AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 126, 26 October 1874, Page 3

AQUATICS.

OPENING- OP THE HBATHOOTE SEASON. [By Stroke Oar.] “ Are you going to Heathcote to-day?” “ No; its mail day.” Such was the question and answer which met my ear while lunching at the Shades, where boating men most do congregate—and it is to be regretted that this cause and the uncertainty of the weather made the gathering at the convincing ground very small. I missed the genial captain of the Canterbury Club, whose energy and push has done so much for boating; the U.R.C. ex-commodore, Mr Glassford, also was absent, and a few others whose names in matters aquatic are familiar as household words. Mr U. P. Crosbie was there. in. good form, but there not being sufficient men to man the boats, eight in number, the committee dispensed with this part of the proceedings. I regret that the “ meet ” was in this respect somewhat of a failure, as the H.R.C. men have always been to the fore in helping to make a show on similar occasions. However, several metropolitan representatives came to the scratch, and Mr Knox’s persuasive powers were used to good effect in the matter of collecting sufficient to purchase pewters to he rowed for by scratch crews. Mr F Pavitt and the other members of the club deserve every credit for the arrangements made to receive their visiting friends, and I hope that on another occasion they will be more fortunate in securing a larger attendance of the Christchurch contingent. The racing in the earlier part of the afternoon was between Naiad and Lurline, but the old boat has seen her best days, and though she has often carried her colors to victory, the Naiad is just a little bit too good for her; One thing the H.R.C. lads want, and that is coxswains. On Saturday their steerers allowed the boats to go rush-hunting several times ; if they had bean kept straight much closer finishes would have been the result. The old Snowdrop, another veteran, whose racing days are all but over, was pressed into the service, and with her length allowance made it pretty warm for the Naiads, Davis pulling like a steam engine. Here, again, bad steering lost any amount of distance for both boats, but with all this the race was a game one, and well pulled by all. The boys’ race, with Davis and Clark in, resulted in the old Snowdrop being the first to catch the judge’s eye—a victory well deserved by her plucky crew. As I hear the H.R.C. intend having another afternoon’s sport, I trust they will be more fortunate as regards weather and attendance, and that the racing will 'be as good as Saturday’s. I give below the result of each event:— FOUR OARED Race. Half mile. Scratch crews. To be rowed in heats. Prize, engraved pewters to each of the crew. First Heat. Naiad—(F. Sheath, bow; A. R. Pavitt, 2; H. H. Pavitt, 3; W. Gundry, stroke; Smith, cox.) .'. 1 Lurline—(Rule, bow; Stephens, 2; Jones, 3; Yerdon, stroke; Douglas, cox.) ... 2 Mr Crosbie got both boats away to a good start; Lurline being the first to take the water. Coming up the stretch towards the the Lurline had a slight lead, the

Naiad' began to put on the steam, and a good race ensued, the Naiad gradually drawing ahead until nearly clear, the cox of the Lurline steering rather wild; off the boat sheds, bow of the Lurline caught a well-developed crab, which had the effect of stopping the way of the boat somewhat. The Naiad in the meanwhile increased her lead, the crew pulling well together, and at the Steam wharf she led by two boat lengths, ultimately winning easily by a length and a half. Second Heat. Naiad—(Glasson, bow; L. Ollivier, 2; Gray, 3; J. W. Davis, stroke; Dixon, cox.) 1 Lurline—(H.Loughnan,bow; H.Templar, 2; R. Templar, 3; F. Barker, stroke; Smith, cox.) ... Disabled This race was looked upon as likely to be a good one, the crews being well matched, and had it not been for an accident happening to the oar of No 3 of the Lurline it would have been so. Naiad was first away at the start closely pressed by Lurline ; when off the boat sheds, Lurline was closing up with a fine stroke, when R. Templar’s oar broke, and he jumped overboard ; the race thus being over needs no description. The oar having been replaced, the crews again went down, Loughnan taking No 3, but ill-luck again was with the Lurline, as shortly after the start the rowlock, which had been strained, gave way, and he had to ease off. A good race ensued however, till just above the boat shed, when the rowlock broke off, and the Naiad went away an easy winner. FINAL HEAT. Naiad—(F. Sheath, bow ; A. R, Pavitt, 2; H, H. Pavitt, 3 ; W. Gundry, stroke ; Smith, cox) 1 Snowdrop —(Glasson, bow ;L. Ollivier, 2 ; Gray, 3 ;J. W. Davis, stroke ; Dixon, cox) 2 The crews tossed for boats, resulting as above, the Snowdrop having a length lead granted. After a few lengths had been gone, Naiad began to draw up, and a splendid race ensued all the way, each crew doing their best. On reaching the turn for home, near the Steam wharf, Snowdrop had the disadvantage of the outside turn, and the Naiad gradually drew ahead, winning a capitally contested race by half a length. Youths’ Race,— Half a mile. Each boat to have one senior man. Snowdrop.—(H. Nankeville, bow; G. Douglas, 2 ; C, F. S. Maundrell, 3; J. W. Davis, stroke ; E. Smith, cox) ... 1 Naiod.—(F. Sheath, bow ; R. Nankeville, 2*; J. Rule, 3 ; G. A. Clark, stroke; R. Dixon, cox) 2 The same start was allowed to the Snowdrops as in the preceding race. Both boats got away to a good start, Snowdrop holding the lead for the first hundred yards, Clark called on his crew to (put it on, and the Naiad got on even terms. Off the boat-shed, however, Snowdrop again got the lead by a length, but again Clark brought his boat up level, and a good race ensued. Ultimately Snowdrop won by a short length, after a capital race. This concluded the racing, and after cheers had been given for the H.R.C., the Christchurch men, and Mr Crosbie, those present dispersed, having enjoyed the afternoon’s sport.