THE INTERPROVINCIAL REGATTA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5271, 14 February 1878, Page 2

THE INTERPROVINCIAL REGATTA

Wanganui, Wednesday. The attendance to-day was better than yesterday. The excursion train from Martou was crowded last night. Up to the hour of the race the betting was in favor of the Wellington men, but the Wanganui men backed the Lyttelton crew heavily. District Race, of £2o.—Union Club’s Transit—Spurdle, McDonough, Brough, Clausey (stroke), 1 ; Wanganui flowing Club’s Water I ily Powe'l, Duncan, Holdich, Wheeler (stroke), 2 ; Union Club’s Maiden, 3. This was a good race for a mile, the two leading boats going together, but the Union men, being the strongest, held together longer, and won by four lengths. For the Champion Race the excitement was piled up, all the Wellington people backing the Dolly Varden crew even at odds of 2 and 3 to 1. The Heathcote carried a coxswain, but it was feared he would not keep the boat straight. The course is four miles straight away. Three boats started, and got away well together, the Christchurch men being about a foot in advance. The Dolly Varden, being under the bank and a little more sheltered, drew slightly ahead of the Heathcote, and for a quarter of a mile all the boats were within a few feet of each other. Oomiug into smoother water the Heathcote first drew up level, racing the Dolly Varden, and then got gradually but surely ahead, and at two miles was leading by two leugths, heading all the boats, and going splendidly. There was an immense crowd on horseback and in vehicles along the bank, all being intensely excited. Both crews were cheered on, but Duucau’s magnificent stroke was not to be denied, and keeping up 42 to the minute, he got further and further ahead. On rounding one slight bend the coxswain took them wide, and tlie Dolly Vardeu’s crew spurted to take the inside position, but the crowd shouting from the bank to the coxswain, he closed in, and gave the Dolly the backwash. Coming round the bend in view of the grand-stand, the boy aitaiu took the leading boat rather wide ; but the lead was too good to be affected, so coming on with a long swinging stroke, the Heathcote won by twenty lengths, the same distance separating the second aud third boats. The winning crew received an enthusiastic ovation when coming past the stand. The following is the result: Heathcote Carter (bow), Taylor, Harkiss, Duncan (stroke), 1 ; Dolly Varden —Hearu, McGrath, Walker, Woods (stroke), 2; Ulysses, from Christchurch, 3. Time, 23iuiu. :}ac.; distance, four miles. Volunteer Whaleooat Race, of £35 ; 4 miles.—Three boats started, viz., the Wanganui Kifies in the Danger, and another crew from the same corps in the Elvira, and a crew from the Wanganui Fire Brigade in the Sh mirock. The Wellington Dolly Varden crew, who were to have pulled in the Shamrock, did not start. Several fouls occurred, but the race was first-class throughout, the Danger beating the Elvira by half-a-leugth. Protests were entered against the Danger, which will be considered at a special meeting this evening. Ladies’ Plate, of £3o.—The Heathcote crew having won the champion race were debarred from stalling, so that the Dolly hardens had to get the Wanganui Club’s boat TVer. The Lily and the Christchurch crew, iu the Canterbury boat, started. The Dolly went olf with the lead, the other two keeping together for half-a-mile. When shooting the railway bridge the Dolly led four leugths, Wanganui being five leugths ahead of Canterbury. This order was maintained throughout, the Wellington men winning easily, the Canterbury men being completely outpaced and distanced. Canoe Eaoe, o! £lo.—This caused great fun. There were five entries—two complete Maori

crews, one composite crew, and two Pakeha crews. There was no restriction as to the size of the canoes, and a number of Maoris entered a big canoe, and crowded it with men. At the start the Maoris went off with a terrific stroke, which swamped them in the first quarter-of-a mile. The mixed crew made a good race with a crew from the local foundry, but the latter won by six lengths. The Champion Four-oared Race, 4 miles, was rowed iu 27 min. 7 sec. The Ladies’ Plate, 3 miles, was rowed iu 22 min. 5 sec. It commenced to rain directly after the sports were over. The Mauawatu leaves at 7 o’clock ou Thursday morning.