AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1071, 3 December 1877, Page 2

AQUATICS.

C.R.C. MAIDEN FOURS. In addition to the usual large and varied programme, the Canterbury Rowing Club decided at the commencement of the season to offer prims to be competed for by men who had never won an advertised race on the Avon, hoping thereby to bring forward a greater number of crews to take part in the more important events. This had the effect of creating a great deal of interest in racing amongst the new members, and about the middle of October crew s began to form with a view of taking part in a maiden four-oar race, that being the first event of the additional races. This race, however, being fixed for the Ist of December, the crews did not show up very readily, thinking, no doubt, that such an event would not require six weeks’ steady training. One crow seems to have been of a different opinion, and for three weeks previous to the other men commencing work, Mersrs E. R. Pavitt, J. R. Kvans, A. Pavitt, and E. J. Paul, started » steady and regular course of training in a heavy inrigged boat, Mr M. JBowron kindly consenting to coach them. Three weeks later on two other crews finally settled down to a regular course of training, though they did nou C!ierh it advisable to commence with the inrigged practice boat. This, in addition to a -rood number practising for the sculling races, had the effect of giving the neighborhood ol the boat-sheds a very animated appearance night and morning, and, judging by the mant bers who assembled to witness the racing on I Saturday, ii was evident that a good deal of | interest was Being taken by boating men and I their friend* in the result of the fcaiden fooft

For some little time before the race, Mr Pavitt’s crew were being freely backed to pull off the event, and owing to their steady training and the plucky exertions on the part of their stroke throughout the race, his friends were not disappointed, though at an early period in the contest it looked almost a certainty for the opposition crew, Undoubtedly the winning crew owe their success in a great measure to their coach, who spared no time or trouble in his endeavours to teach them to Sull in something like good form, having been own with them either in the boat or running on the bank every day from the commencement of their training. The race was pulled over a mile course, from a little below Butterfield’s to the comer below Herdson’s, Mr J. O. Jones acting as starter, and Mr T. Grierson officiating in the capacity of judge. Subjoined are the particulars of the two heats.

FIRST HEAT. Electric, south bank—T. Taylor, list 51b, stroke; H. Bruster, list 4lb, No. 3; E. J. Staveley, 10st 101 b, No. 2 ; G. Bell, lOst 61b, bow (Mann, fist, cox.) 1 Tyne, north hank —E. Hawkes, lOst 61b, stroke ; M. S. Smith, lOst 101 b, No. 3 ; R. Smith, lOst 101 b, No 2 ; G. Douglas, lOst 81b, bow (Dixon, 4st 91b, cox.) ... ... 2 The Electric got away with a slight lead, which was increased to fully a length and a half before getting round Pratt’s corner. After passing the turn, Hawkes put on a spurt and pulled gamely home, but his opponents bad the race well in hand, and won a good heat by a couple of lengths, SECOND HEAT. Electric, north bank —E. R. Pavitt, lOst 101 b, stroke; J. R. Evans lOst 81b, No. 3; A. R. Pavitt, list 111 b, No. 2 ; E. J. Paul, lOst, bow (Dixon, 4st 9lb, cox.) ... 1 Tyne, south bank—T. Taylor, Hat 51b, stroke; H. Bruster, list 41b, No. 3;E. J. Stavely, lOst 101 b, No. 2; G. Bell, lOst 61b, bow (Mann, fist, cox.) 2 Both boats got well away together, and from the vigorous and steady manner in which the crews settled down to their work it was evident they both meant doing their level best. After going about fifty yards the Electric was leading by about two feet, and from the way in which Pavitt was pulling it was pretty clear that he had made up his mind to get a good lead if possible going up the straight towards the Tannery, trusting to the training of his crew to cut his opponents down from the start. On getting to the comer at Butterfield’s the Electric still only held a very slight lead, her crew doing their utmost to increase the speed. “ Quicker forward, boys ! ” was given by Pavitt, and almost simultaneously No. 2 caught an unmistakeablo crab, the button of the oar slipping from the outrigger, and the oar itself going deep down in the water. This of course caused the boat to heel over and lose way altogether, and it was thought to be almost a certainty that the mishap would put the Electric out of the race. “ Put it on Taylor!” “ Now’s yer time ! ” was shouted by the Tyne’s backers, and Taylor did “ put it on.” With the assistance of No. 3, and without an audible murmur, even from stroke, No. 2 got his oar right, and the Electric was again under weigh, her crew biting their Ups and settling down to a very stem chase amidst loud shouts of encouragement from their supporters. Going up the straight past the Tannery the Tyne still maintained a long lead, her crew doing their utmost to keep the advantage they had so unexpectedly gained, whilst Pavitt and his crew were straining every muscle in their bodies to lessen the distance between the rival boats. Just before commencing to round Pratt’s comer the bow of the Electric was on a level with the rudder of the Tyne, and by good steering on the part of Dixon it was a neck and neck race before getting into the straight. At this point the excitement on the banks was most intense, more especially when it was seen that the Electric was steadily gUding ahead. Taylor here put on a good spurt, and no doubt Pavitt would have done the same had it been possible, but he bad been pulling his quickest and strongest stroke from where the mishap occurred, and still showed no signs or inclination to diminish it. For a short distance the Tyne gained a Uttle, and at the mile tree was almost on level terms with the Electric, but the crew of the latter boat were in capital training and pulling well together, and despite the game endeavors of their opponents, won a most exciting and pluckily-pulled race by a length and a half, Pavitt receiving well-merited praise for his excellent stroke and great exertions throughout the whole distance. In the interval between the heats some scratch double-scull races were got up for the coxwains, but these were attended with a series of mishaps, the final heat, which was won by Shand and Johnson, being the only one that was at all close.