THE HEARN HARRINGTON RACING FIASCO.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 85, 17 January 1885, Page 3

THE HEARN HARRINGTON RACING FIASCO.

Accobding to the " Southland Times," immense crowds of people went to Riverton to witness the sculling match between Koarn and Harrington for £100 aside and the championship of tho colony. The course, in measured length a trifle under three and a - half miles, started from a point above the "Narrows," and finished at a flag - boat moored a hundred yards or so above the bridge Harrington loft the bridge for the starting point between 11 and 12 o'clock, pulling up in his own boat; but Hearn, who followed soon afterwards, had himself and his skiff convoyed in a four oared outrigger. They pulled in boats of the same length, viz., 31 ! foot, and both crafts aro exactly alike in construction, having been furnished by a noted firm in Newcastle-on-Tyne, so that in this respect the contestants were on a perfect lovol. The training of Hearn for the match was attendod to by Mr Jamea Burnes, of Wellington ; a fellow citizen of Harrington's, Mr William Bonniface, doing the same duty for hi»n Experts generally hold that all would depend on the stato of tho water. If it was at all rough and lumpy, then they expected that Harrington's weight and strength would bring him victory ; if smooth water (as it actually was) that the markedly superior scientific and pretty htroke of Hearn would bring him in first. As it turned out, all these calculations were completely upsot by an acci dent which no one ever thought of, The pair woro started in good order, and soon Hoarn took the lead, increasing the distance as they went on till, on nearing the Narrow?, ho was ahoad about 50 yards. Hariington had been more closely hugging tho north shore, and it appeared that, well as he must be acquainted with the course, ho evidently forgot the existence of a fenco running some distance into tho waier, which at full tide jusv, covors tho pists. Intent only on his work, tho unlucky oarsman x*an against ono of tho&e posts, the rebult being a holo in the bottom of his craft. In such untoward circumstances there was no alternative Dut to make tho best of his way to land, which ho did, lestving Hearn in undisputed possession of the water.