ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 75, 27 March 1912, Page 2

ROWING.

THE SOMERVn_LE SHIELD.

TO PROMOTE EIGHT-OAR ROWING.

Tor some time past a movement has seen on foot to promote eight-oar rowin" in Net' Zealand, and at last some-tK-T definite lias been arrived at. Mr. U .molly, secretary of the Auckland Rowing Club, has received advice from Mr. Roland SoroerviJle, son of Mr. T. P. Somerville, of North that he will be pleased to present a 30----guinca shield to the Club, for competition in eight-oar rowing. It is the intention to make the shield a challenge one for New Zealand, on something t.ie same lines -.m tho Ranfurly Shield at football, and the Plunket Shield nt rnrket, and pcrnussion has been granted by the N.Z. Rowing Association for the , holding of contests for the shield. The j Wellington Association have announced; their willingness to send a crew, nnd . the Wanganui Association is at present j rousidering the mutter, so that there. is every probability of the three asso-1 ciations competing for the trophy next season. The present proposal is 'or the first contest for the shield to be rowed in Auckland, after which the race for its. possession will be rowed on the course, of the holder, which may be Auckland.! Wellington, Wanganui, or any other, association challenging and winning, j Tho shield, whi;h will be known as tho "Soraerville Sh'.eld," should give n great impetus to »ight-onr rowing in the Dominion, and it looks as if ".he time was not !cr distant when a Xew Zealand crew would be found competing against thn pick of Australia in eights, and the thanks of oarsmen are certainly due to Mr. Somerville for h:s generous gift.