'S SPLENDID SCULLING. (By Tclosraph—Press Association.! Dunedin, February 7. Lake Waihola- was on its best behaviour for tho New Zealand Championship Regatta to-day. In tho early morning the water promised to be lively, as a slight jobblo had been occasioned by a southeast breeze. Gradually, however, the v wind died down to a whisper, and the lake, when tho Championship Fours was decided, was almost in perfect condition. There was a satisfactory attendance, but, whilo tho regatta was a success from a rowing point of view, the lako does not offer special advantages for spectators. Tho staudard of oarsmanship was uniformly high, all visiting crews—particularly Picton and Wanganui—showing a skill worthy of the best traditions of New Zealand rowing. Stone, of Auckland, achieved tho unique distinction of winning-the Championship Sculls for tho fourth successive occasion. M'Grath, who was sculling well, led Stone for a quarter of a mile by half a length, but tho youth and fine sculling qualities of tho'present champion eventually proved too much for the veteran, and Stono came in alone, winning by about one hundred yards from M'Grath. The champion rowed in his best form, displaying clean blade work and fine finish, his boat running sweetly between the machine-like strokes. In tho Champion i'ours it was generally agreed beforo the race that there were only two-crows in it—Picton and Wangauui. Picton furnished a hefty crow, with great power behind the blade and quick on the catch, and they set a rare pace from tho start, striking the high rate of '12 strokes to the minute, and finishing at 40. They gradually outdistanced all tho other crews with tho exception of Wanganui, which challenged tho leaders, but could not get on terms with them, and Picton won by about five lengths. The winners showed high craftsmanship, sitting their boat like ono man, driving her with great power, and getting all their weight into their work from catch to finish. Wanganui was only slightly inferior to tho winners in rowing skill, but they lacked the strength of the powerful Picton four In the Champion Double Sculls, Wangamii rowed better than any other crew in the race. They had a fine swing, and carried their strokes right through to the finish. with all their weight behind the blades. Picton also rowed well, but steered a bad cotirse, finishing outsido tho line, and were disqualified. Otago ceased rowing a few lengths from the line, but, picking up their stroke again, crossed the canvas behind Pictorv who were a length ami si half behind Wanganui. Christchurch Union secured a lead in the Champion Pairs, but Picton, showed better skill in the boat. Onion were done in a weary finish, their.stroke shortening to a clip, while Picton continued rowing with great power and a uniform body swing to : the finish. Invercargill had the misfortune to capsize, halfway down tho course in the middle of tho lake. The crew clung to the bottom of tho upturned boat until rescued by a launch. As tho winners of the Championship Fours are not eligible to compete in the Senior Fours, Watigam;i went out favourites for this event, and emphasised their merit by , winning by three-quarters of a length from Awarua, which came with a nico sprint at the finish, and riiHit possibly have won had they not left their effort too late. SINGLE SCULLS. One Mile and a Half. C. E. Stone (St. George Rowing Club) 1 J. M'Grath (Otago R.C.) .!. 2 Also started: C. Roosc (Mercer R C) and J. ]{. Kerr (Otago R.C.). M'Grath got away first at tho pistol fire, rowing about thirty to tho minute, Stone-I also striking the water at about this < rate. M'Grath led the champion by half a length to the quarter-milo post, with Jverr third, and Roose come distance back. At the, lliile post Stono had made up his leeway, and held an advantage of a length from M'Grath, Kerr lying third and Roose right out of it. R«o«o shortly after pulled right out, while Kerr hail tlio bad luck to run into the mile post and capsized. Tho race was practically over here, the present champion dropping down to 2(i to tho minute, while M'Grath was pulling 28. Going on, Stono secured his tourth consecutive victory in tho champion sculls, winning easily by about 100 yards. Stone came with a short sprint ?Lt" c ., r "" sll ' rmri »B " s to the minute. M Grath sculled in his usual workmanlike manner, but the Aucklandcr proved too strong a proposition for the Otago man Time, lOniin. 7sec. CHAMPION FOURS, Distance, two miles. Picton Rowing Club (It. Andrews (stroke), A. Jackson, E. Kenny, l< , . Carrick) 1 Wanganui Union-Rowing Club (J. Cottrill (stroke), K. Ryland, W. Dustin, D. Corby) 2 Chiistchurch Union Rowing Club (J Fry (stroke), IT. DaHison, W. Duggan, It. R, Mansfield) 3 Also started: Awarua Rowing Club, Canterbury Rowing Club, and Invercargill Railway Rowing Club. Picton, on the outside, set out at a great bat, rowing a shade ovei 40 to tho minute, Awarua "M, and Wauganui 32. Pulling with great determination and excellent combination, Pictou at once gained a slight advantage over Wangauui Union and Awarua, the rest of the crews well up. With about half a mile gone the Canterbury Union crow commenced to steer a bad course, as did also Awarua, the latter crew having had to change its men owing to tho indisposition of the original stroke (G. West), and losing its combination. At the mile post Picton had drawn clear by four lengths from Wanganui Union, Awarna (which was now steering a most erratic course) being third. Christchurch Union were fourth, and tho remaining two crews a few lengths back. Awarua now crossed in behind Wanganui Union, and came in between this crow and Picton, and, shortly after, the southern crew got in behind Picton, and then went right over to the outside position. With half a mileto go, Wanganui throw out a strong challenge- to I'icton, who were still rowing a fast stroke. Behind them were coming Christchurch Union, and Awarua, with Canterbury Rowing Club and Invcrcargill Railway some lengths away. Keeping a good length, however, the stalwart Pictouites easily held tho opposition at bay, and went on fo win by about five lengths from Waingauui. Christchurch Union wero two lengths further back, with Awarua a. length or so behind. Canterbury Rowing Club, and Invercargill Railway stopped rowing within 100 yards of tho post. Time, llmin. 9sec. DOUBLE SCULLS. One mile and a half. Wanganui Union Club (H. Sharpe, str., and -1. Yarrow) 1 Otaeo Rowin» Club (J. M'Grath, str., and J. R. Kerr) 2 Also started: Picton Rowing Club (Kenny, str., I!. Andrews); Union Rowing Club, Christchurch (J. Fry, str., n. Dallisou). The crews rowed level for the first quarter of a mile, and then Picton forged ahead with Wauganui ns the nearest and most dangerous attendant. Tho Union (Christchurch) crew wero being left behind. At Hie mile tho Wanganui crew cut ucrow the bows of Otago. ami •\vei\t. aflcr IMcloii, who still had a slight laid. A'oariiifT MlO nimihig-post, WiingiMiiii passed Picton, and crossed the lino a loiisrlh and a half to the good. Otago ceased rowiug fo. , about two stroke:', but they wero carried acro=s within a canvas of Picton. The Litter finished oul.-fide the line, and were disqualified, the second j)lace, 'bciiig award«l to Otago. Union

(Christchurch) did not finish. Time, 9min. 2lsec. CHAMPION PAIRS, Olio Jlilo and a Half. Picton Rowing Club (F. Burns str., i'. Carrick) 1 Union Mowing Club, Christchurch (W. Dugguii str., H. Mansfield) 2 Also started: Invcrcargill liowing Club (D. Ritchie str., J. Ritchie). Invercargill Railway scratched. Tin- Union (Christclmrch), on U\c outi side, course, scciin.il a lend, with Invcrcarl?ill and Pictoti rowing practically level, i to hali'-wa.y. Picton then picked up, and liivcrcaraiil, which had been boring close to the northern bout, changed its course, and, shortly ai forwards, capsized in tho middle of the lake. 'J'he (Lion (Chrislclmrch) slill hud si lead, but Pietim, rowing with a fine, swing and a mncbinn-liko catch, was picking up fasl. A qiiurtor of a. mile from the line tho Union appeared to lie don?, and had shortened their stroke to a clip, while Picton. were carrying the stroke well through to tho finish, and gaining stretches of water. They won easily at the finish, by thxeo lengths. Time, lOmin. oG.-ce. SENIOR FOURS. Ladies' Plato, one mile and a half. Wanganui Union (J. Cotterill str.,E. Ryland, ■»'. Diistin, D. Corby) 1 Awarua. Rowing Club (fl. Bradshaw sir., B. Johnston, T. West, P. Newman) 2 Christchurch Union (J. Try str., H. Dnlliston, W. Duggan, H. R, Mansfield) ...". 3 Wanganui struck a fine even stroke, all the men catching the, water well together, and pulled through the centre of the field in fine style. With a quarter of a mile to go, they appeared to have the race in hand, but Awarua came with a great rush at the finish, and rapidly overhauled the leaders, only suffering defeat by three-parts of a length. Christchurch Union were third, some throe or four lengths behind the other crews, and easing up. MAIDEN FOURS. Distance, One Mile. Oamaru Boating Club (A. Orr, str., J. Jones, A. Ross, H. Drennan) 1 Invercargill Railway Rowing Club (D. Andrews, str., I'. Forrester, E. . Kelly, L. Paclgel) 2 Timnru Rowing Club (R. Beaucharop, str., F. King, J. Morrison, D. Hodgson) 3 MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS. Distance, One Mile. North End Boating Club (C. Purvis, str.. J. A. Hogg) 1 Otago Rowing Club (L. Pridcaux, str., R. Black) 2 Dunedin Amateur Boating Club (T. Hodgson, str., L. Irvine) 3 JUNIOR FOURS. Distance, One Mile and a Half, Invcrcargill Railway Rowing Club (A. G. Cockroft, str., F. M'Killop., A. C. M'Killop, R, 0. Thomson) 1 Dunedin Amateur Boating Club (H, Hey, str., W. Williams, W. Mills, T. Watt) 2 Port Chalmers Rowing Club (P. Mason, str, G. Love, J. Smith, W. Lysaght) 3 JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS, Distance, One Mile. Invercargill Railway R.C. (C. Barrv, 6tr., F. M'Killop) ". 1 North End B.C. (L. Reardon, str., M. Conroy) n Queen's Drive B.C. (L. Ones, sir., S. Howes) 3 YOUTHS' FOURS. Distance, One Mile. Invercargill Railway R.C. (A. Glennie, str.-, F. C. Whittaker, H. Folley, S. Webb) i Oamaru R.C. (J. de Courcey, str., A. Coatroan, S. Knight, J. Martin) ... 2 Queen's Drive B.C. (L. Perry, str., E. M'Pherson, W. Wilson, T, Sutherland) ;„... „ 3 MAIDEN PAIRS. Distance, Ono Mile. Awarua B.C. (A. Rouse, str., T. Ross) 1 Invercargill Railway Rowing Club (D. Andrews, str., R. Forrester) 2 North End B.C. (L. Reardon, str., W. Conroy) 3 JUNIOR PAIRS. Distance, One Mile. luvercargill Railway R.C. (A. C. Cockroft, str., F. M'Killop) 1 North End B.C. (W. Renwick, str., P. Ruston) 2 Otago Rowing Clnb (L. Prideaux, str., R. Black) 3 PRIZE-MONEY. The prize-money was distributed as follows:—Picton Rowing Chib, ,£55; Union R.C. (Wanganui), '£10; Invercargill Railway R.C. .£35; Oamaru 8.C., .£l2; St. George R.C. (Auckland), MO; Otago Rowing Club, £W ; Awarua R C (Bluff). .610; North End 8.C., •£!); Union Rowing Club (Christchurch), £5; Dunedin Amateur 8.C., <£1.