HEATHCOTE REGATTA.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 218, 19 February 1875, Page 2

HEATHCOTE REGATTA.

Patron—His Honor the Superintendent. Commodore Mr William Montgomery. Vice-Commodores —Messrs J. S. Williams and H. H. Hennah. Committee—Messrs W. H. Wynn Williams (chairman), A. F. N. Blakiston, Herdson, Kilgour, C.R.C. ; Glassford, Barnes, U.8.C.; Pavitt and Clark, H.R.C.; Andrews and Reese, A.R.C.; Maxwell and Hesketh; with power to add to their number. Judges—Messrs H. P. MurrayAynsley and G. L. Mellish. Starter—Mr J. Hastings Herdson. Umpire—Mr Fred. H. Digby. Timekeeper—Mr G. Stead. Committee of the day—Messrs A. F. N. Blakiston, Glassford, Pavitt, Herdson, Reese, Ken 1 and Packard, together with all officers pre • viously Darned. The annual regatta on the estuary took place on Thursday afternoon, and despite the threatening appearance of the weather, attracted a fair number of spectators. The racing, except in the case of the Junior Fours under twenty-one, was not very good, the events mostly being of a runaway character. For the first, the Junior Pairoared race, with coxswains, in four-oar outriggers, three boats came to the post, two carrying the colors of the C.R.C, and the third, that of the home crew, the H.R.C. In this, the Heathcote Club, noted for its pluck in competing at our regattas, scored their on'y win, the Kaiapoi Cure Club securing the blue ribbon of the day, the Senior Fouroared race. The Heathcote crew consisted of the two brothers Nankivell, a very promising pair, though scarcely pulling with that finish of stroke we should like to see. However, a good coaching will soon cure this defect, and we look forward to seeing this pair give our boating men some trouble to beat. The two Canterbury Club boats entered were the Illyssus and Tamesis, the latter boat securing second honors. The race was rather a hollow affair, the Heathcote crew being far and away too good for the Canterbury boys, who, however, pulled gamely. For the Rob Roy canoes there were three entries, viz., Messrs Rees, Watson, and Bowron. Mr Rees took the prize easily, and the more honor is due to him, as the canoe was built entirely by himself. The other canoes were quite out of the running, and Mr Watson's craft fully bore out the name she bore—the Snail —by arriving a good last at the winning post. Canoeing is such a pleasant form of boating, that we hope to see regatta committees encourage it; by making a canoe race a feature in all future programme s. Of course the Senior Fours for Mr Jameson's cup was looked upon as the race of the day, involving as it did a trial of strength between the picked four-oared crews of the three clubs competing, viz., the Cure (Kaiapoi). C.R.C, and H.R.C. The Canterbury boat suffered a loss by the compulsory retirement, almost at the last minute, of the stroke oar, Mr Knox, but notwithstanding this, her crew made a good fight, and succeeded in obtaining second place. Gray, who took stroke in Knox's place, rowed a nice steady stroke, and was certainly as good a substitute as could be found. The cup went to the Kaiapoi crew, who were never headed from start to finish. The Kaiapoi crew pulled a nice even stroke, good time, and well together, and fully deserved to win. Their style and form were excellent, and from what we saw of them, we must express a hope that such a good crew will be able to stick together. The backers of the Heathcote crew were somewhat out of their reckoning, as it was expected that they would have been well to the fore. It is, however, only fair to them to say that they fouled ft snag in the eariy part of the race, and by this misfortune, lost a considerable amount of ground. Had it not been for this, we believe they might have taken second honours. The Junior Fours, for youths under twentyone, was, as we have said, the best contested race of the day, two boats being entered from th& C.R.C. and one from the Heathcote. Here again the knowing ones were at fault, as the Tamesis crew were thought not to have much of a chance of pulling off the race. However, they managed to score a well contested win for their club, the Heathcote boys, who rowed very roughly, taking second place. . For the Scullers' Race, with coxswains, four competitors came to the post. Of these Stewart only came down to make up the race, being under the impression that only two had gone down. He resigned his sculls almost immediately. Verdon was a strong favorite for this event, but pulled in anything but good form. He appeared quite out of practice, and was easily beaten by Sibbald, the C.R.C. candidate, who rowed a long swinging stroke, and who won as he liked. The Kaiapoi representative was very badly piloted, and was quite out of the race, though he would with practice make a capital sculler. The Senior Pair-oar race was a good one throughout, and the winners, Jones and Gray in the Illyssus, deserved their win, as they pulled very nicely together, and were certainly as fit as possible; in fact their condition contributed in no small degree to the result, but the finish would have been closer had Howell and Peacock been better steered. The arrangements of the committee throughout were very good, and generally speaking the afternoon's sport passed off successfully. We append the detailed account of the various races:— Junior Pairs and Coxswains (under 18), to be pulled in four-oared boats. Distance, one mile; entrance, 10s. Prize, cupß, Heathcote, H.B.C—(R. Nankivell, lOst 71bs, bow ; .H. Nankivell, lOst 91bs, stroke ; J. Smith, 6st 71bs, cox) ... 1 Tamesis, 0.8.C.—(A. Lean, 9st, bow ; J. R, Lanauze, 9at 61bs, stroke ; J. Shand, 3st3lbs, cox) 2 Ulyasus, C.R.C—(M. Winter, lOst 71bs, bow; A. Glasgon, lOsfc, Btroke; C Miles, Git, COX) Q

A capital start was effected, the Heathcote boys being the first to take the water, with the Illyssus second, and the Tamesis close up. After a short distance had been gone, Tamesis came up and took second place, Heathcote increasing her lead. In this order they proceeded until off the point, when Heathcote spurted and came away with a commanding lead, ultimately winning easily, Tamesis second, Illyssus being right out of the race from the start. Rob Roy Canoes. Distance, one mile (half mile out and return). Entrance, 10s. Prize, £3. Sa'anella (E. Bees) 1 Hine Moa (Bowron) 2 Snail (Watson) 3 Bees took the lead at the start, and was never headed, winning easily; Bowron

coming in second, with Watson a long way astern. Senior Fours with Coxswain (open to all comers). Distance, two miles ; entrance, 20s. Prize, cup given by Mr J. P. Jameson (late Mayoi of Christchurch). Cups or medals to be added by the committee. (Mr Jameson's cup at present held by the 8.8. C.) Cam Cure Club, Kaiapoi—(Dudson, lOst 51bs, bow ; Wearing, lOst, 2 ; Wright, lOst 31bs, 3 ; Winterbourn, list, stroke; Wright, 6st, cox.) 1 Illyssus, C. B.C.—(J. O. Jones, lOst 71bs, bow ; W. Cuff, 12st 51bs, 2 ; H. E. Ternpier, list 71bs, 3 ; J. W. 8. Gray, list 21bs, stroke ; E. Mountfort, 6st 61bs, cox.) 2 Heathcote, H.R.C—(A. Pavitt, bow; Clark, 2 ; F. Pavitt, 3 ; J. W. Davis, stroke ; J. Smith, cox 0 A splendid start was effected on the top of the tide by Mr Herdson, all the boats getting away together and keeping close up until about 300 yards had been gone, when Kaiapoi began to draw ahead, rowing 37: the Illyssus second, rowing 36; Heathcote third, rowing 39. At the corner the Heathcote boat got on even terms with the Illyssus, owing to the cox of the latter taking a very wide sweep. The Kaiapoi boat in the meanwhile had inci eased her lead to such a degree that it was almost a matter of certainty that she would win the race. The Heathcote boat in coming down the channel ran into a stake, and her outriggers got very much bent in getting her off, thus stopping the way of the boat considerably. After two or three game spurts on the part of the Illyssus and Heathcote for second place, the former managed to secure and hold it to the finish, Kaiapoi winning by a number of lengths, Illyssus second, and Heathcote third. Junior Fours under 21. Distance, two miles. Entrance, 10s. Prize, cups or medals. Tamesis, C.R.C.—(W. Callender, 9st 31bs, bow; P. H. Duncan, list 61bs, 2; J. C. Martin, lOst 41bs, 3; Holt, 10it 71bs, stroke; A. Mountfort, 6st, cox) ... 1 Heathcote, H.R.C—(W. Stringer, lOst 71bB, bow; R. Nankivell, lOst 71bs, 2; H. Nankivell, lOst 91bs, 3; F. Sheath, lOst 7lbs, stroke; J. Smith, 6st 71bs, cox) 2 Illyssus, O.R.C.—(J. Collins, lOst 71bs, bow; W. Hartland, list 31bs, 2; M. Davie, 125t,3; E. A. Pavitt, list, stroke;

W. Bean, 6st lOlbs, cox) 0 The Tamesis was quickest away at the ■tart, which was a good one, Heathcote second, and Illyssus close up. In this order they went the first 300 or 400 yards, Tamesis increasing her lead almost every stroke, Holt rowing with the greatest judgment, the Illysus still keeping in the back ground. At the mile the Heathcote crew attempted to close on the Tamesis, but was unable to pass her, the crew rowing strongly and well together. Coming close home, the Tamesis still had a good lead, with Heathcote second, and Illyssus third, all doing their best. Ultimately, Tamesis drew away, and won as above. Scullers' race, with coxswains, to be pulled in stump outriggers. Only one competitor from any one club. Distance, one mile. Entrance, 10s. Prize, Messrs Coates and Oo's Cup. At present held by the H R O Swan, C.R.C. (Sibbald) 1 Moa, C. 8.0. (verdon) 2

Una (Dudson) 3 A very good start was effected with the three boats named, Stewart, who only went up to make a race, retiring when the fourth boat pat in an appearance. Sibbald was the first to show in front, with Verdon close up, and Dudson in the rear. Afc this time the wind was blowing pretty sharply from the eastward, making it somewhat hard work to Bcull in such heavy boats. Sibbald, who pulled a pretty clean stroke throughout, began, after a few lengths had been gone, to draw ahead at a rate which showed he meant winning. Verdon did all he knew to overhaul him, but Sibbald had the lead too far, and came in a winner by several lengths, Verdon second, and Dudson a long way astern. Senior Pairs, with coxswains, open to all comers, members of clubs. Distance, one and a half miles. Entrance, 20s. Prize, Mr Maxwell's cup. Illyssus, C.R.C. (J. W. S. Gray, bow; J. O. Jones, stroke; B. Mountfort, cox) ... 1 Ripple, A.B.C. (Peacock, bow; Howell, stroke; T. Wells, cox) 2 Kiwi, Cure Club (Wright, bow; Winterbourne, stroke") 3 Sylph, U.R.C. (T. S. Sweet, bow; Stewart, stroke) 0 For this event four boats came to the start, the clubs represented being the Cure (Kaiapoi), Canterbury, Avon, and Union. The Hippie, which was pulled by Peacock and Bo well, had many friends, though some thought that the Eaiapoi men in the Kiwi stood a chance for it. The Illyssus also was backed by the C.R.C. men, who fancied that Jones and Gray could pull the cup off, an idea which was justified by the result, as they won by several lengths. A capital start was effected, Illyssus getting the lead, with Ripple second, and Eaiapoi and Sylph close up. Only a short distance had been gone when it was seen that the high wind blowing militated greatly against the chances of the lighter boats, and made it, bar accidents, almost a certainty for the Illyssus, which was the only four-oar in the race. The latter soon got a long lead, and though the Ripple men struggled gallantly it was useless, and they had to be contented with second place, Illyssus winning by several lengths. This concluded the day's sport, and all were safely re-conveyed to town without a single accident occuring to mar the pleasure of the day. We cannot close this report without complimenting the coxswains of the various boats on the admirable manner in which they Bteered them, so far as avoiding fouls by keeping their own water. We only hope that on future occasions they will do the ■ame,