262
THE HONGKONG REGATTA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
On the 20th inst. the Hongkong Re- gatta was held at Laichikok in ideal weather conditions. The sun shone brightly throughout the day, and the intermittent puffs of wind did not in any way interfere with the sport. The flagship was the commodious hulk known as the Maple Leaf, which did duty in Junk Bay when the flour mill was running, and adequate arrange- ments had been made on board for the reception of the large crowd of spectators who gathered during the afternoon. The Band of the Buffs arrived on board after tiffin, and played selections between events. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Captain Simson, Private Se- cretary, arrived on board late in the afternoon and stayed until Mrs. Basil Taylor had presented the prizes. The sport on the whole was interest- ing, but it is regrettable that there was not a more general understanding between members of the committee. Nobody seemed to be responsible for anything. For instance, although the Press- men waited patiently all the afternoon for times of races, and were told that they would get them by and bye, they might have been still waiting on the flagship and then have had to ge without them. The timekeeper disappeared. and nobody else knew anything about this part of the sport.
Many items on the programme were keenly contested, especially those in which British and American naval teams entered. The heroes of the afternoon, however, were the visitors from Canton, who carried off the principal rowing events. As oarsmen they were vastly superior to any of the local Club representatives, and won everything they entered with a safe mar- gin. Results of the various events follow:---
JUNIOR FOURS.-Clinker built boats with coxswains. Open to all not competing in Open Pairs or Hongkong Challenge Cup. Distance: One mile.
Canton
Bow-E. Lund
2-P. Pelz
3-A. W. Purnell
Str. E. Danter
Cox.-E. Schroeter
Royal Hongkong Yacht Club
Bow-T. T. H. Brayfield
2--W. B. Stanton
3-E. W. Carpenter Str.-F. S. Allen Cox-G. A. Caldwell
1
10st 12lb
12st 4lb
11st 3lb
11st 2lb
10st Olb
2
11st 2lb
11lb 3lb
11st 6lb
12st Olb 8st 2lb
There were but two starters in the Junior Fours, which was won by Canton after an ex- cellent race. The Yacht Club led in the first stages, but when half the distance was traversed, Canton drew level with the foremost crew and an excellent race home was witnessed. The boats were well together when the flagship was neared, but an extra spurt by the visitors carried them past the winning post about three feet ahead of the Yacht Club's team. It is interest- ing to note that these teams met in the Canton regatta, and on that occasion the Yacht Club secured a victory over the local team by a narrow margin.
NAVAL GIGS AND WHALERS-Service boats and conditions. Crews from any Ship on the China Station. Distance: one mile. First prize $20.00. Second prize $10.00.
H.M.S. Kent
H.M.S. King Alfreð . H.M.S. Monmouth There were twelve starters for this event which proved to be an excellent race. The boats were despatched to a good start, and kept well together throughout, at the finish of the race there being only about two feet between the first, second and third boats. H.M.S. Kent's No. 1 crew were first home, the King Alfred's No. 1 crew being second, and the Monmouth's No. 2 crew third.
SENIOR PAIRS.-Open to crews representa- tive of any Amateur Rowing Club. To be rowed in Clinker-built boats with Coxwain. Distance:
One mile.
Canton
Bow-F. C. Herb.
Cox-E. Schroeter
1
11st Olb 10st Olb
Str.-W. Imhoof... Corinthian Yacht Club
14st Olb
11st 10lb
Bow-C. J. Cooke
Cor-F. P. Lenfesty Str.-J. Forbes
*
9st Olb 11st 6lb
N
to
A wide gap separated the two boats in this event at the starting line. They raced level for sometime, but eventually Canton drew ahead and in the final stages of the race proved themselves superior in every way
the Corinthian team, The race became a pro- cession, the home team bringing up the tail end very
far behind. The long, sweeping strokes of the Canton oarsmen rapidly car- ried them ahead of the Corinthians, and they won the race by about ten lengths.
THE NATHAN CHALLENGE CUP.-For four vars. Limited to Residents of Hongkong. Each crew to be drawn from a single unit which is defined as a Regiment, a ship, a Corps, the Volunteers, a Firm, or any other body of gentle- men working together at the same profession or calling. If any of the above units are not strong enough to provide a complete crew then any combination of two similar units may be made. A Club is not included in the definition of a Unit. Distance one mile.
H.M.S. King Alfred
Bow-J. Tovey
2 W. C. Hicks
3-R. D. B. Haddon
Str C. T. B. Curtis...
10st 9lb .11st Olb ...11st Olb ...10st 2lb
Cox Douglas-Hamilton... 9st Olb
Storekeepers
J. Cruickshank
R. L. Bridger...
A. E. Crapnell
F. A. Mackintosh
Civil Service
E. B. Reed
1
2
3-H. W. Lester.. Str.-E. Davidson Cox.-G. A. Caldwell
[March 29, 1909.
12st 5lb 11st 61b. 8st 2lb
Once more the Canton rowers were easily victorious, and won as they pleased from the two local Clubs entered They took the lead from the start, and continued in the van, pass- ing the post about five lengths ahead of the Corinthians, who were second home with three lengths to spare. The excellent show put up by the Corinthians who are practi- cally novices at the game, augurs well for the future success of their Club. The team which competed on Saturday, with more training, should give a good account of themselves in the near future. Their performance certainly showed that they possessed the strength and skill requisite for successful oarsmen.
MEN-OF-WAR CUTTERS.-Open to crews from Ships on the Station in Service cutters. Prizes $40.00 & $10.00. Distance: One mile.
H.M.S. Kent
H.M.S. Bedford...
H.M.S. Monmouth
This event brought forth nine starters, and a very good race resulted. From start to finish it was keenly contested, and after an exciting race a crew from H.M.S. Kent won, the Bedford being a good second, and the Monmouth
third.
JUNIOR PAIRS-Open to all not competing in Open Pairs in Hongkong Challenge Cup,
Canton
Bow-E Lund
.10st 4lb
.11st 6lb
..11st 11lb
.12st 12lb
1
Cox F. M. Crawford
8st 13lb
10st 12lb
Str. E. Dauter
11st 2lb
11st Olb
Cox-E. Schroeter
10st Olb
11st 3lb
V.R.C. (r. Crawford's team)
...11st 6lb
Bow-R. L. Bridger...
11st 6lb
...11st 131b 8st 2lb
Str.-F. A. Wackintosh
12st 12lb
Cox-F. M. Crawford...
8st 13lb
V.R.C. (Mr. Carroll's team).
3
Bow-J. Cruickshank
.10st Olb
.10st 2lb 9st 4lb
W. B. Stanton
E. W. Carpenter
F. A. Biden
Cox G. A. Caldwell
The three boats competing in this event got away together, and continued in company until half the distance was covered. Then the King Alfred four shot ahead and got home some fout lengths ahead. The Storekeepers and the Civil Service put up a hard fight for second place, the Storekeepers just winning on the post. RACE FOR BOATS OF THE AMERICAN FLEET, Distance: one mile.
U.S.S. Chatanooga... U.S.S. Cleveland U.S.S. Galveston
1
2 3
Five boats entered the race for the American Fleet, and there was much of Yankee freshness in the excitement which prevailed throughout. Launches followed the competitors and kept up a continuous tooting, while the tars cheered lustily. The boats kept well together until the finish, the Cleveland drawing ahead in the final stages and winning by three-quarters of a length. The Galveston was second and the Chatanooga third. Most of the oarsmen pulled a short sharp stroke, the stroke of the crew first home being exceptionally short. The Chatanooga won the race on time allowance.
OFFICERS' GIGS AND WHALERS.-Open to Officers of the Fleet in Naval Gigs or Whalers, Distance one mile..
H.M.S. Monmouth H.M.S. King Alfred
1 2
The two boats competing in this event, the King Alfred and Monmouth, put up an excellent race, the Monmouth winning on time allowance. They kept well together until the final stage, then the flagship men drew into the van, and although the Monmouth challenged, they were unable to overtake the King Alfred crew. eight seconds start, however gave them premier position, and enabled them to carry off the prize.
The
HONGKONG CHALLENGE CUP. Open to crows representative of any amateur Rowing Club. To be rowed in Clinker-built boats with coxswain,
Canton
Bow-F. C. Herb 2-R. Johnson
3-H. Appel Sir.--W. Imhoof
Cox-G. Schroeter
Bow-C. J. Cooke
Corinthian Yacht Club
2-J. McKay
Str.-J. Forbes.
3-T. Hynes
Cox.-F. Lenfesty
Royal Hongkong Yacht Club
11st Olb
11st 4lb
13st Olb
1
14st Ulb
10st Olb
2
11st 10lb
14st Olb 14st Olb 11st 6lb 9st olb
Bow-Captain S. Barker 10st 10lb 2-Lieut. Collison-Morley 12st 6lb
3
Str.-A. H. Carroll.. Cox.-W. J. Carroll
Canton and two V.R.C. teams started in this event, the Yacht Club scratching. Another easy win fell to the Canton men, the visitors simply romping home. The V.R.C. team, coxswained by Crawford. took an easy second place, W. J. Carroll's team being entirely out of the race.
SCRATCH FOURS-Open to members of R.H.K.Y.C., V.R.C. and C.Y.C., who are not competing in other races. Crews to be drawn the day before the Regatta :-
Bow.-A. R. Ellis 2-R. A. Carvalho 3.-A. E. Carvalho Str.-C. Rodrigues Cox.-F. Lenfesty
1
1
Of the three scratch teams entering for this event the winners were decidedly the best, although they nearly lost the race by laying on their oars too early in the proceedings. A pistol shot was fired in the vicinity of the Judges' quarters and the winners laid on their oars to cheer, and were just in time made to realise that they were not yet out of the wood.
The BROWN CHALLENGE CUP.-This event was postponed for a fortnight.
YACHT RACES.-The course Was both torpedo beacons (port) North Fairway Buoy (port), a distance of six miles.
The race of the Corinthian Yacht Club's one design was won by Messrs. Rodger and
Witchell's Asthore.
Captain Walker's Daphne won in the one- design class of the Royal Hongkong Yacht
Club.
The race in the Hayward Hay's one-design class was won by Messrs. Scriven and Hay's Mariory.
A second race for the handicapclass was sailed over the same course. Mr. Tooker's Vernon, sailed by the owner, carried off the prize for the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club, while Mr. Mackay's Corrinnee, sailed by Mr. Coombs, was first home among the Corinthian boats.
MOTOR BOAT RACE-The course for this was around Pinnacle Rock at the entrance to Chin Wan Pass (port), a distance, of six and a quarter miles. All the boats entered sailed under the colours of the Corinthian Yacht Club. Mr. C. A. G. Robarts' Veronica was first home, but Dr. W. W. Pearse's Jean won the race on time allowance.
At th conclusion of the races Mr. HEDLEY
*
G. WHITE, the Hon. Secretary, asked Mrs. Basil Taylor to present the prizes.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.