The Champion Whalcboat Race. WAITEMATA WINS THE DOUBLE. Auckland, Jannary 30,

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 240, 4 February 1888, Page 4

The Champion Whalcboat Race. WAITEMATA WINS THE DOUBLE. Auckland, Jannary 30,

The regatta yesterday passed off successfully, and no mishaps of a serious character have to bo recorded, although the weather was very squally. Members of Committee, especially tho officers, deserve credit for tho way in which they discharged their onerous duties. Wo cannot, however, congratulate Captain Nearinff on his starting, nearly every event being Detween 20 minutes and threequarters of an hour late. This is unpardonable, and it is to be hoped similar complaints will not have to be made at future regattas. Captain Leeman, of the Waitangi, and his officer?, were courteous' and obliging, and visitors received every possible attention on board. We have little to add to our report of the regatta. The Cutter Race was won by the Gannet, which was 4+ minutes ahead of tho Lily (second), and the Henry occupied third position, finishing at 4.14.30. in tho Large Yacht Race the Matangi finished first at 3.54, and the Arawa second at 4.5. The Avawa had 8 minutes time allowance, but this would not affect the result. The Jessie Logan passed the winning post at 3.24.15, and the Manola at 3.27 20, tho tatter having 1 minute time allowance, and the Ariel was third. In the Largo Fishing Boat Race the May finished at 3.22, and the Caprara (second) at 4.20. The Small Fishing Boat Race resulted in a win for the Italy, the Mignonette being second. The Belle won the open boat race, Arrow second and Beafea last. The Dingy race was won by Reilly, with Bailey second and Masefield third, and the Man-o-war Naval Brigade cutter race was won easily by "Thames ; Devonport second, and about a length ahead of Auckland (third), Poiisouby fourth, and Opal last.

Champion Whaleboat Race. CHAMPION WHALEBOATS. First Prize, £100, and Champion Flag presented by Mrs Endean, with Pennant to Coxswain (with £10 added for each additional bonafide starter above 5 boats); Second Prize, £30 ; Third Prize, £10. Course— From Starting Boat off Point Resolution, thence round separate Mark Boats off St. Mary's Point, finishing at Flagship. Nelson (Waitemata Boating Club) ... 1 1. J Collins~2. T. O'Connor— 3. G. Barrett— 4. It. Moore— Stroke, M. Keefo— Stcer-oar, K. Moore. Latoxa (North Shore Rowing Club) ... 2 1. A. Logan— 2. G. Wynyard— 3. P. Mnrks— 4. J. Me Kenzie— Stroke, T. Sullivan-Sieer-oar, R. Logan. Dakcaville (Northern Wairoa R.C.) ... 3 1. J. Fitzpatrick— 2. Joseph Baker- 3. Charle 8 Stophonson —4. Joseph Wilson — Stroke* Albert Whitft— Steer-oar, Tyne Savage. Maxiat (Cifcyß.C.) 4 1. C. Maxwoll— 2. D. Sladc-3. H- Brown— l. H. Bishop-Stroke, H. Slade-S teer-oar, C. O. Hill. Star of Maxukau (Wanukau Rowing 5 1. J. Pearcc-2. S. Pearce-3. C. Clark-4. G. Pearce— Stroke, T. Clark— Steer-oar, A. Hunt. Bride (Ponsonby Rowing Club) ... 6 1. T. Green -2. J. Witticornbe— 3. R. Tbornc— 4. J. McKay- Stroke, J. O\Bricn-Steer-oar, W. Scott. Uiea(H. M.s. Opal) 7 1. F. Mills— 2. W. Waltcrs-3. G. Gooding— i. G. Turner- Stroke, R. Rutland— Steer-oar, Harry Sanders. Considerable difficulty was experienced by the starter (Captain Ncaring) in getting the boats into a straight line. Ponsonby, ■who had the outside position, forged ahead several times, while the Wairoa crew, who ■were next, seemed inclined to keep back too much. The favourites, Waitemata, kept very steady on the inside, while next to them were the Manukau, then the North Shore, City, Opal, and Wairoa in order. When at length the flag fell, the Ponsonbys at once dashed to the front, closely followed by the Wairoas. Waitematas were the last to get under weigh, and they splashed considerably, and for a distance it looked like as if No. 4 had missed a couple of strokes, Ponsonby were splashing considerably, while Waivoas wercpullina a short jerky stroke, and North Shove, with a long swinging stroke, shaped the best. When the boats were ofF H.M.s. Swinger the North Shore held a lead of a length, while Wairoas were forcing the Ponsonbys, and it looked as if there would be a foul. Walter Scott held up his hand and appealed to the umpire, and he had to signal to Savage to keep his boat away. The Opals at this stage were already labouring in the rear, with the Manukaus holding the position next to them, and pulling in anything but good form. The "Wairoas bad improved their stroke and the crew were pulling with a long swinging stroke and sitting their boat in a manner that caused Rome surprise among the onlookers. North Shore continued to forge ahead, keeping excellent time, and off the Railway Wharf had a clear lead of three lengths. Waitematas now began to quicken as they got out of the broken water, and began to go up fast. The Citys went ahead of the Ponsonbys, who held fourth position. Off the Queen-street Wharf, in answer to the shouts of the hundreds of people who blackened the riggings of the vessels, the sides of the wharf and the tops of the sheds Keefe again quickened, and when fairly past the wharf had caught the leaders. Wairoas were then third, leading the Ponsonbys by a length, while the Cifcys ' were close up, pulling ■well ; Manukau was still second last, which position was held by the Opals. Savage, standing up to his work, encouraged the Wairoas on, but the Citys caught and passed them off tho coal hulks, but Savage called on his men again, and they regained third position. Off the timber 1 yards, the Waitematas, with a spurt, shot their boat clean ahead of the North Shore, and it looked as if it would be a good race between the two. The boats were now close on the mark boats, and to the surprise of all on the following steamers, it Avas seen that the mark boat of the Waitematas had drifted about 70 yards down towards the flagship. When the Waitetnatas reached their mark boat they had nearly a length's advantage of the North Shore, but to show the difference between the position of the mark boats, they had turned and were 10 seconds on their homeward journey before the North Shore even reached their mark boat, -which was turned by them 20 Seconds "behind the'Waitcmatas. Wairoa turned their mark boat about 15 seconds behind the North Shore. Ab regards the rest of the race, it needs no description. The Waitematas' with a lead of 20 seconds, a fresh wind behind them and sniooth water, ■were saf > from pursuit, and this seemdd to' be recoiniBed' r by the others., who did not at'tempij td catch them. North Shore continued their fine swinging stroke, whidh caused them to 1 rapidly leave the* WairoaspWho looked properly done before the' homeward journey was half over, and only the lead ■ they had, secured on the -way up enabled them, to stave* off k deter* • " . „1 , , . ,f ■■(,!, !

mined challenge from the City s Tho Waiteraatas, keeping a lonj£ swinging stroke, simply won in* a canter, and came in near a dozen boats' lengthsaheadof theNorbli Shore, and at the finish' had stopped rowing. The Ponsonbys beat the Manukaus, who shaped a bit better towards the finish, but the Opals were never in it. It is doubtful if the position of the mark boats made any real difference in tho result, bub it certainly was very unsatisfactory, and the public would have been better pleased to have seen tho North Shore and Wairoa attempt a struggle at tho finish, a thing quite out of tho question with tho lead tho Waitematas gained in the turn. Tho position of the mark boats is attributable to the action of tho wind and tide, as when the Committee examined them at 2 o'clock they wore in a good line. The Waitema^a's mark boat was out of tho influence of the strong 1 flood tide, and giving to the wind swung clown the harbour, while tho other mark-boats were carried up by the tide.

Amateur Whaleboat Race. Nllsox ( Waitemata Rowing Club) ... 1 1, C. James— 2. J. Patlerson-3, W. Bailer— 4. \V. George — Stroke, A. Bailey— Stcor-oav, G. Mooro. Maxim (City nowing Club) 2 1, C. Ponallipen-2. B. Bishop-3, R Slado-4, W* Brophy - Stroke, G. W. Greavos— Stccr-oar, C. O. Hill. Latoxa (North Shore Rowing Club ... 3 1, M. Keefe-2, J. Lynch -3, J. Harvoy— 4, G. Johnstone- Stroke, J. Harper— Stoor oar, R. Lognn. Bride (Ponsonby Rowing Club) 4 1, J. MoDonald—3. J. Payno-3, C.llowson-4, J, W. Dickson— Stioko, J. Hcwson— Steor-oar, W. Scott.