TIMARU REGATTA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2420, 18 December 1880, Page 2

TIMARU REGATTA.

Commodore: F. Archer, Esq. Vice-Com-modore; E. Smith, Esq. Judge: Captain Mills. Starter: J. Hill, Esq. Committee: Messrs M. Jonas, R. Stansell, T. Chapman, S. Gumming, P. Bradley, S. E. Graham, M. White, W. F. Newberry, J. King (Secretary.)

The annual regatta, postponed from Thursday, took place under favorable auspices to-day. Although the morning was dull and cloudy, the weather was calm, and the sea, which, like over-worked-ofticialsjhad been rufliled during the holidays, had a good opportunity of subsiding without the oil As the forenoon advanced the clouds divided, the sun shone out, and a gentle breeze from the east produced a slight swell on the waters, filling the sails of pleasure boats, and contributing to the pleasure of the oarsmen. All things considered, more delightful weather for the regatta could scarcely have been provided even if the committee had had the elements s.t their own disposal. The only drawback to the entire success of # the aquatic festival was that it had to take place on Satimhy when business people .are chained like watchdogs behind their counters. For the other portions of the public a better day could not have been chosen. The scene on land we need not describe beyond stating that the shingle on the beach, the sheds of the Landing Service, the tops of the cliffs, and the different promenades, were thickly lined with spectators. Ft is roughly estimated that the onlookers at mid-day, when the races were in full swing, could not have been less than 7000 or 8000. The trains that arrived in the forenoon were of unusual length and in this way the crowd was constantly reinforced. The Timaru Artillery Band discoursed sweet soul stirring strains from the new wharf, and there was a fair attendance on the Breakwater, which was used as a grand stand for the occasion, a shilling toll being exacted. As for the scene on the water it was picturesque in the extreme. The vessels in the harbor were dressed with ilags in their best regalia, the roadstead was alive with pleasure boats of various kinds, and the splashing of oars as the oarsmen plied their tiny crafts, the white sails of the sailing boats contrasting with the deep blue tints of the water, the competitors with their Ilags and colors all lighted up with the sunshine, combined to form one of those panoramas which once witnessed cannot readily be forgotten. Without referring specially to the races, we may state that one and all, they were well contested, that the weather and sea could hardly have been better adapted for a trial of skill, and that no accident of any kind occurred to mar the pleasures of the occasion beyond the swamping of a boat which only contributed to the fun In order that time should be economised as much as possible, the promenade of boats, originally contemplated, was wisely dispensed with. The course was about a mile and a half in length, north and south of the Breakwater, and was indicated iu the usual way with buoys. Before referring to the events we must take the opportunity of expressing our admiration of the very satisfactory way in which the programme was carried out, and the highly efficient manner in which the officers and members of the committee conducted the proceedings throughout. The postponement of the regatta was unavoidable, but so fur as sight-seers and substantial resultsare concorned, the delay has proved fortuitous. For this result the forethought and sound judgment of the Committee is responsible. The Timaru Begatta of 1880 is admitted to have been the most successful that has ever been held in this district. The appearance of the beach, lined for miles with spectators, showed that from a popular point of view it has proved a complete and unexampled triumph, and we should imagine that

after the spectacle of to-day, similar annual recreations will meet with liberal recognition. Mr J. Hill, as starter, gave an excellent account of himself, and Captain Mills, as judge, rendered any grnmbling.impossihle. As for the C unmodore and Vice - Commodore, Messrs Archer and E. Smith, they spared no pains to render the events satisfactory to all parties; and even the unsuccessful retired, hy no means displeased, knowing that they had been handicapped as fairly as possible, and that they were honorably defeated. The following are the results : Landino Skuvick Whalkhoat Rack, Five Oaks —Confined exclusively to Landing Service Men and Boats. Distance, it miles. First prize, .£l2 ; second, £l. Entrance, £l. Harbour Board Landing Service Bow, G, Davis; 2, T. Macintosh; 3, •!. Carmichael; 1, E. Nelson ; stroke, A.

Shaab ; cox., J. Macintosh .. .. 1 Timaru Landing Service, “ The Fellow” Bow, J. Onetime ; 2, C. Moore ; 3, G. Brown; 4, G, Waddell; stroke, W. Collis ; cox , F. Scoringc .. ..2 George Street Landing Service. “ Waitangi.” Bow, O’Hagan ;2, Long ; 3, Savage ; 4, Bruce ; stroke, Hart; cox., F. Clarkson .. .. .. 3 The harbor boat got well away with the lead and maintained it for some distance. When a quarter of a mile of the distance had been performed the boats were all of a cluster. “ The Fellow,” now slightly improved its position but the Harbor boat was too warm for the others and was quickly again a-hcad. Tn thcsecond round IhcWaitangi began to exhibit symptoms of distress, and dropped some distance astern, while at the end of (he round she dropped out altogether, and the linish lay between the Harbor Board hoatand“The Fellow.” The latter was soon distanced, however, and tl ic Harbor men, whose cox worked hard for his crew, shot in a winner by at least 80 yards. The winners were loudly cheered hy the boats’ crews looking on. Amateur Four-Oar Rack. Boats not to exceed 2-j feet in length and to he steered with rudder. Distance, 2$ miles. First prize, £10; second, £3. Entrance, £l. Timaru Boating Club. Bow, C«. Shirtcliffe; 2, A. E. Hawkins; 3, K. Mackay; stroke, S. Gumming .. .. .. 1 Y. Reid’s “ Titania.” Bow, G. Brien ; 2, W. Harrold; 3, V. Wilson ; stroke, .7. Toneycliffe ; cox, V. Reid .. 2 W. Cooper’s “ lllue Boy.” Bow, C. Harrison; 2, J. Cameron; 3, F. Cameron ; stroke, William Cooper; cox,, F. Hallam .. ~ .. 3 W. Hatherway’s “ Flirt.” Bow, B. Catlow; 2, W. Reid: 3, W. Hatherway; stroke, W. Smith ; cox .. 0

The Boating Club got away with the load, “ Titania” second, “ Blue Boy” third. The “ Flirt” almost immediately gave up the contest. The race was really between the Boating Club’s boat and the “ Titania.” The former had things all her own way for some time, but at the last half mile the ‘ Titania” began to creep up but the Club boat was too far ahead to be much inconvenienced. The “ Blue Boy” was not in it after the iirst half mile. The result was an easy win for the Club boat, which steadily increased its lead to the Finish, and won by about In lengths, the " Titania ” second, and the “ Blue Boy ” a hundred yards away.

Time—About lu minutes. Scullers’ Rack (in inrigged boats). Distance, 1.1 miles (all comers). First prize, £2; second, 10s. Entrance, ss. P, H. Duncan’s “ Hcathcotc ” .. 1 G, Bell’s “ Unknown ” 0 Duncan was of course the warm favorite for this race, and indeed the Unknown apparently was merely put in for the sake of making up the race. A good start was effected, the boats pulling together for the first quarter of a mile or nearly when Duncan shot away, and left Bell completely in the lurch. The race was hardly’ contested at all, as Bell gave in before the First half mile was linished.

Ciiamx’ion Hack Handicap, open to all comers, and all boats pulling four oars and over. Distance, 1 miles. First prize, £2O ; second, £O. Nominations, 10s ; entrance, 5s per oar. Mr P. Bradley’s “ Zebra,” scratch. Bow, P. Bradley ; 2, J. M. McLaren ; 5, R. Snodgrass ; stroke, H. Bradley ; cox, J. B. McKenzie.. .. .. .. 1 Mr \V. Golds’ Pinafore,” 35ft start Bow, C. Moore; 2, J. Onetime; 3, Y. Wilson; 1, G. Waddell; 5, G. Brown ; stroke, W, Golds; cox, F. Scoringe 2

This was the chief event of The “ Zebra ” was the First favorite, and proved herself worthy’ of the conli■deuce reposed iu her. The Zebra at scratch, very quickly’ showed in front, The Waituhi was enabled in consequence of her big start to maintain a good position for some time and at the bottom turn For the First mile was leading. The Zebra soon after crept up and the order was quickly’ altered, the Zebra leading, the Pinafore second. Snowdrop third, Endeavour 4th and the Waimea a long way astern of the lot. From this time the Zebra went quickly ahead and none of the others could get near her, the Pinafore being second, and the rest rather scattered. Going down the course for the third time the Waituhi caved in and went out and although the Pinafore tried her level best to overtake the Zebra, she was quite unable to approach her and Kept dropping further and further astern. Towards the finish the Zebra’s men were looking quite fresh, and after pulling easily for about a hundred yards or so suddenly spurted and came in more than half a mile ahead of the Pinafore. The remaining boats were much scattered. The race was a gift to the Zebra from the First. A protest was entered by the crew of the Pinafore that the winning boat sailed within the nothernmost buoy and so cut off a considerable corner. The Zebra's men replied that the Hag near the buoy’ had blown down, and there was nothing in consequence to indicate the course, and they’ further maintained that the race would have been, in any case, a moral for them seeing the big lead they obtained soon after the start. The matter will be considered by’ the Committee.

Sailin'!! Race (in open boats). Time allowance and distance to be arranged by the Committee on the day of sailing. First prize, £8; second, £2. Entrance, 10s (id, J. A C. Perry’s “ Italia ” .. .. 1 Mr White’s "Mercia” .. .. ..2 W. J. Tennant’s “ Zephyr ” .. .. 0 Jno. Newton’s “Concrete” .. .. 0 J. E. S. Jackson's “ Spray ” .. .. 0 When the signal was given for the start, only three boats were ready’, and although the others joined as quickly as possible they could not recover the lost distance and only one dropped out, while only the Italia and Mercia re*

mained. The Italia was the favorite from the first and shot in 2 minutes 40 seconds ahead of her antagonist (according to measurement allowance.) A MISHAP. The Sculling Race (the second on the programme) was struck out, and the Stump Outrigger Race also, the latter in consequence of a mishap. The \Vaipa was waiting inside the Breakwater ready manned and eager for the fray, when the chopping sea that was running suddenly swamped her, and her crew disappeared all in a moment beneath the waves. A couple'of the boats near immediately came to the rescue, and the unfortunate “ Waipaitcs ” . wore pulled out. Fortunately Mr Duncan is a good swimmer, and by his help another member of the crew was supported until assistance arrived. Mr Duncan then plunged into the water once more, and with some assistance managed to turnover the Vvaipa, and she was taken ashore. The race was in consequence of this abandoned. Voi.i'NTKEit Rack, in Landing Service Whaleboats pulling five oars. Open to members of the Rocket Brigade and Fire Brigade, and Artillery Corps, to be pulled in uniform. Distance, 2 miles. First prize, £8; second boat to save stake. Volunteer Rocket Brigade’s “Rocket” Bow, A. Ilaylock; 2, G. Shirtcliffe; it, G. Wood; 1, W. H. McLaren; stroke, F. Clarkson; cox, A L. Jackson .. .... .. .. 1 Volunteer Fire Brigade’s “ Bruce’” Bow, G. Bricn ; 2, W. Scarf; 3, W. Smith ; 4, R. Snodgrass ; F. stroke, Bradley ; cox, .1 Baker .. .. 2 C Battery, N.Z.A., “Bombardier.” Bow, P, Foster; 2, G. W. Ellis ; 3, M. A. Thornton ; 1, A T. Smith; stroke, J. Cameron ; cox, .1. King .. .. 0 The Rocket was the favorite and won easily. Tun Rack. Ist prize, £2; 2nd, £l. Carmichael .. .. .. 1 Hart 2 Tin •eo competitors entered for this race, Messrs Hart, Carmichael, and Geordic Davis. The grotesque makeup of the men excited much merriment, and their endeavors to get afloat in their tubs much more. They all failed to get on board safely, sousing over head and ears in the water instead, and the race was finished by each man swimming in, pushing his tub before him. The distance was about 300 yards. KXTHA HACK The wharf and breakwater hands then got up a scratch race. Three boats started, manned respectively by the breakwater hands, the carpenters employed on the wharf and the blacksmiths employed on the same. Concrete 1 Wood 2 Iron J