Champion Four-oar Race.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 432, 22 March 1890, Page 3

Champion Four-oar Race.

The contest for what may well be termed the four-oar championship of the East Coast district took place on the Taruheru river on Thursday evening. There was a great crowd of spectators on the bridge and at the rowing sheds, and the race caused as much interest as would have been taken in a contest with any visiting crew. There was very little betting and t here was no inclination to give odds, though Nisbett started a slight favorite. The crews were

Napier—J. Nisbett (stroke), A, Sawyer (3), G. Richardson (2), T. Leslie (bow) .. j Auckland—W. Walters (stroke), W. Marshall (3), O. Hansen (2), J. Walters (bow) ..0 By “ Napier ” is understood the crew that recently visited that town and beat everything pitted against them, and by “ Auckland ” is meant the crew which at the same time visited Auckland and did so well there. The distance was for two miles, from Mr DeLautour’s to the Gisborne boatsbed, Colonel Himeon officiating as Judge. A fair start was obtained, and then began the most desperate race that has ever been admired by excited groups on the banks of the Taruheru. Both strokes appeared desirous of obtaining the advantage of a lead, and of course each was equally determined to prevent tbe other getting that advantage. Nisbett managed to spurt slightly ahead, but the difference was so small that it could barely be discerned. When the first mile had been covered the boats again abreast, the crews exerting their utmost every inch of the way. The boats took the bridge nose to nose, and when they had shot through Walters had a lead of a couple of feet, both crews still rowing strongly. Nisbett called on his men for a spurt which was gamely made, and the boat was brought to the front with a few feet to the good. But then Walters made a spurt, as Nisbett was taking the heavy pull in the shallow water over the mud bank. Walters again got in frunt and full pressure was put on to try and increase the advantage. At the Poverty Bay boat shed Walters had several feet to the good, and then a desperate finish took place. When they had got the noses of the boats in a line with the first side of Bright street Walters had a lead of about two feet: when they had reached to a line with the opposite fence (near the Gisborne shed) the boats were exactly abreast. They continued so for about half a length—all but to the post.—the onlookers enthusiastically cheering, and just as the gun fired Nisbett’s crew’s finishing strokes had driven their boat a foot ahead. Some people who seemed to lose their judgment in the excitement of tbe moment declared the race a dead heat, and a few others who evidently had not seen the finish from a line with lhe post gave loud voice to the opinion that Walters had won. The fact that Colonel Simeon was judge is in itself sufficient to prove these opinions to be erroneous. Colonel Simeon, who is a good judge of distance, reckoned that eighteen inches separated the boats, while our reporter's younger eyes made him reckon the difference as a foot. The strokes were themselves in ignorance as to who had won, and Walters, thinking be bad won the race, called for three cheers for the losers, from which those parsons on the bridge, who were unable to distinguish the winning boat, concluded that Walters had won. Nisbett fancied his crew had won, but the other stroke’s call confused him and to be safe be called for “ three cheers for the other crew.” The time is said to be the fastest on record for the distance, the race being done in 11 minutes 43 seconds. The winners are to be presented with trophies provided by Captain Tucker and Messrs Harding and Joyce, President and Vice Presidents of the Club. Mr McLernon provides medals for the losers, and he conB'ders that such an honorable defeat is much more creditable than many victories might be—indeed than could be any victory short of such a grand victory as obtained by Nisbett’s crew.

A hope has been expressed that a return match may be arranged before the termination of the season.