BOAT RACES AT KAIAPOI.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2259, 25 May 1881, Page 3

BOAT RACES AT KAIAPOI.

A number of races between the sculling boats of the Cure Boating Club were successfully carried out yesterday. Although very little notice had been given of the proposed contests, there was a large gathering of the public to witness the events. The weather was truly lovely, and t he river never in better condition for a boat race, being as smooth as a mill pond. The Cure Boating Club has now been in existence over a period of fifteen years, and no club in the colony has been more successful, or can show so long a sideboard full of public trophies, as it can. The events of Tuesday remind us of the contest which took place at Kaiapoi exactly fourteen years ago, between the Ariel and Black Eagle, the former the crack Kaiapoi boat, and the latter the crack Christchurch boat of the period. Great interest centred in the match referred to, which was over a six-mile course, and six long miles too. It was gamely won by the Ariel’s crew, Messrs 0. E. Dudley, W. Burnip, K. Wright.W. Wright, J. Bennington (oox,), healing the Black Bagla men, Messrs D. Keece, B. Bmollie, J. Dawson, B. Dawson, and J. Milaom (cox ) After this 8 pair-oared race was rowed, and then came a small race, in which the Cure boat, a craft built by Mr E. H. Mathews, came out, and from that time forward the success of the club has been

marked with but few interruptions. A pleasant recollection of old times suggested to the worth; president and manage?* of tho dub that yesterday might be rendered an enjoyable one to members of the Club by having a series of races. No sooner was the proposal mooted than it was acted upon, and nine events over short courses wore got off daring the afternoon. The result of tho racing and the interest taken in boating, showed tho members of the Club that with, say, four instead of only two sculling boats they might on any holiday hold a very nice regatta. The courses wore from the suspension bridge to a buoy at Lock's, and win off Eokersley and Maofarlane’s Wharf. Mr G. H. Wearing, president of the Cura Club, acted as judge, Mr G. Pearce as starter, while Mr John Perrin, an army veteran, attended to the discharge of the winning guns. The local brass band added music to tho success of tho proceedings. The events were rowed in the following order : DOUBLE-SCULLS RACE. Weka—J. Winterbourne and A. Winterbourne ... . 1 Mako Mako—C. Wright and Q. Wright ... 2 Tho boats kept well together to the turn, when tho Winterbournes drew away from the Wrights, and though tho race was very fast and close, the Weka managed to score a length and a-half. DOUBLE-SCULLS RACE. Mako Mako (R. Day, J. Smith) 1 Weka —J. Perrin, H. Dayman 2 In this race the Mako won easily. SINGLE-SCULLS RACE. Mako—J. Winterbourne + Weka —B. Day f Both scullers went away from a level start, and hugged each other’s company all the distance, tho excitement at tho finish being intensified by the appearance of a certain dead heat. The judge was decided in his verdict, and tho scullers have to name another day to decide the tie. SINGLE-SCULLS RACE. Weka—G. Wright 1 Mako—J. Perrin 2 The result of this race, after the first halfmile, was seen to be in Wright’s favour, who won with two lengths to spare. SINGLE SCULLS RACE. Weka—J. Bmith 1 Mako—C. Wright 2 At the start, Wright fouled the bridge, but made up with his opponent. A smart race took place on the return up stream, which was in favor of tho Mako, hut Wright ran foul of a sail boat, giving Smith a victory by a length and b half. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ RACE. Weka—D. Dayman, D. Latto (Foresters) ... 1 Mako—A. Hunt, J. Dippenheim (Oddfellows) ... 2 Soon after the stait a foul occurred, hut the boats having been cleared, the Mako wentaway with a good lead to the turning buoy, after rounding which, however, the Foresters put it on, and came in winners by three quarters of a length.

KAIAPOI BRASS BAND RACE. Weka—B. H. Mathews, W. Wright ... 1 Mako —P. Pearce, T. Winterbourne 2 The Mako passed the bridge down stream first, but owing to the oeo-saw way in which tho coxswain steered, was hopelessly out of the race. A game run for home was made, and the winning musicians seemed to bo more “blown out” after a stiff pull than they would have been in playing a set of quadrilles.

SINGLE SCULLING MATCH. Make—A. Winterbourne 1 Weka—H. Eayman ... ... 2 Winterbourne took the lead and kept it, winning with plenty to spare. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES 1 MATCH.

Weka—W. Hollier, A. Clark (Oddfellows) 1 Mako—Q. Templeton, J. Hempleman (Foresters) 2 In this event the Foresters, who made a good show of winning with the lead obtained, were beaten on the race np stream, the more practised oarsmen of the Oddfellows’ 'crew winning with two or three lengths in hand. The band, at the conclusion, gave the national anthem, and three cheers followed for the Cure Club.