AQUATIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16488, 2 March 1914, Page 10

AQUATIC.

CHRISTCHURCH REGATTA. BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS AT CORSAIR BAY. Judges, Messrs R. J. Hobbs, R. E. Nightingale and D. Leo; umpire, Mr N, L. Macbeth; starter, Mr T. Chambers; clerk of scalos, Mr L. J. Campbell; executive, Mossrs F. D. Kosteven (chairman), W. Duggan, G. Ebert, J. Fry, F. S. Otley, R. J. Hobbs, W. H. Evans, T. A. Brittan; T. L. Sapsford, A. W. Evans, R. Gapes and S. Clothier; course committee, Mossrs W. Woods and C. Farrar; secretary, Mr M. S. Gentles.

Although the rowing clubs of Christchurch have been treated to two minor regattas this season, the absence of the annual functions at Alcaroa and Lyttelton robbed the city clubs of a good deal of sport, and it was left to the Christchurch Regatta Club to inaugurate a programme that would fill the breach. In this respect the committee were very successful. For Saturday’s programme there were no fewer than ten events, which catered for all grades of rowers, while the total prize-money offered amounted to £llß.

The early morn gave every indication of a freshening wind from the south, but about ten o'clock the wind dropped and the ruffled water became a perfect calm, and all that could be desired from an oarsman’s point of view, under these circumstances the committee had no hesitation in selecting the Corsair Bay course in preference to the safer but shorter one laid out at Purau. However, these admirable weather conditions did not remain long and with its usual proverbial ill-luck the regatta was carried out under very inauspicious circumstances. There was a little delay in getting oft the first race but this was due solely to the belated 'arrival of the Wahine with the Wellington boats on board, and consequently it was close on 1 p.m. when the first crews went out.

Just then the wind veered to the north-east and, assisted by an incoming tide, raised a very choppy sea with rollers varying from two feet upwards. The Maiden Four-oar Race was got off, but several of the boats were partially swamped, and • lost all hope in the contest. Then followed the Senior Pair-oar Race, in best and best boats, which practically ended in a farce. Union, Star and Canterbury were the only starters and the former crew proved capable of keeping their boat afloat, and consequently finished. Canterbury had the misfortune to run into a launch, with the result that their boat was smashed. The Star boat was swamped and ran on a sandy beach off Rapaki. A meeting of the committee was then held to consider tJho question of changing the course, owing to tho head wind and choppy sea. Mr Kesteven suggested that the events should be postponed until four o’clock, when the sea would probably have subsided. It was decideu to adjourn until three o’clock. In the meantime' the committee decided to inspect the course, with the object of obtaining a shorter distance. While the inspection was being made the sea decreased considerably, and in order to get the events off that day if possible ""it was decided to lay off another courso inside of Cass Bay to Corsair Bay, a distance of half a mile. The experiment was very successful, but although several of the events hardly proved the respective merits of the crews, the public and the committee had the satisfaction of knowing that the whole programme was got through. Taken all through the racing was keen and fairly well contested, and the fixture was not without its surprises. This was particularly the case m respect of Canterbury’s win in the Senior Four and the performance of Union in defeating Avon in both the Youths’ Double Sculls and Youths’ Fours. The Union crew rowed well for half the distance, but then cracked up badly, and Canterbury, rowing with plenty of vigour, soon placed the finish beyond doubt. In previous years the Senior event was rowed in best and best boats, but this year the committee reverted to tho Association clinker type. Under tlio circumstances of the day the decision was a wise one, but as the object was chiefly to induce more entries the alteration did not have the desired effect, and it is very doubtful if it would be wise to follow a similar course in the future.

In all there were forty-eight entries for the ten events, and the fields were consequently large. Of the £ll6 offered in iprize money Canterbury headed tho list with £47, securing four firsts, two seconds and one third, while Avon followed with £36 and three firsts, three seconds and one third; Union wero next with £24, securing three firsts and four thirds. Sumner won £4, two seconds, and Star, £5, also obtaining two seconds. Wellington and Pdrfc Chalmers gained a third place respectively. With only the Kaiapoi Regatta to be held, it appears as if Avon will have little difficulty in securing possession of 1 bo D.jC.L. Cup. as the figures show them having 51 points, as against The following were the results: MAIDEN FOURS. Ons mile. First prize £lO, second £2. Avon R.C. (Nightingale, Stevenson, Sail and Kingslund) 1 Star R.C. (Lawson, Hurley, Rawaon and Hackworth) .2 Union R.C. (March, Gibson, Timms and Mann) 3 , Canterbury also started. The crews had to pull againßt a head wind in a choppy sea. After a false start Avon and Star got well ahead, Avon winning by a couple of leugihs. Union finished in a swamped condition and Canterbury, who had also swamped, were picked up by the umpire's boat. SENIOR PAIRS. One mile and a half. First prize £3, second £2. Union R. C. (H. Blis3 and W. Duggan) 1 Canterbury Rowing Club (N. E. Hanedon and C. G. Stroke) also started. Wellington and Star swamped before reaching the starting point. Union were the

only crew to keep afloat and won easily. JUNIOR FOURS. Half a mile. First prize £l2, second £2. Avon R.C. (D. Duns, W. Newman, H. Taylor and H. Adkins) . , . . 1 Canterbury R.C. (N. J. Guthrie, E. Cudden, L. F. Parsons and N. R. Sime) 2 Wellington R.C. (T. Jenkins, J. Hoare, A. Donaldson and H. Hinchcliffe) . 3 Union Rowing Club also competed. Won by a length after a good race. Canterbury and Avon kept well together, Canterbury slightly in the lead until near the finish, when Avon shot ahead and won by a length. YOUTHS’ DOUBLE SCULLS. Half a mile. First prize £6, seoond £2: Union R.C. No. 1 (Cronin and Davis) , 1 Avon R.C. (Yeoman and Agassiz) • . , 2 Canterbury R.C. (Mosley and Butters) , 8 Won by a length. Sumner and Union No. 2 also competed. This was a fine race. The crews kept well together until the last two hundred yards, when Union spurted and won by • length, Canterbury close up third. MAIDEN FOURS, light-weight. Half a mile. . First prize £B, second £2, , Canterbury R.C. (A. .Wilson, A. Pinwill, ,C. Hill and R. C. Wickins) . . 1 Avon R.C. (J. Elstob, C. Sawtcll, A'. Whitfield and H. Wilson) . . , .2 Union R.C. (F. A. Brettell, R. Mayer, B. Mahon and E. Meachen) . , ~8 The only starters. From fhe outset tho two .placed crews raced neck and neck, Union being badly troubled by the . wind. In a great finish Canterbury gained , the, verdict by a foot. MAIDEN DOUBLE SCULLS. Half a mile. First prizo £7, second £2. Canterbury Rowing Club (J, D. Hewer and S. F. Johnson) . . .1 Avon Rowing Club (A. R. Wood and R. A. Nightingale) . . . . . 2 Port Chalmers Rowing Club (W. Lysaght and W. Anderson) . . . .‘3 Union No. 1, Union No. 2, Petone ‘ and Star also started. From the outset the race was a fine one, and although the winners steered a bad course they gained the verdict by two feet. Port Chalmers being some distance away third. SENIOR FOURS. Half a mile. First prize £2O, second £3. Canterbury Rowing Club (A. E. Hawdon, R. B. Burn, W.' De Thier and A. Champ) 1 Star Boating Club (R. M'. Brewer, W. 11. Brewer, W. S. Wheeler and A. D. Bayfield) : . . . . 2 Union Rowing Club (H. Bliss', W. Duggan, H. Dallison Rnd E. Moore) . 3 Wellington also started. After covering half' the distance Canterbury, rowing with good combination, secured the lead from Union, who in turn gave way to Star. Canterbury finally crossed the lino one and a half lengths to the good. JUNIOR DOUBLE SCULLS. Half a mile. First prize £B, second £2. Avon Rowing Club (H. Adkins and W. Newman) . . . . . . 1 Sumner Rowing Club (T. Oliver and W. Sergison) . . , . . .2 Union Rowing Club ,(T. Hobbs and-T. Booth) . 3 Port Chalmers and Petone also started. Avon and Sumner were first to take up tho running, the latter taking the lead for the first Half. Then Avon came with a rush and in a good finish won by half a length, Union just beating Port Chalmers for third place. YOUTHS’ FOUR-OAR. Half a mile. First prize £lO, second £2, Union Rowing Club (A. D. Davis, L. H. Duggan, S. D. Cronin, and E. Elgin) 1 Canterbury Rowing Club (A. E. Butters, L. W. Bishop, C. G. Mosley and R, Glen) 2 Avon Rowing Club No. 1 (F. Agassiz, F. Stevenson, G. Yeoman and L. Hegan) . . . . . . ,3 Avon No. 2 also started. Union • showed to much better advantage than tho other competitors and early in the race established a good lead, and at the gun shot thoy were a good two lengths ahead of Canterbury, the latter beating Avon by half a length. SENIOR DOUBLE SCULLS. Half a mile. First prize £B, seoond £2. Canterbury Rowing Club (C. Champ and W. De Thier) . . . . ,1 Sumner Rowing Club (T. Oliver and W. Sergison) ,i : . :2. Wellington Rowing Club (H. M’Kinlay i and G. Cairns) . . . .1' 3 This race proved a very unsatisfactory ono to several of the crews. Canterbury and Sumner established a lead early in the race and in a ding-dong* finish the former beat Sumner by two feet. iCWhen about a hundred yards from home Stunner fouled Wellington, who in turn fouled Union, the latter boat swamping. ' The; umpne held that the interference did not , alter the result.

KAIAPOI REGATTA. Tho Kaiapoi Regatta Committee met on Friday night, Mr F. Chamberlain presiding over a good attendance. The following programme was arranged Youths’ and maidon pair oar and doubles over a half-mile course; 50yds swimming handicap; high dive; power boat race; novelty events; boom arid barrel; best decorated punt, and angling: competition, fisher versus man. The following officials wero appointed —Judges, Messrs F. D. Kesteven, R. Wylie, J. W. Barnard, and J. H. Blackwell; starter, Mr J. Winterbourn ; umpire, Mr A. Brierley; starter and timekeeper for power boat race, Mr W. Stark. It was decided that the swimming and diving events should be controlled by the Kaiapoi Amateur Swimming Club.