AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 547, 20 March 1876, Page 3

AQUATICS.

ROB ROY-CANOE REGATTA. A novelty in aquatics here, took place on the Avon on Saturday afternoon, in the shape of a Rob Roy Canoe Regatta, under the auspices of the Pilgrim Canoe Club, recently started in Christchurch. The success attendant upon this, which must be looked upon somewhat in the lightofan experiment, induces us to express a hope that the club will ere long and before the boating season closes, get up another pleasant afternoon’s sport. The meet throughout was a success, though several of the entries made did not come up to the scratch. The places of the absentees, however, were filled by several volunteers, and generally speaking,all theract s were well filled and contested. The interest taken in the affair by the general public was very great, both sides of the river being lined by spectators, and there was also a goodly number of carriages and equestrians who watched the races from start to finish. For the Ladies’ Prize, the first event, seven competitors were colored on the card, but of these Satanella, Peri, and Tortoise were scratched, leaving three to show in front of Mr Pavitt. Bowron was the favorite at the start, though Sweet had some admirers. After the first hundred yards, however, Bowron got away, and won easily, Miles crying a go at Stanraore bridge. The course for this race was from the Willows, opposite the malthouse, to Herdsou’s. For the Allcomers there were five competitors, and Jones carried all the money, a confidence which he justified by winning easily, with Bowron second. The Pilgrims’ Oup, a handicap, brought out three, Sweet starting at scratch, having the lightest boat, with Bowron a length, and C. Miles fifty yards in front of him, Miles was the winner, but we incline to the belief that Bowron could have pulled this off also if he had liked, as he closed rapidly on Miles, who had evidently had enough of it some distance from homo. The steeplechase was looked forward to as likely to produce some fun, and was by far the best race of the day. Four went for it, but Hawkcs was out of it at an early period, and left the race to Jones, Ollivier, Bowron, and Sweet. The conditions of the race were, to si art above Bowron’s, paddling to the projecting piece of land opposite the boat sheds. The competitors had then to land, and, carrying their canoes, run fifty yards over a very broken bit of ground, which in racing parlance might be called ‘'fair hunting country,” launching their canoes again and ultimately winning at Stanmore bridge. Of course the juvenile element, which was largely represented on the occas’on, looked forward with some interest to a probable upset and consequent durkinfr of one or more of those engaged, and this part of the programme, though quite involuntarily, was supplied by Bowron, who performed a very neat header into the river shortly after his getting his canoe into the water. With commendable pluck he attempted to right his canoe and get under weigh again, but the Fates were against him, and after a second capsize his canoe sank under him, and he had to be rescued by a pleasure boat cruising close by. The race, after a very fine struggle between Ollivier and Jones, was won by the latter literally on the post, as there was only about two feet between them. This concluded a capital afternoon’s sport, and, as we have said, we hope the club will give us many more such. We append details of the various races LADIES’ PRIZE, Peep o’ Day (M. Bowron) 1 Scud (T. S. Sweet) 2 Linnet (0. Miles) 0 On the word being given to go, Bowron dashed away at a clipping pace, Sweet being in close attendance with Miles, who had scarcely strength enough to compete with his rivals, in rear. Sweet now began to put on steam, and a capital race ensued between him and Bowron to the Stanmore bridge, where Miles called a go. Bowron now increased his lead, and ultimately won. ALL COMERS’ RACE. Rap Rap (J. O. Jones) 1 Peep o’ Day (M. Bowron) 2 Pen (L. Ollivier) 3 Scud (E. Rees) ... ... ... ... 0 Jones took the lead early in the race, which he increased and was never headed, winning with any amount to spare, A good race for second place ensued between Bowron and Ollivier, ending in the former securing it. PILGRIMS’ CUP (HANDICAP), Linnet, 50 yards start (C. Miles) 1 Peep o’ Day,one length start(M, Bowron) 2 Rip Rap, scratch (T. S. Sweet) ? A good start was effected, and after a short distance had been covered, Bowron began to increase his) handicap by several lengths, getting ahead of Sweet by about four or five lengths, and gradually gaining on Miles. Coming down to the Stanmore bridge it was evident that Bowron would soon overhaul Miles, who, however, paddled pluckily, and still held a lead of four or five lengths. Sweet was here some five lengths behind, the leading division. Coming down to the winning post, which was near the Superintendent’s gate, Bowron got closer to Miles, and to all appearance could easily have passed him ; however, he did not, and the “ litt'e ’un” passed the post first by about two lengths, Sweet about three lengths behind Bowron. STEEPLECHASE (LAND AND WATER), Ripple (J. O. Jones) 1 Peri (L. Ollivier) 2 Linnet (T, S. Sweet) 3 Scud (Hawkes) ... ... ... 0 Pcr-p O’Day (M. Bowron) 0 A capital start was effected, Bowron, Jones, and Sweet being first to show in front

in the order named, with Ollivier in close attendance, and Hawkcs last. In this order they came to near the turn by the Boatsheds, when Jones and Bowron came into collision. The former, however, by dint of good paddling, recovered himself quickly, and Jones, Bowron, Ollivier, and Sweet came to the landing-place all together. Jones was quickest out and away with his canoe, Ollivier being second, Bowron and Sweet on about equal terms. Jones got a good lead on the flat, but Ollivier got over the ground in fine style, and was into the water almost asquick’as Jones, Sweet being third, and Bowron fourth, Hawkes being out of it. A splendid race now ensued between Jones and Ollivier, Bowron being third, and Sweet fourth. After about a hundred yards had been gone, Bowron's canoe capsized, and despite his plucky efforts to continue the race he was out of it, his canoe filling. The interest in the race now centred in Jones and Ollivier, Sweet not being able to get up to the leaders. For some short distance Jones had a slight lead, but Ollivier, by a series of spurts, managed to get on equal terms, and a fine set-to ensued, from the stile to near the bridge both canoes being level. Coming near to the bridge Jones put on a little more go, and ran in a winner by about two feet, amidst great cheering. This concluded the racing. Mr Pavitt deserves credit for the excellence of his starts, and Messrs Crosbie and Maxwell discharged their duties very efficiently.