The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-11 00:00:00

THAMES NATIONAL REGATTA.

It seldom happens that a regatta takes place without a
fall of rain, and it is still more unusual for the Thames N-
ational Regatta to be held at Putney without a deluge of
water. Yesterday proved no exception to the rule, and
although the weather was fine during the earlier races, yet
rain commenced to fall about 4o'clock in the afternoon, and
continued with a few intervals of fair weather only until
8 o'clock in the evening, when a heavy thunderstorm
broke over Putney, accompanied by a tremendous down-
pour and by repeated flashes of the most vividly blue
lightning seen out of the tropics. The boat races
commenced at half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, and
were under the management of the Thames Subscription
Club. As a whole, the rowing was very good, but the
four-oared crews which competed for the chief prize, value
100 sovs., were scarcely up to the average. The first nine
races were rowed up from Putney-aqueduct on the flood,
and the last four down from Hammersmith with the ebb
tide. The course lay between Putney-aqueduct and Ham--
meramith-bridge, or vice versa, for all the races but the
fours, which finished some distance higher up the river—
viz., at Chiswick-eyot. In the Open Scullers and in the
Watermen's Apprentices races the first boat in each trial
heat was alone allowed to row in the final heat, but the
second boats in the former race were permitted to start for
a consolation prize at the close of the day.

' The sports commenced with a
Scullers' Race, open to the world ; first prize, £2O ; second,

£lO ; third, £5 ; and fourth, £3.
FIRST HEAT.
G. Cannon, Blackwell
J. H. Clasper, Newcastle 2
H. Cole, Chelsea
Henry Kelly, of Putney, was entered, but did not start,
as we on Monday hinted would be the case. The lead was
at once taken up by Cole, who is remarkably quick at get-
ting a boat under way, Clasper going on second, and
Cannon last. Just below the London Rowing Club boat-
house Clasper passed Cole, and Cannon also rowed up to
Cole, soon afterwards leaving him.. These positions were
maintained up to Craven-cottage, where Cannon rapidly
gained upon Clasper, and succeeded in passing him just
above that well-known landmark. The Blackwell man
thereafter increased or diminished his lead at his pleasure,
and won very easily by three lengths ; the same distance
between Clasper and Cole.

SECOND HEAT.
R. Chambers, Newcastle
J. Sadler, Putney

J. Percy, of Newcastle, was entered, but did not scull.
Chambers made the most of an oven start, and rowed so fast
that he was clear of Sadler at the Star and Garter, and at
the Bishop's-creek, just above the London Club boat-house,
had increased his lead to nearly two lengths. Under the
Willows, however, Sadler began to'gain upon Chambers,
and at the site of the old half-mile post overlapped him,
both men being driven out of their course by a barge. At
Craven Cottage Chambers had again drawn himself clear,
and held a lead-of ono length and a quarter. The positions
of the scullers remained the same until Chambers passed
the Barge-wharf, just above Craven-cottage, where Sadler
put on a spurt and once more overlapped the ex-champion,
but, dying away, the latter again drew ahead. Ralf-way
between the Barge-wharf and Rose-bank Sadler again
spurted, but, catching a crab, lost the trifling advantage
he had h6ped to gain. At the Crab Tree Chambers led by
a length and three-quarters, but just below the Soap-works
Sadler made another effort, although he failed to overhaul