AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 421, 18 October 1875, Page 2

AQUATICS.

OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON..

The opening of the boating season took place on Saturday afternoon. All the items, of the programme, which consisted of a procession of boats, and fcur-oared scratch, matches, being carried outmost successfully,, the large attendance of members of various clubs, with the additional number of boats,, showing the increased interest novs being, taken in boating matters. The weather up to about sis o’clock was : all that could be desired, and the display of bunting from the flagstaffs on the sheds, from poles placed at short intervals at either side of the river for some distance towards the bridge, and a line of streamers stretchy

across at a point immediately opposite tie brewery, added to the large number of spectators who lined the bank*, cave that portion of the river a very gay appearance, mark also lively by the number of members in uniform, some engaged launching their boats, while others were paddling backwards and forwards. The presence of G. Oppcnheim’a band playing at intervals also tended to increase the pleasure of watching the proceedings.

The various boats having been launched for the procession, they were sent up the river shortly before three o’clock by the Marshal, Mr J. H. Herdson, who followed iu his new double-scull pleasure boat, pulled by Mr R, P. Crosbie, marshal at last year’s opening, and Mr W. Packard, captain of the late L.B.C. The leading boat having reached a point immediately opposite the cemetery, turned, the other boats following the example. On the arrival of the marshal, the boats were placed in order, and the word to start having been passed along, the boats pulled down the river, the band striking up as the pioneer canoe was seen to round the turn behind the sheds, and continued playing while the procession pulled along. And here it may be mentioned that, at this particular point of the proceedings, Mr Hesketh’s battery was conspicuous by its absence. The following is the order in which the boats passed the sheds: — CANOES. Shaughraun, Clyta, Hine Moa, Satanella, Scud. SCULLING BOATS, Pet (private boat), Dart, C.R.C.; Vision, C.R.0.; Bee, C.B.C. PAIR OARS, Phosphorus, C, R.O. ; Snowdrop, C.R.C.; Cygnet, 0.R.C.; (with following pair-oars-stump); Swan, C.R.C.; Una, U.R.0.; Kaka, C.R.C. ; Moa, C.R.C.; Kelpie, U.R.0.; Avon, C.R.C. ; Undine, U.8.C.; Tui, C.R.C.; Elfin [private). PAIR OARED OUTRIGGERS. Sylph, U.R.C.; Cam, C.R.C. FOUR-OARED INRIGGED. Kiwi, C.R.C.; Lurline, U.R.O. FOUR-OARED OUTRIGGED, Isis, C.R.C. ; Tyne, C.R.C. ; Tamesis, C.R.C.; Illyssus, C.R.C.; Sabrina, U.R.C.; Water Lily, H.R.0.; Thetis, C.R.C. SIX-OARED INRIGGED. Emu, C.B.C. The boats were rowed past slowly, and the last boat having passed through Stanmore bridge, the order was given to turn, each boat rounding sharply in its own water. A return in quicker time and in reversed order was then made to two warps tightened across the river, opposite the brewery, and separated about three boats’ lengths. All the boats being in position and ready, the order was given to “ peak oars,” followed by “ down oars,” and the “ peak” having been repeated, the Marshal called for three cheers for the success of the season. These were heartily given, and three more having been lustily given for the Marshal, the boats were dismissed to their respective sheds. The next part of the programme was the four-oared outrigged Scratch Matches (in heats) for prizes valued £4, the course being from to the Willows at the brewery. The following were the crews drawn, with boats for the first heat. We may say, that as only “ amateur” time was Taken for the events pulled off, and as this might tend to mislead, we have not recorded at.; and to give the weights of the contesting .crews will hardly be thought necessary on the opening day. FIRST HEAT. jlllyssus (south bank)—Martin, bow; A. R. Pavitt, 2 ; L. Ollivier, 3 ; J. O. Jones, stroke. Smith (cox) 1 "Tamesis (north bank) —Cook, bow ; M. Bowron, 2 ; W. Hartland, 3; W. H, Gundry, stroke. M, Dougal (cox) ... 2 Neither crew got away well, dhe Illyssus ■however “ chopping” the water first, maintaining and increasing the advantage until about 150 yards had been rowed, having ■drawn away a clear boat’s length. This ■distance was improved to three boat’s length at Herdson’s corner, when the Tamesis’ crew (who had up to this time being .pulling most unsteadily) settled down to more even work, drawing gradually on the 'leading boat. The Illyssus, seeing their -opponents coming up, increased the pace, and shot Stanmore Bridge three clear lengths ■ahead. After passing the bridge, the Tamesis worked well and evenly, lessening the distance from the leading •stroke. Here, however, the first of The season was perceptible, as the “ staying ” condition, with power to increase the strokes •was conspicuously absent. , The boat was however pluckily rowed, the Illyssus only passing the flag by about one and threequarter lengths ahead. SECOND HEAT. Tamesis (south bank) —W. Callender, bow; Nankeville, senr, 2 ; H. H. Loughnan, 3; J. W. Davis, stroke. M‘Dougall (cox) 1 Hlysus (north bank) —Nankeville, junr, bow ; H. E. Templer, 2 ; Lanauze, 3; J. Callender, stroke. Smith (cox) ... 2 The Illyssus was the first.to chop the water, the Tamesis however lifting clean, gaining thus a trifling advantage, which she kept increasing luntil the | first winding was reached. There the Illyssus spurted, and when Herdson’s corner had been reached was coming up, when the Tamesis shot across the course, her tiller slightly fouling the nose of the other boat, besides taking her water and leaving a wash. At Stanmore bridge the Tamesis cleared through about half a clear length ahead, and spurted, gaining about half a length. The spurt in the leading boat was replied to by the Illyssus, gaining each stroke, but fell away again before reaching the flag, the Tamesis passing about one and a small quarter length ahead. A protest was entered by the losing boat, but was afterwards withdrawn. CANOE RACE. (Distance from Stanmore bridge to Brewery.) Scud (Sweet) 1 Hine Moa (Kilgour) 2 Satanella (Rees) ... 3 The Scud jumped away with the lead, and was soon about ten yards ahead, the Satanella and Hine Moa running close for some distance. The Scud, however, continued to draw away, and passed the flag about twenty yards in advance, the other two having a hard •tussle for second place; the Hine Moa beiug, however, at the finish about her own length ahead of the last canoe. After this race a slight shower of rain fell, which had the effect of thinning the attendance very much before the final event, though it effected one good—namely, laying the dust caused by the horsemen and traps riding and driving along the river bank during each event,

FOUR-OARED OUTRIGGERS. (Deciding heat)

IPyssus (north bank) —Martin, bow ; A. K. Pavitt, 2 ; L. Ollivier, 3 ; J.O. Jones,

stroke famesis (south hank) —W, Callender, bow; IT. H, Loughnan, 2 ; Nankeville, senr, 3; J. W. Davis, stroke

both boats started well, and at the first turn the nose of the Tamesis was showing slightly in front. Both crews determined to do their level best from start to finish, putting on hard at Herdson's corner, the Illyssus being splendidly steered, and bow woiking Pice mad while hugging the bank, cat out the Tamesis completely, shooting ahead, and leaving a strong wash for the benefit of their friends. The Illyssus cleared the bridge about a length and a little more ahead, and now hard pulling became the order of the evening until the flag was reached, the Tamesis gaining and losing distance alternately during the distance, both strokes answering well to the calls from their respictive friends on the bank. The crew of the Illyssus had, however, the advantage of a long spell between their first and final heat, which told strongly in their favor at the finish, their boat passing the winning point a clear length ahead. Though in these contests there was the unsteadiness in the working of the men to be looked for on an opening day, there was still a determination to stick shown by the several crews, that bespeaks hard contested matches during the coming season; in fact it would difficult to find two crews exhibiting pluckier pulling than was shown in the deciding heat. The duties of starter, judge, and umpire were efficiently discharged by Messrs R, P. Crosbie, F. Pavitt, and W. Packard respectively. The whole of the arrangements for the opering had been carefully prepared, the result being as before said, an unqualified success.