Aquatics in the Backblocks.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 377, 28 August 1908, Page 2

Aquatics in the Backblocks.

BTBUGGLE FOB THE MABOKOPA CHALLENGE CUP. Mr Jack Willison, of Marokopa, has presented a Challenge Cup to be rowed for on the Marokopa River, there being sundry conditions attached there-to, published at that place where all rowing men and others (for there are truly others) who aspire to the honour and glory of winning it may read and learn. Stay, 1 should* not say ail, fur there are three humans of avaracious I ambition, who are barred, to wit, Webb, | Arnst, and -Lipton. This trophy has I created a vast amount of interest in ' our thriving settlement and for days ; past the Marokopa River has been the ; academy cf aquatic art. Mun of all , manner of toil have been voyaging its reaches in their leisure, seeking to mister the science of sculling—from he who is nobly engaged in under . scrubbing the mind* of the young bick-bkck element, to the many Sandows who whale into big timber, nr w down manuka or carve out roads. One and all were interested, or indulging in the catching of crabs, performing impossible evolutions and zig zag gyrations on the breast of our placid river. As Cup day drew near the excitement—well it was like (sunshine breaking its way through the clouds of monotony that somehow bang low round these parts at times. But when Cup day really dawned their warmth of excitement rose up gloriously and all Marokopa rase with it and forgot that there ever bad or could bo a cloud of monotony to make gray the h'ippy hours. Mr Jack constituted a worthy tarter, judge, referee and protect committee, and the following boats lined up bsfore him :—The “Look Out,” W. Richards and White ora; the “Here We Are,” J. Wilson and Rima; the “I Don’t Know,” Bell Bros; and tbe “Who’d A Thought it,” Ko Bayne and J. Smith. The speci tators ceased to, breathe as the four boats of assorted shapes floated up stem by sleu waiting for the starter, judge, referee, and protest committee to swing down bis bat with the word “Go.” Then tbe suspense snapped—there was a roar from the way backs, a-, lashing of ears and amid a frantic commotion of foam and flying spray the racing craft tore their way abreast up the poor innocent Marokopa. Sweeping the first bend the “I Don’t Know” thundered and lost position, and the “Here We Are,” whose crew were pulling a fine steady stroke, took the lead and holding it rounded the flag and set off down stream on the homeward track. I must here mention that tbe course of the race was laid from the landing to a point half-a-mile up tbe river, round a flag and back to the starting point. The three boats followed close on the wake of the “Here We Are,” their crews straining fortbeadvantage and gradually con verging on to tbe post which they reached together and each wanted to get round first, and of course the inevitable happened. The “Who’d A Thought It” rammed tbo “Lookout” and while the “1 Dont Know” mana ged to skirt round the flag her crew witnessed an animated naval engagement in the old time u*o of the band spike. No one was killed, but the Look Outers broke an oar instead of some heads, and were thus put out of action, and tbe vic orious Who’d A Though iites seized the flagpole and pulled their boat round for the home spin and set off hard and fast is search of further victory. Bat the honour was with W.'l-on and Rima and their coxswain M. Martin. They pulled well tod won c mfortably but it isfairtosay that h id ibe race been iFree from naval attacks the finish would have been ,lU'-ch closer. Wilson and Rim-i have to bold the Cup for six imnths against all comers (excepting, of c ifUrse, the aforenamed three ambitious humans) before they can own it, and tbe six in inths fur them is filled with orders, uncertainties and visi m.* of gl iriou's victory. Thus ended tbe first cmtesi for the Marokopa Challenge Cup. Ougood old sport, Ted, won 16s ‘in bin book. —Broken Oak.