NAPIER ROWING CLUB.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2989, 24 January 1881, Page 2

NAPIER ROWING CLUB.

The silver sculls presented by Mr T. W. Balfour as a prize to be rowed for in pair-oar outriggers by members of the Napier Rowing Club were at length won on Saturday last. It is two years since the prize waß first offered, but until lately it hud failed to induce competition. Fire crews had entered, but one, consisting of Messrs Philson and Badcock, had been compelled to withdraw owing to the indisposition of the former gentleman. There being but two outriggers and four crews, it was necessary to row the match off in heats, and the water selected was the inner harbor, the winning post being on the western side of Long Point. The choice of the course caused much disappointment, as the beach offered no attraction whatever to spectators, and consequently there were very few to witness the most interesting boat race that has been rowed since the establishment of the club. Fortunately the water was comparatively smooth, and there was not much wind, bat, notwithstanding, one of

the outriggers, while being paddled up to the start by volunteers, was capped, and the other was nearly swamped. The course was one mile. The heats were as follow : — FIRST IIEAT. J. Gilberd (stroke). li. Brooking, united weight 21st. 10lb 1 W. Bogle (stroke), Sheatb, united ■weight 19at. 111b , 2 Gilberd had the inside water. A good start was made, both boats keeping pretty level for the half-mile, when the cox of Bogle's boat steered outwards, making a semi-circular course, and thus losing the race by a length and a half. SECOND HEAT. Tabuteau (stroke), F. Kennedy, united weight 22st. 121b ... ... 1 J.Begg (stroke), F. Parker, united weight IBst. lllb 2 This was another well contested event, but the style of rowing was not as good as in the former heat. Tabuteau pulled a short quick stroke, while Begg, who •was using the eliding seat, had a long and rather slow one. The two crews were very unequally matched in weight and strength, and Tabuteau had not much difficulty in passing the flag two lengths ahead of his opponent. FINAL HEAT. Tabuteau and Kennedy • 1 Gilberd and Brooking 2 This promised to be the best event of the day, but owing to the yoke line slipping through the tiller of Gilberd's boat, the knot having broken, the victory was a gift to Tabuteau. At the time of the accident Tabuteau was pulling 45 strokes to the minute, and had a slight lead. Gilberd was pulling a long, swinging stroke of 36 to the minute, and a close finish 'was anticipated. It was then observed that Gilberd's boat was yawing, but it was too distant from the shore to ascertain the exact cause, until the cox. held up his hand to indicate that his occupation was gone. Tabuteau then stopped, and in a most sportsmanlike manner proposed that the heat should be pulled off on another day. The offer was as generously declined as it was generously made, and Tabateau and Kennedy paddled the remainder of the course. Messrs Tabateau and Kennedy are therefore the winners of Mr Balfour's silver sculls, and the second prize, given by the Club, a pair of silver medals, goes to Messrs Gilberd and Brooking.