Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-30
WH|SKER FINISHES
FEATURED REGATTA
Whites Take Grueling Race From
Blues by Less Than
Dozen Feet.
EIGHT OARED RACES PRETTY
During the Internissions, Other
Novel and Interesting Events
Are Run OFF.

Gaining less than dozen feet in a
gruelling mile, the Whites swept
across the finish line the winner over
the Blues yesterday afternoon in the
main eight-oared event on the pro-
gram OF the annual interclub regatta
OF the Virginia Boat Club. 1t was a
thrilling climax to an unusually inter-
esting card of events. the majority Of
which were featured by whisker FIN
ishes. Hundreds of guests crowded tho
clubhouse lawn, while the white ex-
panses of Mayo Bridge was blackened
by huge thronE OF spectators.
threatening weather failed to damp
en- the ardor OF the boating enthusi-
asts. and promptly at o'clock tho
shells were launched in the water pre-
parator to the swing down the James
to the starting line below the Old Dom
inion Wharf. In fifteen minutes the
crowd was brought to its feet by the
announcement that the crews were off.
Up the river swept the Whites ana
Reds. opponents In the opening heat.
Neck and neck the thin shells travelled,
until. arriving at the railroad trestle
spanning the river several hundred
yards below the finish, the Reds. guild
ed by Coxwain Brock, crowded the
whites, forcing themselves out of n
stroke. which counted for win by
half length for the Whites.
The second heat was no less inter-
es'iiiS, 'he MarooNS being opposed by
the Blues Stroked by Dean Haw. the
latter came up the river under "A beau
tfful swing. which was maintained for
the hnal quarter-mile. Strive as hard
as he could. Atwell, stroking the Ma
rooms. failed to bridge the gap of nf-
teen feet between the sharp noses OF
the frail craft, and the Blues finished
n dozen feet to the good
INTERESTING EVENTS ARE
RUN OFF BETwEEN HEATS
During the intermissions between
the two heats, a number of interesting
events were run off, including a pleas
ure-boat race, with lady coxwains:
canoe doubles race and old clothes
swimming race canoe fitting and a
duck chase. The competition in the
races was keen, while the last three
events were humorous and entertain
ing in the extreme
1t was just o'clock when the Blues
and Whites. winners of the heats. faced
the starter in the finals for eight
cared shells The Whites were stroked
by Bob Cushman. with Waddy at the
helm. The Blues were strold by Dean
Haw. with Brock holding the lines
AS the two shells raced up the
stream, the spectators stood and YELL
ed for their favorites. AS the crews
were composed OF club members, the
crowd was equally divided. and with
centive, the men. women and children
lined on the lawn and those on the
bridge joined in the chorus OF advice
hurled at the oncoming oarsmen.
WHITES GOT LEAD
AND KEPT IT TO END
The Whites. taking the south side,
took the lead from the start, but IL
narrowed down TO feet and fraction OF
feet before the shells had reached the
nlIt-mtle mark no bra
mark the Whites were in the lead by
few feet. and began to gain slightly.
just as they passed under the bridge,
both crews raised their stroke, and the
Blues started to bridge the gap. and
1t looked like q dead heat until, when
less than fifty feet from the finish.
Cushman and his seven comrades gave
an extra squirt which gave them tho
victory, although less than dozen
rect separated the prows OF the shells
The pleasure-boat event brought out
five entries. as follows: r. A. Fraser
and Miss Parker: H. c. Coghin and
MISS Hart; Charles 2. Ford and Miss
Ford, and T. D. Steel and Miss Rich
ardson. The event was won by Nc
Carthy. with Coghill second and Fraser
third.
In the canoe doubles. Terry Morrt-
son and Charles Tabb won over i've
entries. as follows: j. T. Cottrel, ard
r. Ferguson; Dr. Pusey and Charles
Willis; f. Mccarthy. Jr.. and ]. c.
Cooper. and C. B. Gregory and r. D.
Curtis.
The old-clothes race, which had
eight entries, was OF the novelty va
riety. Clothed in sailor suits OF white
duck. the swimmers left the clubhouse
float, swimming to the finish line. where
their wet suits were discarded on n
hoat and the return trip started. B, p.