NGARUAWAHIA REGATTA.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 297, 7 April 1874, Page 2

NGARUAWAHIA REGATTA.

FttOM an early hour yesterday looming the banks of tho rivers bordering o» Kgaruawahis, « ere fringed with people anxious to see the earliest mores amongst the competing crews. Tho first topic of interest appeared to be the substitution of two professional crews for the orew of local amateurs that was publicly given out to row the Independent. Considerable indignation was expreiied, and the terms of the advertisement carefully scanned by the interested to see if there were any means of oxcluding the interlopers into amateur society. None wore cunning euough to find a flaw ; there was then somje talk of not entering tbo boats belonging to the other cluba. This, however, was overruled by those in authority. Although the first race was advertised to take place at ten o'clock, it was understood that itcoujd not be smarted till half-an-hour after the arrnal of the steamer from Hamilton. Her whistle was not heard till b.alf-p«st ten, shortly after which hour sha swung-to and duchargod hor living freight (about 50) close to the junction of the two rivera, Tho warning gun for the first raoe was shortly, afterwards fired. Afc eleven o'clock four boats came to the starting point for the

Pair-oabbd Race.— Open to any Boat. Course— from mouth of Waipa Rivor round Boat moored off Firewood Creek and back to starting point. Entrant 10». First priae, £5 ; second prise, J?2. Three bpo,ta to itart or no r&co. The names of thb boats were :— iklbatrosH— W. Hume, bow ; W. W. Brqwa, stroke ; — Booth, cox. Pioneer— J. Edgecumbe, bow ; C. Barton, stroke ; J. Stone, oox. Independent;— Athell, bow; Rosa, stroke; Innes, cox. Oddfellow— R. Banks, bow ; W. Thomas, stroko ; — Rookie, cox. There was a strong feeling that the superiority of the boat and 1 tho much greater experience of the crew would ensure the race to the Independent. The Pioneer, although the crew was much liked, was looked upon as out of the race, in consequence of the inferiority of the boat. The Albatross, ifc was well known, had been pulled over the course in less time than any boat had been known to do it before, but as each of the crew was to appear for the first time in public, it was feared that they would be heir to the failing of all young oarsmen— want of judgment and coolness. The Oddfellow was little spoken of, owing probably to its being uncertain as to whether she would start. The boats got away well together ; the Independent in the first four strokes gained a slight advantage over tho Albatross, and tho other two competitors were left about even, but slightly behind. The raco, until the buoy was reached, appeared to be between the Albatross and the Independent, the former rounded about a length ahead, the Pioneer turned shortly afterwards : want of condition on the part of the then second crew soon enabled them to pull abreast of, and shortly afterwards to clew the favorite The boats held the same position till the finiab. The Albatross won at discretion, the Pionocr passing the post about fifteen lengths behind ; the others pulled the course only as a matter of formality. We cannot allow this opportunity to pass without offering a few remarks on tho ttyle of the two winning crown. Wo will commence with the winner. We have no desiro to give undue confidence to stroke when we tell him that he pulled in bolter form than any other oarsman we ever ycb seen ou the river ; ho lias either never acquired or liai overcomo tho fault of all rowers accustomed to heavy boat pulhug— jorling tho end of his atroke. Wo have now praised, and can therefore, without fear of giving offence, rather severely criticise The utroko wa§ too fast ; had ho put in about thirty-five to the minute in place of from forty to forty four, the raco would have been much more ©amly won— provided, of course, that those put in wore properly commenced ajid finished ; hit oar takes the water well, but ho does not pull hit stroke through. Ho need not complain of, our criLicism ; tho same fault lost Cambridge many a raco. A long drugging stroke i« now admitted on all hands to be the winner Bow of the winning boat scarcely pulled a* long a stroke as his leader, and has a habit of meeting his oar in place of bringing it well home to hi? ribs. He also had the bad habit of jerking tho cud of hu stroko. Tboy won, and much credit is due, nnd we trust that they wiH exouse our friendly criticism.— We promised a few remarks on the style of the orewot the Pioneer. Stroke has tremendous reach, but he •carcely avails hjmself of the advantage nature Us given him ; hip stroko was unfinished, more particularly in the spurts. Bow has great endunance, otherwise he could not hare stood so much work with his arms -a fa,ult not to be found m a performance later in the day. If the backs of both the men had been kept a littlo strnigbter, and the swing more true from the hipi, and the faults previously pointed out amended, they would be an exceedingly dangerons pair on my course. Placing their boat as tbey did at tba finish ovidencod(both pluck and onditbn, without whrb ' so i=«b should eater c. boat.

Tho Rax!, r»c» *m * i

Fort-OASED Race— Boata of not less than tfour feat oeam. Courae— iam9 aa No. 1. Entrauce, 10a. Pint prize, £3 ; oocond, sarc ontrauoe. Two bouts or no r»c«. ihe following C revy won the raoo .—Bailey, bow ; 2 Guul • 3 Wade; strjke, Hedger; Inn M) cox. Tha names of the opposing crew were— bow, F. Edgecurabo ; 2 F. Merchant ; a Kullovr ; Q. EJgecunibc, stroke ; Stone, cox. This was a well contested race, but eventually weight and condition told, and the race foil to the fli-.t-mentioned crew. After the usual interval, the gun went as a signal to the competitors for tho

S<jai.LEßs Rack.- Open to the member, of the Ngarunwnlua Rowing Clubs only. Course— same as No. 1. Entrance, 10*. Fust prize, £3 ; second pnze, 30* if three boats start. Two boats to start or no ra.ce. There were three entries— J. Edgeoumbe, J. Wade, and J. Nealisa. This was decidedly the race of the day ; Wade and Edgeoumbe kept pretty olose together till more than half way home, when Wade drew ahead and held the first position. Three hundred yards from the post th« race •eemed to be Wade'i, except that he was evidently in distress. So soon as the two rower* ca.me within tho hear, ing of the. oiowd collected arounnd the winning post, fcugocumbe was oheered to make a final effort for victory, he answered (he call most nobly, and overtook his opponent inch by inoh, and won a Tery well contested race by half a ength. Wado showed good pluck, is without the slightest knowledge of how to scull a boat, he succeeded in keeping ahead oi a man, till nearly the finish of the race, who certainly pulls, in good form, and is endowed with great powers of endurance. The closoness of the race, however, is to be attributed mainly to Edgecumbe having paid very little attention to his steering. Had he held a. proper course he would have won by at least fifty yards. Strength will d.o wonders, but form and knowledge of the art of rowing much more. ° ° The next was

TflK Pais.oabkp RACJS-For boats of not less tb»u four leet beam. Coarse— flame as No. 1. Entranpe, 10*. Firit prize, £d ; second, sate entrance. Two boat* to start -or no race. There were three entries, riz. : D. Mclntyre and J. Wade, Lock.c oo*. ; WW Brown and W. Hume, Booth, cox. ; ft. AttreU and T. Wade, M'Neisch, cox. The superior weight of the firat-meationed *few secured them the race, more particularly u Brown and Hume had already won the race of the daj, They secured for tbeir club the second money, as much and more than they could with iustice be ••Jtedtodo. The third boat was easily beaten. The next race was

Diwy Rack.— For boys wadm fourteen years of age. Course— from Firewood Creek to mouth of Waipa Entrance, ss. First pri», £2; lecond, £1. Two boats to ■tart or no race. There were two entries, Booth *nd Hunt, the former won easily, ajthpugh the other little fellow pulled gallantly. Both the boys will in a few yeHm, without doubt, become prominent member* of one or other of our rowing clubs, provided the ta.ate for the manly sport is cultivated. To youngsters we must look in the future to carry the Waikato colours to the front.

Wahink Maori Canob Kacb.— Crews of two Course— •am* as No. 1. Fiwt prize,, £2 ; second, £1. Four canoes to itart or no ra.ce. Waa the next oa the list. Two itarted but there was no race ; the winning canoe passed tbe post and the event forgotten before the second made its appearance. The course was toe same as that for all the races, and too far in our opinion for women to paddle a canoe at any pace. A duok hunt followed arid caused considerable amuiemont; the chasing boats, hbwever, only being short pairs, the unfortunate duck did not receive fair law, and was Tery speedily captured. A sum of £4, 15i wai subscribed amongst the Volunteer Engineer Militiamen, to be rowed for by a four from Taupin and another belonging to Ngaruawahia. The crews, 10 far as we hare been able to ticertain, were as follows — Ncaruawahia—Andrews, bow; Kellow, 2; Hall, 3i Banks, stroke. Taupiri— Turner, bow ; Morton, 2; Nixon, 3; Kowe, stroke; Sanderson, cox. This was a well contested race after the preliminary fouls were got over, and tried the stamina of thoie engaged, The Ngaruuwahia crew proved victorious by a considerable number of lengths. The whole affair pa^ied off most satisfactorily, which was ow " 1 | mno "light degree to the exertions of Capt. Earner and Mr Nicol, the formw acted as starter and the other as judge. Not a single proteit was entered during the day, so that their duties wero tolerably pleasant. The sport of yesterday was without doubt only the inaugurate of periodical regattas on the splendid rlvei- Waipu.