PICTON REGATTA

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 83, 2 January 1935, Page 14

PICTON REGATTA

Petone Wins Senior Fours STAR NARROWLY BEATEN

The Marlborough regatta was held at Picton yesterday in warm weather, with rain threatening. A large crowd of spectators was considerably swelled by the Wellington excursionists on the AA’ahine, which- arrived at 10.45. It. is estimated that there were 12,000 spectators. The wind, which had been a light northerly for the preceding week, had freshened considerably, making the water very choppy during the early part of the programme., Conditions after lunch were, however, much better as fall as the rowers were concerned, though the heavy rain which fell caused the watchers to rush for shelter. The conduct of the regatta was in the hands of the secretary. Mr. H. C. Madsen, and he, together with his committee and officers, is to be congratulated ou the smooth running of the programme. The first race was the single sculls, which attracted only two entries, P. A. A.bbott, of Petone, ancl C. Tarrant, of Picton. Abbott had charge all the way, winning easily by a length iu the slow time of lOmin. 50sec. The maiden fours was contested by five crews. Star led at the outset, but at the half-mile Wellington took charge, aud rowing a stroke of 34 to the minute, went on to cross the line two lengths ahead of Star, with Picton a length away third. The crews were Wellington : 11. Spoor str., AV. McLean 3. V. Morris 2, H. Tester bow. M. Christopherson cox. Star: L. L. I-losking str., A. It. Lawson 3, P. T. Dennehy 2, E. L. Hutchens bow, IL Ironside cox. The time was Gimn. 2 4-ssec. Junior Pairs Events. Five crews again faced the starter in the junior pairs, over one mile in clinker boats. Star took charge from the outset and at the half-mile had a length and a half lead from Pieton No. 2, with Petone a length further back. Petone quickened and slowly drew up on Star and Picton. In an exciting finish Petone won by a length from Picton No. 2. with Star a canvass away third. The time was 6.52 2-5. The first and second Crews were:—Petone: O. Clayton str., H. Pritchard bow, D. Drummond cox. Pieton No. 2: E. Smith str., A. Cornish bow, K. Todd cox. The biggest field of the day, six crews, got away to a splendid start in. the welterweight junior fours, of one mile. Picton quickly’ established a good lead and went on to win easily by four and a half lengths from Arapawa Maoris, who were a length and a half ahead of Blenheim. The crews were:—Pieton : N. Steele str., J. Black 3, V. Boese 2, 11. Boese bow, A. Law cox. Arapawa: E. Huutly str., D. Keenan 3, J. Keenan 2, P. Love bow, J. Love cox. Time, 6.4 2-5. The wind dropped after this race and heavy rain fell, the water becoming much smoother. Rowing conditions were practically ideal when the youths' fours got awdy to a ragged start. Picton appeared to have about a two lengths’ advantage at the start. Star and Petone each challenged Picton and had the lead for a time. Petone, rowing very easily, took charge at the half-mile and went away to win by two lengths from Picton, witn Star two and a half lengths away third. The crews were:—Petone: D. Boswell str., G. Leopold 3, J. Carter 2, O. Anderson bow, D Drummond cox. picton: .1. Jackson str., A. Davies 3, IL Davies 2, AV. Myles bow, K. Todd c'ox. The Main Race. For the main event on the programme, the senior fours in Best and Best boats, five crews lined up at the two-mile pegStar and Petone drew out from the field and at the mile were three lengths ahead. These crows remained together and Petone were fortunate to get the verdiet by half a canvas. Wairau No. 2 were four lengths away third. Crews were as follow:—Petone: O. Clayton str., A. Hope 3, It. Sharon 2, D. F. Gane bow, D. Drummond eox. Star: G. C. Cooke str., 11. H. Mullins 3. J. I. Thodey 2, A. A. Andrews bow, R. Hillock cox. . The starter was having trouble in getting the crews away, and at practically every start one crew- or another got some advantage. . . , Wellington had at easy win in the lightweight maiden fours. The crew took the lend early and kept on to win by 2j lengths from Picton. The Wellington crew was: A. McNair (stroke), W. McIver (3). R. McNair (2), S. Meredith (bow), N. Christopherson (cox.). A Kean Contest. The maiden pairs produced a very keen contest. Wellington and Star lighting for first place over the whole distance. Star were going to the lead when the bowcaught a crab. They came again, however, and were beaten by Wellington by only three-quarters of a canvas. The Wellington crew was: IL Spoor (stroke), AV. McLean (bow), and AV. Gee (cox.). Great interest was taken ;n the junior fairs as each member of the Tieton No. 1 crew was a son of a member of the race committee. Iu the contest with the redoubtable Star junior crew, stroked by S. Kidd, in spite of a poor start, Picton No. I took charge and wou by two lengths. Picton No. 1 crew was: Eric Smith (stroke). ,1. Fredericks (3), IL Burns (2), A. Cornish (bow), K. Todd (cox.). . • The last race, the senior pairs, attracted only two entries. The Star pair (G. C. Cooke and F. H. Mullins) were much too good for the AVairau pair, and won by four lengths.