FIFTY YEARS OLD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 77, 7 May 1914, Page 12

FIFTY YEARS OLD.

CANTERBURY ROWING CLUB.

PREMIER CLUB OF AUSTRALASIA. VALUE OF SCHOOL ROWING. The Canterbury Rowing Club celebrated the jubilee of its foundation last evening, when the fiftieth annual smoke concert was held. The President (Mr F. I. Cowlishaw) was in the eliair, and there was a large attendance of members of the club, and representatives of other bodies.

Proposing the toast of the "Canterbury Rowing Club," the President said that the Club had been in existence for fifty years, and there was not a single stain on its long history. (Applause.) For the first time in the history of New Zealand there had been inaugurated this year schools rowing races, in which crews had been entered by Christ's College, Christchurch Boys' High School, Wanganui College, and Waitaki Boys' High School. It was very fitting that the first faces' should have been rowed on -the Avon, the home of rowing in Australasia, and that so much support should have been given to the schools by the C.R.C., the oldest rowing club in Australasia. (Applause.) These races would do a great deal for amateur rowing in the Dominion, and the slub—and other clubs . also—would reap a . hundredfold any assistance they had giv&ri to the schoolboy oarsmen. (Applause.) - The season had been a remarkably one, in' that it had been disorganised by the strike. At one time the cltib had-been unable to put a single complete crew on the river, through its men being away on special duty to ais\jsr£ sJie preservation of law and order. "(Applause.) The club captain (Mr W. 11. Evans) responded. He was certain that rowingwas the premier sport of Christchurch. (Applause.) He thought that the inauguration of school rowing was a very excellent move, and would do a very great deal towards the fostering of the sport. The club had had £7a very successful racing season, \it 3 * crews having ■won £62 in sum than it had won for several years. The best win w r as that of the Senior Fours at the Christchurch Regatta. This was one of the principal races of the year, and the club's crew was to t>e congratulated upon winning it. The alteration of the course at this regatta necessitated by the bad weather had militated against the club's crews, and on more than one occasion a crew which they had relied upon to take a prominent place had been put right but of the race by the rough water. The club was to be congratulated on the fine spirit of its racing members, who had worked hard and trained well, and had been a credit to their coaches and trainers.

Mr N. L, Macbeth proposed the toast of "Sister Clubs." He specially congratulated the Avon Club on its great performance in \yinning the D.C.L. Cup with so many points. It was the best performance that the Avon Club had ever put up, and they looked to the Avon for competition and co-operation for v, maiiy years to come. (Applause.) It was such cooperation which made any sport worth while. The Union Club had had a long run of wins in the D.C.L. Cup competition, and lie thought it was good for the sport that the Cup had at last made a move to another club. (Hear, hear.) Amongst sister clubs they must now reckon the two school clubs, and they ought to welcome them .very heartily. (Applause.) School rowing had come? to stay, and it would be a very fine thing for the sport. (Hear, hear.) He had been glad to hear'the captain say that the rowing members had loyally obeyed their coaches. It was essential to the success of every that there should be as few onlookers as possible. No one should shirk a club race or a regatta race. Many men had rowed for years before winning a prize, but they had the spirit which made true sportsmen. (Applause.) Every member who was physically able to do so should be an active oarsman, and so he would heli) the club and the sport generally far more than he could do by being a mere spectator. (Applause.) Mr F. D. Kesteven responded on behalf of the Union Club. He said that a rowing man got good value out of any time he put into the sport. He also was very glad to see the start of school rowing. It was a very fine thing for the sport. Even if they held the Christchurch Regatta on the Avon, as some advocated, he did not think that they would get anything like the crowd of spectators which gathered to see the inter-collegiate races. He congratulated the Canterbury Club on its successful season. There had been no "fluke" about its wins at the various regattas during the season. He also congratulated the Avon Club on winning the D.C.L. Cup this season. In all his experience of rowing lie had never seen such a wonderful prize-list as that of the Avon Club this year. (Applause.) Rowing was the king of sports, and was the only game in which the Jazy man had no place. A man could loaf at football or 'cricket, but the loafer was absolutely useless in a boat. (Hear, hear.)

Response was also made by Mr R. E. Nightingale (Avon R.C.). He that the removal of the D.C.L. Cup from its stronghold was one of the best things which had ever happened to rowing in Canterbury, and the result would be seen next season. Already many people vvho had never previously taken any interest in the sport were showing that thev would do so next season. He thought that it would be a good idea if they did in Canterbury what the rowing people of Otago did that was, to have a challenge cup for each grade, of rowing, youths, maiden, junior, and senior. These cups were held for a year by the winning club, as was done here with the D.C.L. Cup. Mr Gordon Reed responded on behalf of the Star Club (Wellington).

Mr Britten proposed the toast of " The President, and Vice-Presidents of the (Hub,'' response being made by the president, (Mr Cowlishaw), Messrs Ji. Evans, 11. Avers, and N. L. Macbeth (vicepresidents). Mr Cowlishaw suggested that it would lie an excellent idea if the members of the club subscribed to provide a prize for the annual interschool race. School rowing deserved every encouragement., and the club woiild be doing real good to the sport by adopting his suggestion. (Cheers.) Other toasts proposed were "The Ladies'' and "The Press."

The season \s prizes were presented as follow: —

C. C. Hill, trial double sculls, president's fours, Thomas pairs,, light-weight maiden fours. (Christchurch.) S. i l . ..Johnson, maiden doubles (Christchurchj, maiden doubles (Kaiapoi). V. D. Hewer, maiden doubles (Christcliuxch), maiden doubles (Kaiapoi).

N. R. Sime, president's fours, maiden fours (Sumner), maiden pairs P°')L. F. PaTson, president's fours, maiden fours (Sumner), maiden pairs (Kaiap°i). W. de Thier, senior fours (Christchurch), senior doubles (Christchurch). C. Oliamp, senior fours (Christchurch), senior doubles (Christchurch). R. B. Burn, senior fours (Christchurch), Thomas pairs. IST. E. Hawdon, senior fours .(Christchurch)..: ■; B. C. Wickens, light-weight maiden" fours (Christchurch). A. C. Pinwell, trial doubles, lightweight maiden fours (Christchurch). A. Wilson, light-weight maiden fours (Christchurch). K. G. Butters, youths' single sculls. . E. Cuddon, president's fours, maiden fours (Sumner). M. J. Guthrie, maiden fours (Sumner). '' ' V

R. . ; .Cuddoh asnd.F. A, Roach, -trial pairs."'.

W. Fair bairn, D. Dobson, S. M, Parry, and D. C. Inglis, trial fours.

Opening, day.-—Most original ,crew— B. B. Burn, B. J. Clark, and L. J. Campbell; fours, C. G. Farrow, L. F. Parson.

Closing day. —Scratch .fours —C. G. Farrow, G. F. Johnson, C. C. Hill, and B. Cudden.