Event finding seed in pear, we hear? (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

boat race

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'event' is the definition.
(boat race is a kind of event)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for boat race that I've seen before include "Cockney's face" , "gig?" , "Putney-Mortlake event" , "varsity match" , "Oxford and Cambridge take part in one" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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