OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 719, 9 October 1876, Page 3

OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON.

The usual formal opening of the boating season took place on Saturday afternoon, and attracted a very large attendance of spectators, the banks of the river near the sheds on both sides being lined with spectators. There was also a goodly number of traps and horsemen on the Avonside road. This year the rowing men were favored with fine weather, which has hitherto been the exception on the opening day. Generally speaking the turn out of boats in the procession was very creditable indeed. Considering that it was the first day of the season, and that all in the boats were out of training, the way in which the boats were sat and the general form, particularly of one or two crews of the fours, was very good. We may especially mention the fours of the Kaiapoi, Heathcote, and Canterbury cluos, the latter a junior four of great promise. There was only one point about the procession which did not go off well, and that was the peaking of oars at the word of command of the marshal. This was not done at all smartly or together, and the result was that the effect was spoiled. Of the races which followed we may say that they were very gamely contested, particularly the four-oars, but in the latter the coxswain of the defeated boat had a good deal to do with the result. The corners were taken with so much sweep as to lose nearly a boat's length, which, with the crews so evenly matched as they were meant, losing the race. The pair-oar events, too, were well contested, and generally the racing, for an opening day, was better than on any previous occasion. We append details of the day's proceedings ; The Procession. Shortly after the hour appointed Mr Thomson marshalled the boats in the following order up stream, near Bowron's: CANOES. Tawea Vision Scud Anonyme Alert Irene Linnet Hine Moa SCULLERS. Dart Bee Vision. PAIR OARS. Una Snowdrop Moa Avon Swan Undine Cygnet Cam Kaka Sylph Tui Naiad. FOUR OARS. Kiwi Tamesis Lurline Waterlily Isis Illyssus Sabrina Cam SIX OAR. Emu (C.R.C.). In this order the procession proceeded at aa easy pace down stream to Stanmore bridge. On arriving there the boatß turned in their own water, and returned up stream in reverse order, tho six leading the way, and the canoes bringing up the rear. As we have eaid, some of the crews showed good form, and the Kaiapoi crew, in the Cam, attracted much attention from the number of medals, trophies of hard won victories, displayed jby them. On arrival at the Willows, where a rope had been stretched across the stream, the boats, or some of them at least, formed a line and peaked oars. Three cheers were then given, and the boating season of 1876-7 was duly inaugurated. The Scratch Races. After a short interval preparations were made for getting off the pair-oar and fouroar events. There were two heats of each, and a deciding one. The course for the former was from Stanmore bridge to the willows, and for the latter from the Cabbage tree to the same winning post, Four-oared Race, with coxswain. About Hit ' f mile. FIRST HEAT.

Illyssus, north bank—(A. B. Johnston, bow ; A. B. Pavitt, 2 ; R. J Lanauze, 3;J. W. Davis, stroke ; C, Mann, cox.) 1 Tamesis, south bank—(Campbell, bow ; J. Martin, 2; T. Grierson, 3 ; J. O. Jones, stroke ; McDougal, cox) ... 2 A good start was effected, the Illyssus crew being quickest away ; a capital race ensued up to Cowlishaw's corner, the Tamesis being oloee up all the way. At the corner, by the cox of the Tamesis taking too much of a sweep, the Illyssus came to the front. Up the reach to the bridge there was a very fine race, the Tamesis crew answering the call of the stroke, who was here making it very warm. The Illyssus, however, still held a lead of about a length, and despite the plucky efforts of Jones, finished about that distance in front of the Tameeiß. SECOND HEAT. Ilyssus, north bank (Clarke, bow : A. Mathias, 2; L. Ollivier, 3 ; A. Fooks stroke) 1 Tamesis, south bank (Lean, bow; T. Searell, 2; F. Pavitt, 3;Gundry, stroke) The Ilyssus took the lead at the start, and maintained it all through, winning by about three lengths. DECIDING HEAT. Ilyssus (A. R. Johnston, bow; A. R, Pavitt, 2; R. J. Lanauze, 3; J. W. Davis, stroke; Mann, cox) 1 Tamesis (Clarke, bow; A. Matthias, 2; L. Ollivier, 3; A. Fooks, stroke) 2 This was a very fine race. Both boats were on even terms up to Cowlishaw's corner, where Ilyssus got a slight lead. Up the reach to the bridge there was a good set to, and both crews were doing their best, Ilyssus leading by about half a length. This they maintained to the winning post. Pair-oar Race—From Stanmore bridge to willows. ■ FIRST HEAT. Hadfield and Jacobsen 1 Caverhill and Morris 2 SECOND HEAT.., Harding and W, C. Jacobsen 1 White and Hawkes 2 FINAL HEAT. Harding and Jacobsen 1 i Hadfield and Jacobsen ... ... ... 2