ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2001, 7 March 1914, Page 12

ROWING.

(Bl "StlfttCCßt.'l THE CORSAIR 3AY FIASCO. March 14.—Wellington Ilegatta, July.—World's ChMfipi6!isl»p, 15ttri : y v Paddon (I'liaßics), Ono Week Hence,

Next Saturday' wj.ll see the annual regatta, of the Wellington Jtssoeiatiow, As arulo the Wellington fixture runs the New Zealand Championship Meeting very closely as a rojwfcseaitativc regatta, but this yea-r it will easily eclipse even the big affair. , —' On'iug to its fortunate geographical position,' the Welljngtoii Association, is able to command- entries front bptji Islands, so on Saturiiay next the men Of the south who are Uotrepreseuted. at theMorcer regatta will bo given an opportunity of measuring blades with tneir rivals of the North, and the crack crews of each aro taking Jul! adv.ai.ita.go /of the opportunity. The champion crows of the rt'aiiganui Union Club's aro criming down in force, as also are the Canterbury combinations, which were moms or less tried less than more:, as Will bo seen ironi the subjoined account—at Corsair Bay last Saturday. The arrangements .as bo the course wjll be the same as in previous years.

That Stormlashod pay, The Christchurc.h. Regatta, held last Saturday at Corsaid Bay, liVttelto'n, ivas a most disappointing iiitair," particularly so for tho representatives of the Wetlington and Star Ohr.bs, Tho toiiiSe, however good it may ho oil its (lay, was simply impossible as a convincing ground on Saturday. If the Ohfisteliuroh Itcgatta Club wishes to receive lUDinina* ti'ons from outside clubs, the venue of the regatta must be. changed. Last year much the same tiling. pec-irsfed, with t|te difference that the Wellington representatives went down and came homo again without getting a row at all. On Saturday things were not- much better. As a test o!' ; strength, in fact, the races were, useless.

Only one race was -completed over the course proper, This was the maiden fours, which was won. by the Avon Club. AH the boats.had a bad time, the Star men's craft, which finished second, being half full. Union crossed the line hi » swamped condition, and the: Canterbury crow foundered in tots, awl was picked. up by tho umpire's bssat.

The Storm V/on. Then the executive did a remarkable thing. Notwithstanding the failure of the clinker fours to negotiate tho sea that was tunning, the senior pairs,, m best and best boats, were; sent out. The result was, of course, just what might have been expected. AH tho boats eaiiie to grief but one—the Union pair-*-which managed to survive, and so WOii the race by a process of elMuinatffirj...

The Star duo swamped and beached their boat, while Caiifcerbijfy were- nib fortunate enough m get their shell irreparably damaged. The AVollingto.ii ciew, wise iu their generation, refused to start, and it would have been Well had all the entrants followed, their example. •

. It was then imperative, that something should be dojie, and, after art hour's. postponement, another course was laid oil' in a convenient bay, and the racing resumed. The new course proved satisfactory as tar as tho water was concerned, but, as it was only a little over half a rtrile in length, it furnished no real test*

Particularly docs this apply to t'lio senior races, and especiaH.v so to the senior fours. Crews that tjftvc trained for a two-mile race tvrs not properly tried out in a half-nrile sprint. However, the executive- die! the best possible under the circumstances in this respect, but it is obvious that, as a regatta course. Corsair Hay rfittst Ire placed upon the black list. .

The Chief Race. The prize money was alfecatffil as under: Canterbury £it, Avon £S&, Union £24, Star £5,. and Sunrncr-£4. In. conclusion, an account of the most impfirtant raco of the day, in which the Star senior four wfts oujjttgad, will not ho out of place. The Obristchnreb. "Sari" says:

The Senior Ftitirs produced a splendid race between Canterbury and Star. Slar rowed the, better form, but Canterbury were, ton strong, and, once in, the lead, had no difficulty in retaking enough to • win by half a length, Champ kopt a nice bright stroke, with, plenty of length, and it. to to bo. hoped he will not altogether forsake rowing for sculling. Bayfield, Star's veteran stroke, proved he is not by any means a back number yes., and kept a tine swing going In lb* boat. Theso two crews, by the way, will meet again next, Saturday.