COLONIAL REGATTA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 558, 14 February 1878, Page 2

COLONIAL REGATTA.

[fer press AGENCY. ] Wamganui, February 13. The attendance to-day was better than yesterday. The excursion train from Marton was crowded. Last night, and up to the hour of the race, betting was in favour of the Wellington men, but the Wangamii men backed the Lytteltoncrew heavily. District Race. L2O. Union Club's Transit ... ... ... 1 Wangamii Rowing Club's Water Lily... 2 Union Club's Maiden 3 A good race for a mile, the two leading boats going together, but the Union men. being strongest, held together longer, and won by four lengths. Champion "Race. LIOO ; four miles. Lyttelton Club's Heathcote 1 Wellington Club's Dolly Varden ... 2 Christchurch Club's Ulysses 3 For the Champion Race excitement piled up, all Wellington people backing the Dolly Varden even at odds of two and three to one. 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. They got away well together, the Christchurch mom about a foot in advance, the Dolly Varden being under the bank, slightly more sheltered, drew a little ahead of the Heathcote. For a quarter of a mile all the boats were within :i few feet of each other. Coming into smoother water, the Heathcote first drew up to level racing. The Dolly then got gradually Vint surely ahead, and at two miles was two lengths leading, all the boats going splendidly, and an immense crowd on horses and in vehicles along the bank being intensely excited. Both crews were cheered on, but Duncan's magnificent stroke was not to be denied, and keeping up to 42 to the minute, he got further and further ahead. Rounding one slight bend, the coxswain took them wide, and the Dolly Varden spurted to take the inside position, but the crowd shouting from the bank, the coxswain closed in, and gave the Dolly the back wash. Coming round the bend in view from the grand stand, the boy again took the leading boat rather wide, but the lead was too good to be affected, so, (joining on with a long swinging stroke, the Heathcote won by twenty lengths, the same distance separating the second and third. The winning crew received an enthusiastic ovation, when rowing past the stand. Time, 27min. 7see. Ladies' Plate. L3O ; three miles. The Heathcote crew having won the Champion Race, were debarred from starting, so that the Dolly Varden had to get the Wangamii Club's boat, the Tiger Lily, and Christchurch crew in the Canterbury. Dolly went off with the lead, the other two keeping together for half a mile. .Shooting the railway bridge, the Dolly led by four lengths, and Wangamii five lengths ahead of Canterbury. This order was maintained throughout, the Wellington men winning easily. The Canterbury men were out-paced and distanced. Time, 22min. ssec. Canoe Race. HO. This race caused great fun. There were five entries—two complete Maori crews, one composite crew, and two pakeha crews ; no restriction as to size of canoe and number. T]ie Maoris entered the big canoe, and crowded it with men. From "the start;' the Maoris went off with a terrific stroke, which pumped them in a quarter of a mile ; the mixed crew made a good race with the crew from the local foundry, and won by six lengths. It commenced to rain directly the sports were over.