AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1547, 3 February 1879, Page 3

AQUATICS.

C.E.O. v U.R.C. With a view of increasing the interest in rowing amonpst the boating fraternity generally, the Canterbury Rowing Club some time since sent a challenge to the Union Club to row against them in a series of senior and junior races. The challenge waß accepted by the junior club, aud a programme eventually drawn up and agreed upon, consisting of senior and junior four-oar, pair-oar, and double-sculling races. Once the crews were formed and in training, the day fixed for the contest was looked forward to with much interest. The Union Club, though somewhat slow in accepting the challenge, made up for their apathy afterwards, and lost no opportunity during training to get their crews in good form. It was originally intended that both senior and junior races should come off on the same day, but one or two of the U R C. men were unable to go in training, and the senior events were postponed till the 15th inst., the junior races only being fixed for Saturday last. The course for the four-oar race was two miles, from Wright's to the Willows below the boatsheds, and that for the pair-oarracefromßutterfield's to the Willows, a distance of a mile and a half. In the fouroar race the U.R.C. used the Hoathcoto, and the C.R.O. the Tamesis, both fixed-seat outrigged boats, though not of equal merits, the former being a much better boat than the Tamesis. From the appended details, it will be seen that the first event resulted in a wellearned victory for the Union Club, their representatives rowing in fine form throughout the race. In the pair-oar race the Union crew mot with an accident at starting, the result being an easy victory for the C.R.C. The following is a detailed account of the two events: — Fouu-Oar Race, in outriggers; distance, two miles U.R.C Heathote (north bank)—J T. Smith, lOst 31b ; F. 1). Kestevcn, lOst L<11); A. i'l. Hawkins, lOst 91b ; W. M. Jovnt, lOst Gib; E. Manning (cox.), sst 91b ... 1 C.R.C—Tamesis (south bank)—J. p. Gricr>ou, lOst 121 b; E. M. Boulton, 10at91b; C B. Dobson, list 101 b; A. C. Nottingham, 9st; C. Dixon (cox),s.tßlb 2 At the given signal to go, both crews gripped the water at the sumo moment, but the lleailicote, a far superior boat to the Tamesis, was the first to get well under weigh, and, alter the first dozen was lending by half a length. Beth boats were now tra;eiling at a hot pace, the Heathcoto'a

crow, especially, ghowmg capital form. _ In the first hundred yards, Smith's crew gained a lead of a length. Smt before reaching the corner at Buttorfteld's, (jrierson called upon his crew for an extra spurt, wilh' a view of Rotting the advantage of the first turn, but though they commenced to gain on their opponents, the Heathcote crew vrci'S equal to the emergency, and, with a game spurt, held and again slightly increased their lead. At the fi'llmongery, the Heathcote was leading by a length and a-half, and Smith eased off a liMle to be r< ady for a spurt for the corner at Pratt's. After rounding this point to coming again into the straight, there was a distance of two lengths between the boats. By a senoa of |!»me spurts, Grierson continually drew on the leadir g boat, but his crew did not appear able to hold out long enough to get on even terms. At the corner below Herdson's the boats were travelling just, a length apart. At Cowlishaw's the Heathnofeagain drew away, and passed under the S immore road bridge with a good load of a couple of lengths, Smith appearing to have the race veil in hand. From this to the Willows there was but little change in the position of the boats, the Union Club's cmw eventually winning a spkndidly contested race by about two lengths. Pair-oar Race in outrigger*; distance oneand a half miles, C.R.C.—Cam (south bank), J. F. Grierson, lOat 12!b; E. M. Boulton, lOst 91b ; J. Laurie (cox), 4st 51b ... ... ... 1 U.R.O.—Sylph (north bank), J. T. Smith, lOst nib; P. D. Kesteven, list; W. Woledge (cox), sst 2 The Cam's crew were the first to catch the water, and, with the firßt few strokes, gained a slight lead. Just after this the wire came off the outrigger on the stroke side of the Sylph, and the Cam drew away and easily increased the lead previously held. Smith gallantly tried to make the best of the aceident,but his bow grew excited and persistently shouted to Smith to give up the contest, thus spoiling all chance of overhauling the leading boat. This, of course, allowed Grierson to row away and win the race as he liked. The accident is to be regretted, as from the result of the first race, and the fact of two out of the former crew again rowing against each other, the interest in the event had become doubly interesting to the members and friends of both clubs, and a very close contest was anticipated. It being late when the second race was over, the double sculling event was postponed till Friday next, when Q-rierson and Boulton will probably again rneot Smith and Kesteven in a mile and bar accidents it should rosult in a close contest