OUR REGATTA=1912.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 3

OUR REGATTA=I9I2.

GOOD TURN OUT,

PICTON IN FRONT IN THE FOURS

SPLENDID RACING

With good water nnd fair weather overhead U, O annual r.gatta. of Ihe Wellington Rowing Association on Saturday afternoon was one. of the best that has ever been held here. II was light southerly, wcalhor, and the regatta was therelure held on the usual southerly course oil' Itiisi'iiciith and Oriental Bay, iinishing at Ihe Clyde (Juny Wharf.

The water was a little too lively at the entrance to Evans Bay, where the longer races should have started,' ami some of them had to lx> shortened. The scullers, lor instance, were not asked lo go out of the lee of Ihe land in their little shells, and the Senior Fours was shortened from two miles to a mile and a half.

The. biggest event on (ho programme, tho Senior Fours, attracted only two crows, but for all thnt it claimed most of tho interest of tho day. Tho crews wero Picton, the champions, and Wanganui Union, who chased Picton homo in pursuit of those red coats at Waihola a few weeks ago.

Jinny enthusiasts professed to believe that the Wanganui men would turn tho tables on Picton this time, but they wero altogether wrong. Picton vindicated their titlo lo tho championship by beating the light blues comfortably, if not quite easily.

It was unfortunate that the only mischief perpetrated by thoughtless outsiders during the day should have interfered with this rao.\ A ferry boat turned it wash on to one [■!' the boats ami nearly swamped it,'and the competitors were both called back after half a mile had gone.

The style of the two crews was in rather striking contrast. Wanganui Union roweil excellent form, swinging as oue man, and doing well-nigh perfect work in and out of the boat. The Picton men, tn the other hand, were unattractive and rough. The blnrtc work of all save No. 3 was clean, but the time was patchy, and the swing of the crew uneven, so that they certainly did not ride their boat like champions. However, they do get the weight on, and they evidently understand most of what there is to know about condition.

It is the end of the season, and it was lo be expEctrd that, the form all round, and especially in the maiden and junior races, would be good. It was, in fact, rather betlcr than one might reasoaably have expected to see. Some of the younger crows had still much to lie corrected yet, but. mostly, there was dash in their work which can be made to serve its turn when there is little skill, instead of being its complement. Besides the three Wellington clubs, there were eight visiting clubs competing. There could scarcely have been better representation at a championship regatta, and certainly not better racing. The number of closely-fought finishes was really remarkable. Any rowing man who ever hopes lo see a better race than the Maiden Fours event of Saturday must be indeed hard to please. And there were others nearly as good.

There were many spectators who would have been giad to s?e Wanganui Union beat Picton in the Senior Pairs race. The veteran W. Sharpe was stroking the light blue boat, and he very nearly beat the champions. No pair was sent from the Wanganui Union Shed to the championships this year. Another veteran out in this race was A. Galbraith, of the Wellington Club.

The most successful club was Wanganui Union, with three wins ami two second places. The prize-money was distributed as follows:—Wanganui Union, £26; Picton, £23; Blenheim, .Eli); Canlerbnrv, £6; AYairau. £b\ Avon, ,£5; Star, ,£s;' Wanganui, JE3; ami Vclone, .£2. Wellington and Nelson won no prizes. Following are the results.— Senior Sculls. First prize, £o; second, £i. Wanganui Union K.C. (11. Sharpc) ... 1 Wanganui K.C. (G. H. Jfarshall) ... 2 Wanganui "Union li.C. (.1. Yarrow) "

Also started:' Star B.C. (W. Robertsonl, Wellington R.C (11. M'Kinley), and Picton E.C. (A. Jackson). Sharps and Robertson, under the shore, started comfortably, and went to the front in the first, dozen strokes. Marshall was unlucky in almost fouling M'Kinley, but having shaken off the Wellington man ho fettled down to row, and to chase Sharpe. He had overhauled Robertson at half a mile, and Yarrow, staying close behind him, had Robertson beaten soon afterwards. Thereafter the race was a mcro procession. Sharpe won easily by four lengths, and Marshall was six lengths ahead of Yarrow. Robertson was tho only other starter who was ever in the race.

Maiden Fours. First prize, JCB; second, £1. Wanganui Union R.C. (M. Crotty, str., M. Coutts 3, R, Siddclls 2, C. Dustin bow) 1 ■Wairau R.C. (C. J. Adams str., H. Wratt 8, N. Sheridan 2, T. Gill bow) 2 Kawatiri R.C. (P. Monigatti str., 11. Atchison 3, S. Blight 2, T. AtchiKon bow) 3 Also started: Star 8.C., Wellington K.C., Petono R.C, Blenheim R.C, Nelson JI.C, Avon R.C, Picton R.C, aud Canterbury R.C. (two crews). A magnificent race. Star, with inside position, were first to show a nose in front, with Canterbury close up and Wanganui Union going well out in the rougher water. Wellington and Petonc fouled after going half a mile, and both boats dropped from a good position to tho rear. At half a mile Union drew level with Canterbury and Star, and Wairau was only a length behind, in the next quarter Wanganui, rowing tho same beautiful form for which the club is noted, forged ahead and held the race safe, winning in the end bv three lengths. Then Kawatiri caino up, and made another of four boats in the running for second place—Star, Canterbury, Wairau, and Kawatiri. For 200 yards the boats raced with only a canvas difference among them. Star wero first to full back, then Canterbury, and Wairau, rowing very strongly-a*sharp catch and drive, but a short clipped strokeran into second place in a desperate nmsh by a canvas.

Senior Fours. Firefc prize, Mh; second, £3. One mile and a half. Picton B.C. (R. Andrews et„ A. Jackson 3, E. Konny 2, F. Carrick bow) 1 Wanganui Union B.C. (C. Cottarill st., E. Byland 3, W. Dustin '.', I). Corby bow; ; 'Thorn we.re the only starters. The race was marred by a forry boat, which Rave wash to l ho Picton crew and nearly swamped them. Xo. 3, who was in serious trouble in the rough water, appealed to the umpire, hut (ho stroke called on the crew to go on. The wash got worse, and then the crew appealed unanimously. The umpire called the Union crew back, and the race was rowed over again. Half a mile had been covered, and Picton had already a lead of half a length. In the rough water at the mouth of Evans Bay, Jackson, in tits Picton crew, could not clear, and three times.he nearly missed his stroke, but still the crew had a lend before getting out of the rough. In the second attempt Picton made no ' mistakes, and jumped off with ,a lead of a length in the first twenty strokes. They held this load comfortably, increasing it gradually until they were four lengths ahead at the gun. Junior Clinker Pairs. First prize, £5; second, £i. One mile. Canterbury B.C. (E. S. Farrow st., E. Baxter bow) 1 Blenheim B.C. (A. JTalo St., 11. Boyle, bow) 2 War K.l'. (U. .1. Bird st.. C. K. Holmes bow) 3 Almi Marled: Star H.C. Xn. 2. Wellington l.'.C, I'eli.ne 8.C., ami Pinion If.C. Blenheim Marled well, and hail » lead of nearly n l«ii"'.h from Canterbury ill hal! a mile. I'lii.- lead the southerner? reduced slowly, and two hundred yards from hom« ttip- iiom> of their boat showed in front, From, there a game stxuKle. result-1

od iii Canterbury winning by rather less than a Icnytli. Maiden Pairs. First jirixe. .to; second, 4:1. One mile. Star 1.1.1"'. (11. J!. Tomlinson, str., C. 0. Carr, bow) 1 Wairau R.C. (<"'. ,1. .Adam?, str., T. Gill, how) 2 Picton R.C. (G. Robertson, str., C. Jones how) 3 The other crews racing were: Canterbury K.C, Petone K.C.. Blenheim 8.C., .Avon K.C.. Star B.C. No. -J, and Wellington R.C. Star, Canterbury, anil Wairau were, bunched on the inside of the course fur half the distance. At this point Canterbury fell back beaten, nnri Pinion raced into n likely jiositiou on the outside. Star maintaineil their lend, and though sorely distressed in a fighting finish, beat Wairau, who were rowing strong .ami fast, by hall a length. Pielon were u length away, third.

Youths' Fours, First prize, ,tb'; second, £2. One mile. Blenheim R.C. (lv. AYnnden, sir., W. Dew, .'I. I'. Fouqere. 2, D. Roes, bow) 1 Wairau lt.C. tN. Sheridan, str., 11. Wrote, :t, J. Alacdonald, 2; It. Thompson, bow) 2 AYanganui I'nion K.C. (At. Crottv, str., Al. Coutts :i. 11, Siddols, 2, 0. Dustin, bow) 3 Also started: Star 8.C., Petone R.C., Canterbury I!.C, Avon K.C., and Nelson II.C. Tho Ihreo placed crows raced without any gaining as much as a length advantage over the whole distance, and at Iho finish there was no daylight showing. Blenheim won by half a canvas from Wairau. and AYanganui Union were only half a length behind. Senior Double Sculls. First prize, .£8; second, £2. One mile and a half. Wanganui Union B.C. (11. Sharpe, str., ,T. Yarrow, bow) 1 AYanganui R.C. (E. Al'Donald, str., G. 11. Marshall, bow) 2 Picton R.C. (IS. Andrews, str., E. Kcnney, bow) 3 The Wellington R.C. pair (Galbraith and Standen) were left far behind. In fact, the race was never interesting, for Wanganui Union quickly established their superiority, and after "that the race to them was only a training spin. They won very easily by.six lengths, and Picton finished fully two lengths behind the Wanganui Rowing Club's crew. Junior Fours. First prize, £10; second. £2. One mile and a half. Blenheim R.C. (A. Hale str., H. Boylo 3, J. Alderton 2, N. Al'lsaac bow)... 1 Petone R.C. (B. Tremain sir., H. Parrant 3, P. Arrowsmith 2, C. H. Burridge bow) 2 Star B.C. (.R. .T. Bird str., C. E. Holmes 3,-T. L. S. Tnrnbull 2, F. N. Abercrombic bow) 3 Canterbury R.C. were very close up fourth, and Picton R.C. were out of tho race, last. Blenheim had a. slight lead all the way, and won, all out, by rather more than a length. The Star, Petone, and Canterbury boats approached tho judges absolutely abreast, and it was only in the last couple of strokes that Petone drove some six inches ahead. Star boat Canterbury by about the samo narrow margin. Senior Pairs, First prize, M; second. £ 2. One mile and a half. Picton R.C. (F. Burns str., F. Carrick liow) '. I Wanganui Union B.C. (W. Sharpe str., C. Wadmau bow) ..; '. 2 Wellington K.C. (S. Standen str., A. Galbraith bow) .-.: 3 Star, wore close up fourth, and Cantorbury, the only other crew, steered so far out of the course that they-had to stop rowing. Wnngamii Union rowed a plucky race, but their steering handicapped tiiem sadly. At the finish they were only half a length behind the champions, and they were rowing incomparably better and faster. To the spectators the win looked a lucky one. Maiden Double Sculls,

First prize, £o; second, £1. One mile. Avon R:C. (G. H. Taylor sir., S. Clothier how) .....:.;:......'....:. 1 Cantnrburv R.C. (L. A. Dougall str., T. 0. Fox bow) 2 Star B.C. (H. B. Tomlinson str., 1\ G. Craig bow) :i Also started': Pclono R.C, Blenheim R.C., and Wellington R.C. Avon wan a good rare by about three-quarters of a length from Canterbury, with Star a couple of lengths behind.