BOAT-RACE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 51, 28 January 1884, Page 2

BOAT-RACE.

The final heat of the senior fours was rowed on Saturday afternoon. Although Pavitt had won the hard-contested event of the previous day, great confidence was expressed in C. Ward’s crew, on account of their good form and excellent practice. It was felt that, however the victory went, it would be anything but a gift for the winners. Certainly the style of Ward’s crew, on casting off from the shed, was calculated to inspire his supporters with every confidence; but, as the event proved, the strength of his opponents

was more than sufficient to counterbalance this apparent advantage, and we certainly must own to havins felt wme amount of misgiving ourselves when we saw the men •tripped. Both crews were confident, and pulled «p to the st art Inc-point in the best possible spirits, where Mr. Ratcliffe was awaiting tnetn At the start Ward was the first to take the water, and made ench use of it as to get a good half-boat’s length ahead, an advantage which he continued to mainlrin until rounding the bight of the river just below Harris’ house. Here Pavitt’s coxwain, taking advantage of his outside position, kept a good line for the lowpr point, whilst Ward’s rau his craft right into the bight, and went bver as much ground as he possibly could by pkfrting the shore- What followed was plainly to be seen, and could only result from such a course of actiofi. Pavitt's boat shot the point in splendid style, far enough ahead to take Ward's water on the Kaiti side, and then squared away in a straight line for home, when Ward got round the point he found himself two lengths astern. Nothing discouraged, and although it was apparent to all that they had lost their chance, they bent to their work and cracked on aU sail in pursuit, only to find the truth of the old * adagf, that “ A stern chase is a long chase.” Opposite the ferry both boats were doing attjndid work, Pavitt's crew lifting their emb along in such style as to gain the affmtion of all, and looking fit for another mile. Coming in with a grand spurt, Pavitt landed the cups by three lengths. We oo not for one moment wish to rob the winning crew of one atom of their dearly bought and well-earned glory—neither do we venture to say that the victory would have been otherwise than as it is had matters been different, but we certainly must say that, by taking the boat over the course in the manner in which he did on Saturday Ward entirely lost all possible shanoa of winning the race, especially when opposed to such a fine crew as Pavitt's. ’ Th. following are the names of the respective crews :— Ist. boat 2nd. boat K. H. Pavitt, stroke C. Ward, stroke Allcm, 8 E. Gibbons, 8 . GrosihnaiL 1 A. O'Meara, 8 Chrisp, 1 j A. Webb, 1 L. Ward, cox Adair, cox We believe It in the intention of the elub to -Shortly send a crew to try conclusions st — Jfapier. Should a judicious selection be made *W. nave every confidence as to the result. We also understand that the next trial of •kill will be between a couple of pair oars, and that it is the intention of their Captain (Mr. Batcliff.) to refute the assertion made in the Borough Council that ” the boating season is nearly over,” by keeping his men at work for a long time as they an in such good form. The cups, presented by Mr. T. J. Dixon, will be presented to the winning crew shortly, due notice of which will be given.