ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 290, 8 December 1925, Page 13

ROWING.

TRAINING FOR REGATTA. WEST END'S RENOVATIONS. During; tie week-end visit to the various rowing clubs matters were found in a very settled state. It was an off-day on Saturday for trial racing, and the heavy, sou'westerly wind did not add comfort to a spin: There were many crews afloat in aU tne sheltered spots along the southern shore,- and sound, solid instruction was the order. The -new men have spent several days watching trial racing, but a welcome change came their way with a good turn afloat. There is a. regatta training atmosphere dominant in all the boathouses, and tne crews are worfing very solidly. At several of the sheds, >ortli Shore. West End, Auckland and Waitemata, the regatta men have taken up their quarters, with the result that i..uch more rowingls indulged in during the early morning. The water conditions are then usually more favouraoie and the men fresher, aild receive more benefit from the rowing. The various committees have their working arrangements in order, and more method in duties is noticeable. Generally it was found that the boats were all in fine order, and the boatsheds in spick and spaa order. West End'recently completed a big work in renovating and repairing the boathouse. Pany new supports embedded, in concrete have been put in, all the roofing, ridging and spouting repaired, and the skids lengthened with a concrete approach, this does away with the drop, saves the boats from bumping, and no doubt the pleasure boat members will now smile as they haul their boats on to the skids at low tide. Inside the sheds many little improvements are most noticeaoie, and the advantages of the new oars racks will soon oe appreciated. A big saving of chipped oar blades will result. Quite a number or >\ est End veterans have made several visits to the shed and shown a/lot of interest. On Sunday, "Xorin" -Cossey, "Arthur" Collins, and "Monty" Spencer were afloat, and enjoyed an easy spin. The veterans' race should he worth watching this season. C. C. Bae, who will be remembered by all Auckland oarsmen as a successful West End regatta oar, has returned to town and rejoined the old club. During his absence in Tauranga he assisted to form the duo there, coached the crews, and his experience and work contributed materially to that club's successful progress. He will, in aU probability, coach the lightweight maiden four. Thfe Dobson pair oar handicap, although not completed at the time of writing, has produced an interesting series of racing, and the new idea of handicapping the men, then allowing them to pair, is a decided success. The final drew A. E. Payne ana T, Johnston to meet C. Wright and L. Skinner. The local representative of the Russell regatta, Mr. C. F. Woodall, has forwarded to all the clubs a complete list of details regarding expense, transport, and accommo- , aation for the northern regatta. The committee have made fine arrangements and left nothing undone to promote* pre-war interest in the regatta. The doubt raised about getting back from Tauranga in timeis removed, and.crews competing there can easily place their boats on the trucks in anipie time for the run north. Starting with Tauranga, the regatta crews will have a busy time." Two days later on December 30 they race at Russell, and on Xew Year's Day at Whangarei. ;Next Saturday the West End Club will hold trial fours for the Mrs. John Clark Shield. This trophy is much prized, and has always been marked with big entries ana keen racing. Entries close on Saturdayafternoon, and members are requested to be at the shed early. North Shore intended racing trial fours last Saturday for Mr. W. Dean's trophies. The heavy sou-westerly wind upset the committee's calculations, and no doubt tne event will be decided next Saturday. A recent discussion took place on the number of races for the SomervUle eigbtoar rowed last season. There were three races. In the first the holders. Union Boating Club, Wanganui, successfully defended their title against Aramoho Club, but in the next trial lost to Wanganui Rowing Cluo. They had a short tenure oi the trophy, i beinj defeated in the next race by the Waitemata Boating Club. The rules «overning the trophy are: — , <*> , shie l'l or Cup shall be a Challenge Shield or Cup, and shall be open to all clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association. (2) Any club desiring to row a challenge r J?. e ™. itb ll, e holder shall give. notice to the- N.Z.A.R;A. of such desire not later than the end of February. (3) The Shield or Cup shall be the only prize. . ' * (4)-A challenge race shall be rowed on a date to be arranged by the clubs engaged, but falling such arrangements the . date of rowing shall be fixed by the N.Z.A.R.A. (o) The winning crew to take possession °\i he ™S hiel , d ,_ and hold sam e until defeated. {6) -The club in whose waters the race is rowed shall defray all expenses incurred in tne controlling of the race, profits. If any. to be taken by the said club. (7) Competing crews to pay their own (8) The race to be rowed in clinker practice boats. * So far the only challenge received is that of the West End Club. Advice has been received that the Wanganui Club wDI also challenge. ,<£w l e l son^tie^- c were nine associations affiliated to the New Zealand Rowing Association, and the clubs represented fortynine.