CHAMPIONSHIP ROWING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 120, 14 February 1921, Page 9

CHAMPIONSHIP ROWING

WELLINGTON REGATTA DAY OF EXCITING CONTESTS 1 The annual regatta, under the auspices of the Wellington Amateur Bowing Association, which was held on Saturday, on a course between the extreme end of Oriental Bay and the Taranaki Street Wharf, was an unqualified success. Fine weather was conducive to- good rowing, and although a strong breeze made the water choppy towards the end qf the afternoon, it did not inconvenience the crews to any great extent- The standard of rowing was excellent. The Wellington teams did fairly well, and made good showings in several events. An untoward incident happened in the big race of the day, the senior sculls. Thgre were only three competitors in this race, and the Wellington man (G. Wilson) took position farthest away from the shore, and at about half-way was rowing a good third. Just at this stage, however, his skiff was caught in the wash from a steam er that was following the race, and was almost overturned. This spoilt.his chance for the race, although he made «. plucky spurt, but finished very wide of the mark. In the last race of the day, tho junior fours, there was particularly keen competition, and the first team, Canterbury, was only separated from the runner-up, West End, by a couple of feet. The interest shown by the .public in the regatta was marked, and crowds thronged the Oriental bay foreshore and the Clyde Quay and Taranaki Street wharves, whilst many enthusiasts availed themselves of the follow-the-race steamers, Janie Seddon and Karaka. . The officials, especially the starter (Mr. J. E. Widdop), the umpire (Mr. R. Crawford), the judges (Messrs. A. D. Bayfeild, AV. J. Gaudin, and R. AV. MWilly), and the secretary (Mr. E. Biehl), are to be congratulated on the arrangements of the carnival. Details of the racing are given below, in addition to the detailed results.

Maiden Fours. One Mile,

Poverty Bay (Gisborne)—L. Stichbury (s.). R. Patty (3), K. Priestley (2), E. O’Neill (b.), 1. Wellington R.C.—J. Dalgleish, T. Por. ter, E. Toomath, J. Thomas, 2. Union R.C. (Christchurch) —T. H. Grenfell, E. H. Ellis,. C. Yates, S. H. Truman, 3Also started: Star (Wellington), Petone, and Canterbury. From the start, Wellington went ahead in good style, outpacing the other crews Poverty Bay, however, put in some strong work, and came up in fine style, taking up first position near half-wav. Union were close behind, third. The other crews did not improve their positions. Pctone’s standard was a bit below that of the others, although the stroke was putting in some good work, retarded by a weak three. Poverty Bay were unaffected by a AVellington appeal for a foul, although the former crew's coxswain steered too far in shore, and crowded the ether crews. The East Coast men won ?by half a length. • Youths’ Double Sculls. One Mlle. Canterbury R.C. —S. P. Godfrey (s.), F. W. M‘M, Cowlishaw (b.), 1. AVellington R.C. —C. Leslie. G. Grace), 2. Union B.C. (AVanganui)—AV. Kruse, W. , Barnes, 3. ’ Also started: Petone, Star, Poverty Bay, and Union (Christchurch). The crews moved off practically together, and the race was a fairly close one, without incident. AVon by a length. Senior Double Sculls. One mile and a half. Union B.C. (AVanganui)—H. Sharpe (s.), A. Sharpe (b), 1. Union R.C. (Christchurch)—C. Champ, IT. Adkins 2. Only competitors. The race was fairly interesting, the winning team gaining the advantage soon after the start. AVanganui won by some lengths. Maiden Double Sculls. One mile. Union R.C. (Christchurch)—E. 11. Ellis (s.), T. IT. Grenfell (b), 1. - AVellington R.C.—C. Symonds, G. Wilson, 2. „ „ . Poverty Bay—L. Stichbury, R. Patty, 3. Also started: Wanganui Union, and Star (Wellington). The race was a fairly even one until tho last few hundred yards, when the- winners lengthened tho distance between the second crew and themselves, winning by about three lengths. Senior Fours. Two miles. Union B.C. (AVanganui)—C. Healey (s.), E. Ryland (3), AV. Coombes (2). G. Wilson (b), 1. „ . Petone —AV. Sharon, C. Aloneen. A. White. AV. Hume, 2. West End (Auckland)—J. I. M’Roberts, J. Taylor, B. Rutledge, A. Fraser, 3 Onlv competitors. The Union team took the lead soon after the start and won by a good margin. Second and third finished fairly close together. This was the longest race of the day, end required a great deal of training and endurance, and this the winning team undoubtedly had, their stroke being consistent throughout. The choppiness of the sea troubled all the crews in this race. Youths’ Fours. One Mile. Star B.C. No. I—E. Diehl (s.), F. G. Oborn (3), H. R. Herd (2), AV. P. Robb R.C. No. 1-G. Gardiner A. •AVarden, M. F. Nichoils, J. Love .. P Canterbury R.C.—l. J. B. Donnelly, FH. Brown, F. W. Cowlishaw, A. C. Al'"There were nine starters, tho course bein'* a. wide one.-. The winning crew got ahead fairly quickly, and made the pace n cracker, widening their lead as the nice progressed. Second and third were separated by about a length. Junior Pairs. One Mile. West End (Auckland)— AV. N. Bright (b.), J. R. Skinner (b.), 1. Petone R.C.-M. Love. O. Haddock 2. Poverty Bay—L. Stichbury, R. laity, J. Senior Sculls. One Mile and a Half. Union B.C. (AVanganui)—A. Sharpe,'l. Mercer R.C.—C. Roose, 2. Wellington R.C.-G. AVilson, 3. These crews were tho only starters. The race was for the Pearce Challenge Cup and accordingly was watched with great interest. The three competitors wore well known, Reese being a wellknown figure at the regattas at Ngarua- ' waitin', on the AVaikato River, while AA il«on and Sharpe had achieved success on other occasions. From tho outset Jsharpe forged ahead, followed by Reese with Wilson some distance behind. At about half-way AVilson was showing signs 01 improvement, when his chances were spoilt bv the wash from the sightseers steamer,- and Sharpe was apparent y tiled Reese followed him more closely, but the Wanganui man recovered, and went in an easy winner. AVilson misjudged the direction, and finished up far to tho right of the winning post. Maidsn Pairs.... One Mile. Union R.C. (Christchurch)— T. 11. Grenfell (s.). E. H. Ellis (b.), 1. _ Canterbury—E. Beavo-n, L. A. I.riggs, ... Wellington—J. Dalgleish, J. Thomas, 3 Union led all the way. Junior Sculls. One Mile. Union B.C. (Wanganui)—N. W. Smith. 1. AVellington R.C.—C. Symonds, 2. Star B-C. (Wellington)—F. G. OJ>orn, 3. Several teams did not start, and Union made' a good win. Senior Pairs. One mile and a Half. Union B.C. (Wanganui)—C. Hceley (s.), E. Ryland (s.), 1. Union ltd'. (Christchurch) C- Champ, H. Adkin, 2. Wanganui R.C.—R. Northover, 11. Jones, 3. The only starters. The finish was close.

Junior Fours. One Mile and a Half. Canterbury R.C.—F. J. Stewart (s.), S. p. Godfrey (3), H. B. Knight (2), J. A. M West (, End’(Auckland)-AV N. Bright, T R Skinner, J. Daws, A. C. Norden, 2. Petone No. I—AL Allen, O. Haddock, M Love. C II Burridge, 3. ■ This finish was oneo t the closest ol the day, out of a field of seven. The first and second crews made the going hard and at the finish Canterbury had a neck-to-neck fight, the former winning by a short canvas.