The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-06 00:00:00

WARRINGTON REGATTA.

Thursday last being the day fixed for the usual annual
regatta at Warrington, the town, from an early hour in
the morning, presented a lively and bustling appearance,
and the influx of strangers, despite of the weather, which
was exceedingly unpropitious, and showed no indication
of being favourable, gave the whole affair an air of gaiety.
The river, too, which was swollen by the rain—that had
added beauty to the lovely green country and picturesque
woodlands that adorn its banks—partook of the animation
of the town. Boats of almost every class—from the trim-
built skiff to the yacht, were gliding o'er its waters—
some propelled by oars, and others under a press of sail,
which, whether going " on-a-wind" or " free," were
managed in a way that says no little for the skill of the
lovers of aquatic sports in that neighbourhood. The
whole amusements were got up excellently, and consider-
ing the damp that had been thrown on them by the recent
lamentable accident at Liverpool, which prevented the
attendance of either Chester, Liverpool, or Dublin boats,
they went off with great eclat. An excellent stand was
erected at a place called Arpley, on the banks of the river,
and numerous tents were pitched in its vicinity to pro-
vide refreshments. Two excellent bands were engaged,
which played alternately and together throughout the day.
Punctually at the appointed time, twelve o'clock, the
boats prepared to start. A line was extended across the
river, to which, at convenient distances, hand ropes were
attached, and to these the coxswains held till the signal to
" go" was giyen. The following is the result of the con-
tests :

ifIeWATERMEN'S PRIZE, for four-oared boats, not ex-
ceeding 23 feet keel. First boat, A:5 ; second, £l.
To be rowed and steered by the inhabitants of War-
rington. Heats.
Joseph Hedgecock's Ann, 22 ft. 7 in. keel, Stoke, P.
Hedgecock, R. Hedgecock, Wm. Gaskell, T. Kay, Cx.
Wm. Kean.
Josiah Whittle's Pearl, 21 ft. 5 in. keel. Strike, James
Cooper, T. Spencer, John Spencer, James Cartwright,
Cx. J. Locker.
Thomas Mason's Throstle's Nest, 22 ft. keel. Stroke,
T. Mason, James Procter, R. Mason, J. Mason, Cx.

Thomas Taylor.
Joseph Jackson's Dolphin, 19; ft. keel. Stroke, John
Baxter, J. Jackson, H. Clare, Stephen Moss, Cs. T.
Stringer.
S. M. Webster's Mermaid, 21 ft. keel. Stroke, H. Din-
woody, John Pemberton, D. Locket, P. Warburton,
Cs. E. Shaw.
FIRST HEAT. SECOND HEAT.
Dolphin ...
Pearl 2 I Mermaid
Ann

....... 3
D- '4 G HEAT.

Throstle's Nest . . .........
Dolphin..
In the Filtsr HEAT the betting commenced in favour
of the Pearl, and 2 to 1 was offei:ed against the Dolphin.
It was well contested: the Dolphin took the lead, closely
followed by the Pearl, and at a quarter of a mile distant
was not a boat's length ahead. The Ann had no chance.
The distance (from the starting place to the railway bridge,
through which they had to pass, and back) was about 31
miles. The relative situations of the boats, at the bridge,
was communicated to those onthe stand telegraphically. The
Dolphin won the heat by about fifty yards.
In the SECOND HEAT the Throstle's Nest, which was
the favourite, took the lead, and continued to improve it
throughout. Betting commenced at 7to 4, but ended, in
heavy stakes, at 8 to 1l on the Throstle's Nest, which boat
won 4Py akkosak-

DECIDING HEAT.—Again the Thiiiitles- Nest took
the lead and kept it to the end, in a hard contest. Bet-
ting : 3 to 1 against the Dolphin.
The SCULLING MATCH, Sculled in Boats belonging to
Vessels plying on the River. To start opposite a boat
moored off Wilderspool and terminate at the flag buoy,
for £l, and ss. to the second boat.
Mr. Edward Greenall's Ann, Robert Robinson
Mr. R. Beswick's George, James Pye .. 2
Mr. John Clare's Mary, John Ratcliffe ...
An excellent race, and only won by about a yard. No
betting.
The BOROUGH CUP, value £25, added to a Sweepstakes
of £2 each, for four-oared boats, rowed and steered by
persons who shall from the 13th July preceding the race,
have been members of a bona fide club, established in
Warrington or the neighbourhood, such club, or some
some member or members thereof, being the owner or
owners of the boat. £4 for the second boat. The
start from the flag opposite the Grand Stand, round the
pier of the Railway Bridge and back again. Entrance
£l.
The Island Rowing Club's Mersey. Stroke, R. W. Per-
W. Evans, G. Haddock. Cx. Jos.
kins, A. Fitzadam,
Taylor.
The Warrington Midge Rowing Club's Midge. Stroke,
William Woods, James i Gbson, Noah Greening, T.
Stirrup. Cx. George Venn
The Wilderspool Rowing Club's Crusader. Stroke, W.
Nunnerly, T. Norbury, William Taylor, G. Royle.
Cx. T. Taylor.
The Thetis Rowing Club's Thetis. Stroke, Edward
Blundell, Samuel France, Henry Banks, Thos. Smith.
Cx. James Caparn.
FIRST HEAT. SECOND HEAT.
Crusader ............ • . 1 Midge ..
Thetis ............. 2 Mersey ...... 2
DECIDING HEAT.

Midge
Crusader

FIRST HEAT.—The Crusader got the start, and went
ahead, but, to use a nautical expression, they " crabbed,"
and the Thetis shot past her. The betting, which had
been on the Crusader at 2 to 1 with no takers, was now
even, and a good deal was posted on the result. At the
railway-bridge the Crusader had again got the lead, and
kept it to the end, winning by about 300 yards.

SECOND HEAT., —The Midge had it all her own way
from tile first, and though the Mersey is a fine model,
the crew seemed to want strength.
DECIDING HEAT.—This was an excellent race. The
Crusader got the start by about half a yard, and they
continued neck and neck," if we may use the expres-
sion, all the time they remained in sight ; and the judge
informed us that at the railway-bridge, coming back,
there was not more than a few inches between them,
and that was in favour of the Midge. Every nerve was
strained, and at each stroke they seemed to prove—
.. When Greek meets Greek, then etunes the tug of war."
The Crusader, though a fine model, was much too heavy
to compete with so light a boat as the Midge. The race
was won by about 50 yards. Betting 3to lon the
Midge.

The SECOND SCULLING MATCH, to which the entrance
was free, was under the same conditions as the first-
-1 t was won by Mr. John Clare's Mary, sculledby John
Radcliffe.
The WORKMEN'S PRIZE, value £2O, added to a sweep-
stakes of 10s. each, open to all classes in Warrington
and the neighbourhood, in four-oared boats. The
winner to pay £3 to the second boat. Borough Cop
Course.
The Thetis Rowing Club's Thetis,—stroke, Chides
Wilde, Thomas Wilde, James Wild, Joseph Wild,
cx. James Capirn
Thomas Mason's Mersey,—stroke, T. Mason, James
Turner, Robert Mason, John Mason, cx. Joseph
Taylor
• .
Benjamin Borrows's Crusader,—stroke, Wm. Green,
John Caldwell, John Green, R. Dagnall, cx. Thos.
Taylor
This was one of the best races of the day, and con-
cluded the contests. It was eviient from the stroke of
the crew of the Thetis, which was long and effective, that
she must be the winner. At every pull she gained on her
adversaries, and would have been freely backed at almost
any odds, but there were no takers. She won gallantly.

The WARRINGTON CUP, value £2O, did not fill.

The stewards were Mr. Henry Stanton and Mr. Marsh,
and Mr. Steel, in a most able manner, acted as judge.
The whole affair, considering the weather, went off well ;
and the great contention for the prizes, and theuniversallT
kind feeling manifested by the several crews, argues well
for the promotion of this fine recreation another year.