RIVER CARNIVAL

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21371, 15 March 1941, Page 9

RIVER CARNIVAL

NGARUAWAHIA REGATTA j j ANCIENT MAORI SPORTS ROWING KEENLY CONTESTED J (Times Special Reporter) • NGARUAWAHIA, Saturday Red-letter day of the year in the Maori calendar, when Maoris from ’ every corner of the province as- j semble *to compete in their ancient 1 sports and dances, the annual regatta 1 was held at Ngaruawahia today be- j fore a large attendance. | From an early hour an infliftc of visitors by train, bus and car, I thronged the banks of the confluence • of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers, a place steeped in the traditions of the native race. Pakeha and Maoris alike followed i with keen interest and at times amusement the aquatic sports which occupied the major portion of the programme, cheering as the native canoes, manned by warriors not less lusty than their famous ancestors, skimmed over the water. Ngaruawahia was also the Mecca 1 of provincial oarsmen, who came s from Auckland, Mercer and Hamil- ■* ton to contest the valuable prizemoneys. Particular interest was shown in the performances of the Hamilton crews, especially the maiden and youths’ fours, which have had remarkable success in earlier regattas this year at Hamilton and Mercer. MAIDEN FOURS (under 10st) Distance 1 mile; £l4 donations HAMILTON (F. Williams, G. Cusack, A. Green, J. Bremer) 1 MERCER (H. Dlx, K. Waller. S. Thorne, A. Blake) f NORTH SHORE (G. Jenner. V. Trayes, O. Topllss, K. Buckley) % Won by a length. wltn half a length between second and third. Also started: Ngsruawabla No. 2, Auckland, Ngaruawahia No. 1, Waitemata. In tne opening race Hamilton repeated the success which It secured at the Hamilton regatta, wnen it defeated Auckland by one and a half lengths. In to-day's event me Hamilton crew showed the way to the rest of the held In convincing manner lo win rrom Mercer by a length margin. North Shore followed closely In third position, with the rest or tne flew well behind. Last year the race was won by Waitemata, with Auckland second and Mercer third. MAIDEN DOUBLE BCULLE (Ope# weight.) Distance 1 mile; challenge cup; donations or 17. WEST END (E. F. Raper, VV. 0. Alexander) ( MERCER (L. Sutton, C. Mcßobie) .... 2 Also started: Auckland. West End's supremacy this year In tha double sculls was well illustrated in tnla race In which It had a clear cut victory over Merror. Getting away to a good start, West End drew gradually away from Mercer. which in turn soon outstripped the only other competitor, Auckland. MAILDEN FOURS (Open weight.) Distance 1 mile; donations of £l6 NGARUAWAHIA No. 2 (T. Wapp, B. Clark. 1.. Kelly, h. Slubblngi .. 1 HAMILTON (A. McHugh. H Morgan. S. McCrecsh. H. Fitzgerald) t NGARUAWAHIA No 1 <L. Sewell, L. Stubbing, G. Clark. J. Wapp) . . 3 Won by -,\ length, with two lengths between seornd and third Also started: Auckland. Waitemata. West End. Hamilton’s succession of wins In ftm , maiden fours, established at Hamilton and then at Merrer. was broken to-day when V. the Ngaruawahia No, ? crew rowed particularly well to outstrip Hamilton bv a length. From the gun. Ngaruawahia No. 2 pulled steadllv to work into the lead and over the last half mile the result was never In doubt. Ngaruawahia No. t was third, with the Auckland crew bringing up the HANDICAP SINGLE SCULLS, Distance, one mile; donations of £9 WtFST j;\T> (Alexander,. 15$ f .VCIAIRU.WVAHIA (Snowden), 35* 2 HAM 111. TON (Duncan), 3s 3 Won by a third or a length with a similar distance between second and third. Also started.—Awkland. North shore, Walteimata, Hamilton (Taylor), West End (Johnson). (Encouraged by the win In the previous event, the Ngaruawahia representative rowed strenuou-ly to hold the supremacy over the first hatr-mile. As the boat* came around the bend. West End < Alexander) put In a tr«mendau* burst of *pe«v) to gain on Ngaruawahia and eventually to assume the lead. Tne Hamilton ■ ... am, Duncan, who dead-heated wltli Taylor at Hamilton on Anniversary Day, could not repeat his form today. Ngaruawahia lost a protest against ft’est End for going inside the Ilr«t buoy.