A ROWING FUNCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1935, Page 17

A ROWING FUNCTION

WELLINGTON CLUB MEETS

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES

Past and present members oi! the Wellington Rowing Club were present at the club's annual smoke concert and presentation o£ prizes on Saturday night. The. club captain (Mr. J. Luke) presided and amongst the guests o£ honour were Colonel G. Campbell, Mr. R. G. Duncan, representing the New Zealand Rowing Council; Mr.. Mac Gibbon, representing the Wellington Rowing Association; Mr. M. A. Turner, representing the Star Boating Club; and Mr. A. White, representing the Petone Rowing Club. After the loyal toast had been honoured Colonel Campbell proposed the principal toast of the evening, The Club." Colonel Campbell referred to the memorable Dolly Varden crew which had become a tradition not only amongst rowers in Wellington, but amongst rowers throughout New Zealand. He was not: prepared to say tha. the club had not had as good a crew since, but he was quite sure that it had never had a better. It was the enthusiasm of such men as those who composed the Dolly Varden crew and "Jimmie" Stuart who created the incentive that caused rowing to go aheaa in New Zealand. Recalling an incident in the early history ot the cluD, Colonel Campbell said that on one occasion a Sydney sculler, whose name was very prominent amongst Australian rowers, decided to seek matches in New Zealand. Thinking the New Zealand scullers were very much below the standard of Australian scullers, ha came to the Dominion under an assumed name for the reason, presumably, of getting a match or two. When bs came to Wellington he was matched against Hearn over a four-mile course. The Sydney sculler began to lose water after the first half-mile, and Hearn went ahead and won handsomely Of late years the club had me. with varying success in races. Winning races, however, was not the oniy value of the club to the community. During the long period of its existence it had provided healthy, vigorous sport for a large number It would be interesting, said Colonel Campbell, to refer to the old records and find oiu how many men had passed through the club. Referring to the difficultly Wellington rowers had in. regard to unsuitabli water, he said he thought tha. the times when the Wellington club* had been the least successful were the times when bad seasons had been exrjerienced. .. .., Mr R. J. Tregurtha, responding. to the toast, said the club was doing its utmost to live up to the traditions set by the Dolly Varden crew James Stuart, and others. The club had gone ahead during the last few years having obtained a new boat shed ana .1 loii of new members. One of the most pleasing features of rowing in Wellington was the cordial relationship that existed amongst the three local rowing C Otfier toasts honoured during the evening were "Old Members," proposed by Mr. H. Spoor and responded to by Mr. F. Bacon and Mr. F. Bognuda; "The New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association," proposed by Mr. A. Anderson and responded to by Mi. R Duncan; and "Kindred Clubs, pioposed by Mr. G. Riley and responded to by Messrs. Turner and White. During.the evening caps and trophies were presented to the following, by J- Luke junior double sculls, Christchurch. and junior sinale sculls, Wellington; E. Woolcott, junior double sculls, Christchurch; H. Spoor, W. McLean. V. Mams, and H. Tester, maiden fours, Picton: H. Spoor, and W. McLean, maiden pairs, Picton and Wellington; A. McNair, W Mclyer R. McNair, and F. Meredith, lightweignt maiden fours, Picton and Wellington. Trophies.—J. Luke, senior fours, old members' fours, senior pairs, adies plate, and senior ladder sculls; H. Spoor, Wareham fours, Kemptfaorne fours Bert Shaw fours, and club fours: R. Redding, Kempthorne fours. Bert Shaw fours, and club fours; W. MeIver old members' fours, _club pairs, and Kempthorne fours;- L; Bagren, oiu members' fours, and novice.pairs; v Butler, junior fouiis and Jadies plate, T Costello, club fours; M. Dixon, Ben Smith Cup for'the most improved and useful, first-year, member; T. Lancaster Wareham' fours and junior ladder squlls; F, Meredith, Kempthorne -fours arid Bert Shaw fours; H. Millar, .senior piurs. and Ladies' Plate;. V-.Morris, sealor fours; W. Morgan, junior fours; R. Nicholson, junior fours; W. Paterson.; Wareham fours;. G, Stanton; noyic* pairs; H. Tester, Bert Shaw fours; P. Thornton. Wareham fours and club Sa, Watson, junior fours; E. Woolcott, senior fours. ' .