AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1232, 14 February 1878, Page 3

AQUATICS.

THE COLONIAL REGATTA AT WANGANUI. SECOND DAY. [By Tblkobaph.] [lulom: thb cobbbßpondent of the pbe3s.j This morning the regatta was started with the District back, two miles ; Ist prize, .£2O; four-oared inrigged gigs, with coxswain, restricted to crews from Patea, Wanganui, and Bangitikei counties. Union Club's Transit—Spurdie, McDonough, Brough, Clancey (stroke) 1 Wanganui Club's Waterlily—Powle, Duncan, Holdich, Wheeler (stroke) 2 Union Club's Maiden ... 3 Then came the race of the meeting, for the New Zealand championship, four miles, outrigger. Thiß race was of course the blue ribbon. The crews have been watched eagerly since their arrival, and it soon became apparent that the championship of 1878 must be —oh by Dolly Varden or Duncan's Canterbury men. Opinions have varied very much, but the latter have as a rule had the preference. I hear of 2 to 1 given in several places on Duncan. Then they would come back to level money, but still rowing men fancied the winners since the first spin they took. Duncan's stroke was looked upon as very dangerous. He has a stroke that drives the boat along but does not appear to exhaust men, as is surely the case with the fast stroke. It was a splendid piece * of rowing when he started, rowing 42 every minute as regularly as clockwork for a imil<\ Then he came back to that killing long stroke of 39, which was kept the rest of the way until 600 yards off the winning post, when he ran up to 42, never getting more. At 11.15 a.m. the Dolly Varden passed up the river to the starting post, which was four miles up. They seemed in rattling form, with a look of rowing to the end, and brought forth the praise of a good number, but that Bhort stroke did not appear to be thought much of by the knowing ones. At 11.25 a.m. the "BoyB" (Canterbury Rowing Club) followed after the "terrors." It looked nice rowing, but no pace came from it. Every one thought the style too good to look at and proxed correct. It is a great pity such a light crew came, it being proved in every race they took part in. What is the surprise ? Duncan's Canterbury crew are sweeping round the corner, rather late, the last boat having gone up 25 minutes before. All eyes and glasses are turned upon them. as they come along with that long sweeping etroke which Wanganui people have admired so much. The cry soon goes up, "Favourites," and as they go by they gain general admiration. Backers of Wellington do not like it, but think it advisable to keep quiet. Duncan had a satisfied grin, and the rest of his men looked as if they nad a pleasant duty to perform. They are soon out of sight, and backers fortfy themselves with an extra refresher. At 12.33 the starters pistol is heard, the boys being first off by a foot, Dolly two feet in front of Duncan's, who had middle-water, Wellington and "The Boys" having outride places. The Dolly gradually gained on the youngsters, and in 100 yards were level, Duncan's a foot behind in lumpy water. At 150 yards they were all about level, and in 200 yards Duncan's led by a foot, still in rough water (the other two being close into the two banks in smooth water), the Dolly Varden four feet in front of the Boys. At 300 yards the positions were about tho same, through the spurting of Dolly and the Boys. For the first time Duncan spoke, and the Heathcote showed that she was going to put on more pace, as she jumped away stroke after stroke. Woods up to this had been able to see his rival's stroke, but never again did he get so near. The Heathcote captain still kept his men going, and at the end of 700 yards were a length ahead. Still Duncan made his crew keep at at until the mile had been reached, when two iengtbs separated them. He here eased off, but took up a loner swinging stroke, which soon showed it was doing its work, still increasing their lead. At this point the Dolly spurted, and seemed to gain for an instant ; but the ■ Heathcote captain continued to keep his men at the long swing stroke, and eoon was going away from Dolly foot by foot. The bridge is now reached (a little more than half way) and the Heathcote leads by five engths,'the crew rowing easily within themselves, but still at it. The Dolly's men try a spurt, but do not appear to gain. The Boys are getting further and further behind, being out of it after 100yds from start. They have no chance of pulling up the distance which separates them. Here the Heathcote cox steers badly, and Hearn takes advantage of it, steering close into the flags. Still Duncan leads by six lengths, and appears to get tired of keeping about the same distance ahead, so calls on his men, who come directly. Away tho Heathcote goes, leaving tho Dolly hopelessly behind. They are now half a mile from home ; Duncan calls on his crew, to show that they can go faster, when the old Heathcote travels as she has never done before, appearing to hardly touch the mater. On they come at a terrific <paee« amidst deafening cheers. The gun as jired, and proclaims that tho chainjjpiojwhip a£ 1878 hat gone to Canterbury

by sixteen lengths easily. The band immediately strikes up " See the conquering hero comes." The cheering wos most hearty, special ones being given for Duncan, who h;is had a rather hard office to fulfil, but in spite of it has trained his crew to perfection, and they may place a good deal of the win to him for his splendid judgment and stroke. The very first time this crew took the water, boating men said they had a stroke whioh would require a lot of beating, and they prophesied correctly. "Bargee" and "Bow-oar" have both beon very full of praise to Duncan since his arrival, and justly so, as it is universally acknowledged that he rows the best stroke yet seen on the Wanganui. It was a treat to see the way he handled his crew to-day. When the other two boats were leading ho appeared as contented as possible, and by quiet words kept his excited men in a cool mood. To tho rest of the crew too much praise cannot bo given. Under trying circumstances they proved themselves equal to the occasion, and whenever their captain required them they were ready. They are men who require a cool captain, as they always wish to run away, and make play at their best. They have all proved what I thought, that they must win the ! big race. I cannot personally name any other man in the crew except stroke for special mention, as the three all rowed so admirably, and have heard Duncan state that he must thank them for the way in which thoy have carried out his ordors, and in fact could not have done so well had they not. It is the most popular win of the meeting, the crew haying made themselves very much liked since . their arrival. The Dolly Varden crew have also trained hard, but they must acknowledge (as they have done) that the best men have won —no fouling, nothing to give any reasons for dissatisfaction at the result secured. This is the first time they have been beaten for the championship, but I am sorry to hear that the crew is now done away with, this being their last regatta. It is certain that they have held the championship longer than any other. For the "Boys" I can say but little, they have rowed plncky stern races. In every race they have been shamefully beaten, and I tnwt that for the future the C.R.C. will remember that it requires full set men to row for the championship and other crack races. Champion Fot/ks—About four miles. Ist prize, .£150; 2nd, ,£lO. Ontriggers, with or without coxswair. Christchurch Club's Heathcote (Carter, Taylor, Harkness, Duncan, stroke) ... 1 Wellington Club's Dolly Varden—(Hearn, McGrath Walker, Woods, stroke) ... 2 Christchurch Club's Illysus ... 3 Ladies' Plate—Three miles. Ist prize, J 230; second do, £5. Fonr-oarerl out-riegera, with or without coxswain. Tho winnpr of the Champion Fours was not allowed to compete. Wellington Club's Dolly Varden 1 Wanganui Club's Ticrcr Lily 2 For the Ladies' Plate, Dolly Varden crew, Wanganui R.C., and the Boys started, the first-named winning easily -leading from start to finish. Wanganui second, and the Boys no where. About 4000 were present, a great number of excursionists being amongst them. The other races are local, so do not interest your readers.