GREYMOUTH CHRISTMAS SPORTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 307, 31 December 1868, Page 2

GREYMOUTH CHRISTMAS SPORTS.

THE REGATTA. On Saturday the weather, which had been bo fine on the previous day, took a change for the worse, and the heavy overcast predicted a down-pour, which eventually occurred, and put a stop to the proceedings. There was a good muster of spectators, and great interest was taken in the various matches. The schooner Martha and Lavinia was made the flagship. The following races were contestad : — First Race — For all Watermen pulling a pair of scnlls in waterman's boats. There were three entries for this race, namely, Dispatch, John Banner ; All Nation, H. Bowie ; Unity, John Spotswood. The three boats got well away together, but soon after the Unity drew gradually ahead, which she maintained throughout, coming in the winner by about four or five boat lengths ahead of the AH Nations, the Dispatch having given up. ' Second Race — For bona fide Amateurs pulling four oars. There were four entries' for this race, viz., Frolic — S. Ollivier, T. Horton, G. Taylor, S. Barclay, R. Sale, coxswain ; Amateur — F. Oliver, W. Wright, W. Buckingham, F. Cohen, D. Cohen, coxswain ; Dispatch — T. Lochhead, R. Lochtiead, P. Robertson, T. Diaiiio'nd, Tommy, coxswain ; Comet — R. Mackay, Rankin, Leatham, Taylor, Dearing, coxswain. This was considered to have been the race of the day, as all the crews had Been in training for some time before, but we were sorry to see the race marred in a great degree by the bad steering of the Comet's coxswain, who was altogether too young and inexperienced. The boats got well away together, but the Comet soon fouled the Frolic, edging her over into the shallow water. No sooner had she got clear of the Frolic than on she went direct for the Amateur, causing the crew to unship their oars, and, in our opinion, putting their chance of winning entirely out of the question. The Frolic was the first to round the flag boat off Arney street, Comet second, Dispatch and Amateur well together. Coming up the river, the Comet drew gradually ahead, and the upper flag-boat was rounded — Comet first, Frolic second, Amateur and Dispatch well together. This order was kept the next time round, but rounding the flag-boat off the coal wharf for the ! list time, the Frolic and Comet fouled, as did also the Dispatch and Amateur, the boats eventually passing the flagship — Comet, Ist ; Frolic, 2nd ; Dispatch, 3rd ; Amateur, 4.tli, but all well together. It was a very exciting race throughout, and the different crews p llled extremely well. Several protests have been entered, but the committee have not yet decided as to the result. The rain having by this time commenced to pour down, the Regatta was postponed until New Year's Day, when also any of the athletic sports not yet contested, will be continued.

. Contrary to general expectation, the public sports were resumed yesterday afternoon, but we defer our report of them until our next, when it will appear along with the account of the Regatta and the matches still to come off on the ground in Boundary street.