The times., 1899-07-06
HENLEY ROYAL REGAffA
Coed Weather and a Big Crowd At
tend the Opening Events.
Preliminary Heats for the Grand.
Thames, and stewnrds' Challenge
Cups Furnish Exciting Racing
Howell, the American. Wins His
Heat for the Diamond sculis.

Henley -on-the- Thames, July 5.-The Hen
ley Royal Regatta opened today with per-
feet weather. The sky was cloudless and
there was a gentle breeze which only
caused slight ripples on the water. House
boats and launches were somewhat<,fewer
than usual, but the floral decorations and
bunting We're as brilliant as ever. The
boats and riverside lawns were crowded
with ladies attired in gay costumes and
carrying multi-colored sunshades. boom
was laid parallel with the Buckingham
shire shores and spectators in boats we're
obliged to go inside of this on signal.
This innovation had been much opposed
but some preventive had to be found FOR
the dangerous selfish crowding of the
course in previous years. The expert
ment was a decided success.
The racing began at IL o'clock. The
crews of the Argonaut Rowing Club OF
Canada, and the Delft University contested
the first heat in the eight-oared contest
for the grand challenge cup, and the race
was an exciting one. The crews were
splendidly matched. The Argonauts led at
the start but the Dutchmen made squirt
and drew up almost level with the Cana
dians. The latter were just able to hold
their own, winning the race by foot
In the second heat the Trinity Cambridge
crew beat the Etonians by length and
a quarter The third heat was won by the
Leander crew stroked by Gold, who
stroked Oxford in the university race.
Their opponents were the Balliol College,
| Oxford. crew, who were easily defeated
by length and a quarter. In the fourth
heat the London Rowing Club easily beat
the Thames Rowing Club by length and
three-quarters.
The first heat Of the contest for the
Thames challenge cup was won by the
London Rowing Club, which beat Trinity
Hall. Cambridge, by three-quarters OF
length after a good race. The second heat
was won by Jesus College, Cambridge,
which beat the Twickenham crew. In the
third heat Trinity College, Cambridge,
beat Pembroke College, Cambridge. In the
fourth heat the Kingston Rowing Club
beat the Thames Rowing Club
The first heat of the race for the stan
dard stewards challenge cup was won by
the Harmonic crew OF Hamburg, who
handsomely defeated the St Georges Hos
pital crew by three-quarters of a length.
In the second heat Trinity College, Cam
bridge, beat the Argonaut crew. The lat
ter were Handicapped by their previous
hard struggle. The Delft crew, which also
raced, were outpaced from the start, and
were beaten by four lengths. In the third
heat Magdalen College, Oxford. beat New
College, oxford, by six lengths. 1t was
a runaway race. In the fourth heat Balliol
College beat the Thames Rowing Club.
The first heat for the Diamond sculls
was decided yesterday. This was row
over by the Oxonian, Hemmerde, the
Frenchman. Gaudin. not appearing. In
the second heat today B. L. Howell. an
American, beat Bright, OF the Argonaut
crew, with the greatest ease. Howell was
five lengths ahead when half the course
had been. gone over, and from that point
he padded home. In the third heat, Hem
merde beat Goldman, OF the Argonaut
crew, by a length. The latter steered bad
! ly at starting.
The first heat for the silver goblets was
won by the Thames Rowing Club, which
rowed over the course. In the second
heat the Thames crew beat Trinity Hall.