ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 21 March 1908, Page 12

ROWING.

During the nast week we have had no less than two regattas—the A.R.A. championship regatta, and the Ngaruawahia regatta, and curiously enough, although rough weather was experienced in between, the weather on both days was ideal. Air. VT. W. Benjamin, secretary of the -V.R.A., has presented a handsome cup for the =ing!e sculling championship, and this year it has been won by T. Richards, of the Waitemata Club. The win was a popular one. Shore's win in the seniors was something of a surprise, as, owing to the untimely illness of their stroke (Air. JS. Bailey) W. Logan was substituted, and though he had had no previous practice with the crew, the result shows how efficiently he discharged his duties. This is all the more creditable as up to the championship regatta, he was a maiden oar-man. The points for the championship pennant are as follows: —West End, 77; North Shore, 67; Waitemata, (59; St. George's, 22; Ngaruawahia, 17; Auckland, 12; Hamilton, G; Rotorua, 1; Kopu, 1. In sculling a country club got away with the oldest Challenge Cup, competed for here (the Jlarchall Cup), the winner, Mr. A. Clark, of Kopu, securing a welldeserved win.

The two gold medals presented by Mr. |H. A. Marriner (president of the Auckland Club), for double sculling, were won by Auckland, R. S. Hellaby and Guy Griffin, being their representatives. They put up a meritorious performance. Owing to the ftlness of their stroke I Ernie Bailey), Shore had to abandon their chance in the youths' fours. Xorth Shore intend holding an "At Home " early in Aprii, on the return of their crews, now in Xapier, for the X.Z. Championship meeting. It was a matter of extreme regret to mc to see so few representatives or Auckland crews at the Ngaruawahia regatta, and 1 know- the Waikato Club were /■eonsi-tsrably disappointed. However this is doubtless due to the fact that so many rowing men are in Xapier at present in connection with the N.Z; Championship regatta. Xsaruawahia, has always been looked upon by local oarsmen as the event of the year, as has b:-sn evidenced by the fact of previous entries

notwithstanding the worst of weather . Should the Auckland boys succeed in bringing the championship or the Dominion back to Auckland 1 am sure the Waik&to boy 3 will not begrudge .heir absence at the Waikato Council iho season is now practically concluded, and with next Saturday's regatta we shall have had the very resectable- total of eleven regattas in the province. It says much for the en- °. r f, of .. the present executive of the A.X.A. that of this number no ldss than four were promoted by the association.

, v\est Lnds heavy maiden crew this I year has been subjected to an unusual amount of variation, the personnel being different at nearly every regatta The? have started five times and secured four I wins I congratulate their coach, Mr ■■ v\. H. Conway, on the way in which he has handled the crews. It is largely due to Mr. Con way's untiring energy and sys ; tematic training that the West End Club I owe their success in heading the list ! for the premier pennant. ' Auckland Club arp holding a picnic at Takapuna beach on Saturday next when I .rial fours for the commodore's (Dr. Stuart B. Keid) will be rowed for All I arrangements have been carefully ma de : with a view to promoting the comfort of visitors and to give the -boys" as enjoyable an outing as possible. En- ; tries ai -e very large, and some really Bret-class racing should be witnessed A meeting of the Xew Zealand Amateur Rowing Association was held durinothe week in the Star Boating Club's shed*" Wellington. Mr. R. W. McVilly occupied the chair and there were also present C ™ K ' M : Isaacs > G - Lauchian, J E. Widdop W. Coffey, E. E. Hammond and A. D. Bay field (secretary). The Otago Rowing Association applied for permission to hold a regatta at Queenstown (Lake Wakatipu) on Easter Saturday. Permission was granted, the regatta to be conducted under the super vision of the Otago Association, and according to the rules of the New Zealand -■issociation. The Southland Association wrote at considerable length, pointing out the injustice done to rowing men by the abandonment of rowing events by the Bluff regatta committee on New Year's Day. A long discussion took place, several delegates expressing themselves in strong terms of the way in which the Bluff gatta is carried on. ft was eventually decided to write to the regatta committee to give them an opportunity of defending themselves before further action is taken. Officers for the Napier regatta were approved as follows:—Umpire, Mr W Sim; starter, Mr. A. Simmons; judges'. Messrs. J. R. Lanauze, A. Lean, and D' -McMillan. Mr. A. D. Bayfield was elected to represent the association officially at \a- Tpier. ' ' j The resignation of Mr. G. F. Morton, I the Auckland representative on the as- j soeiation, was received, he having been ' transferred to Invercargill. Mr. B. A. I Morris was appointed to fill the vacancy. |