HAMILTON REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 13

HAMILTON REGATTA.

HIGH STANDARD OF ROWING.' ! EIGHT OARS MAKE IMPRESSIVE ' SIGHT. HAMILTON HEADS WIXNIXG LIST. Another Hamilton regatta has been entered upon the Auckland provincial records, and tnere can be no denying that the gala was in every way a great success. The Hamiltonites excelled themselves, and this was due to the thoroughness of their organisation. Soma idea of their labours was gained on Saturday, when the various officials with the groups of enthusiasts were strenuously engaged upon their allotted task. A splendid spirit of willingness and cooperation was manifest. Visiting crews arriving had their boats sheltered and all wants attended to. Some crews got afloat, and on Sunday morning the river was alive with all classes of crews busily engaged putting on their finishing touches. The Waikato River at Hamilton forms a pretty setting, the river banks, laid out nicely in garden and sheltered trees, forming a naturp.l grandstand from which a splendid view of the racing can be gained. It was early in the afternoon that the visitors arrived in force—they came from miles around tho country—and the scene was most picturesque. The spectators were treated to a wonderful day's racing and witnessed the best standard of rowing seen for a lon<* time. "Look at the fine physique of the oarsmen, the welltrained crews; no wonder the standard of rowing is so high in the Auckland province," remarked a Southern oarsmen who was among the visitors. The secretary, Mr. V. St. George, in making his initial bow, left a mo6t pleasant impression of his ability to fill a difficult office. On the scene from rarly morning until the gala was completed, ever ready and most courteous in supplying all information, he got through a tremendous amount of work. Treasurer H. Lane watched the crowd for some but he bore a happy smile as the returns were counted—a financial record. Starter H. H. Buchanan had the busiest day for many years, but he got the "big fields" dispatched in great style. The clerks of the scales, Messrs. K. D. Page (A.R.A.) and S. Davis, had the weights right for everyone. Comfortably sheltered. Messrs. W. Wilson, A. G. Ross and A. M. Mackay (A.K.A.) discharged their duties as judges, giving and posting their decisions with much promptitude. Mr. W. Bryden got through his multifarious duties very well. He put in a busy week-end. THE COURSE. The buoying of the river was an improvement upon last year. The spectators got a better view of the races, for the crews were forced out more to the centre of vhe stream from the railway bridge to the finishing line. Thus in the crucial portion of the race the full strength of the crews was tested. Still all crews preferred to work to the town side, where the current is certainly not-so strong.

THE ENTRIES. The entries constituted a record, for eight clubs of the province were represented by sixty-five crews. Some idea of the starter's task can be gained when it is considered that in over half the races from seven to nine crews were dispatched. WINNING DONATIONS. Six of the clubs shared in the winning donation list in the following order:— Hamilton, 6 firsts, 2 seconds. £ 37; St. George's, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, £ 13; Tauranga, 2 firsts 1 second, £12: Whangarei, 1 first 1 second, £9; Auckland, 4 seconds. £4; North Shore, 1 second, £1. The only crews that failed were Waitemata and West End, but had Waitemata exercised more care and kept to the proper buoyed course the second donation would have been gained in the light-weight maiden fours. EIGHT-OAR TEST. The two eight-oar tests provided a wonderful sight and proved the star items of the programme. The crews were comprised of the best oarsmen of the province. It was not long before the men with experienced coaches as coxwains got into a nne long swinging stroke, and clad respectively in red and white uniforms made the finest sight ever witnessed at a Hamilton regatta. The selector had certainly drawn together some fine crews, and his task has been increased, but confidence can be held that he will place a powerful eight. The crews raced up midstream close together and the course lent itself to a great setting. That eight-oar racing must come is an established fact —it now means how can the necessary funds be raised to secure the boats. THE CLUBS. Hamilton has certainly become the meeca of oarsmen. Hamilton came out on top, but when their conditions of training are contrasted against the salt water crews, the last-named performances are all the more meritorious. This can be said without detracting from the fine crews Hamilton possesses. There was the light-weight maidens who won their race handsomely and maintained their Whangarei form. The maiden pair oar crew added fresh laurels and the youths repeated their New Year's Day performance. The scullers had these events at their mercy, but in the senior fours something of a come-back was staged. It certainly looks as if, when the Dominion championships come around, that Hamilton will be handy. St. George's opened by again annexing the maiden double sculls, and their performance completely settles which is the best crew of the class. Right up the centre of the stream they came in the worst of the current, yet all opposition was shaken off. and a splendid win recorded. The junior pairs were also grasped by this club, and the junior fours made a great showing in the strenuous fight with Whangarei that ended in second honours being shared. It is to the senior fours that special credit must be given. No sooner was this crew got together than training operations were interfered with, and their performance in gaining second place to Hamilton in a race rowed in record time for the course gives an idea of how they kept the leaders moving. It is hoped this four can be kept together.

Tauranga's success was mainly with the juniors, nnd the great race of veteran "Clarie" Tonkins' crew will set all opinions at rest. The light maidens also gained second place.

Whanparei repeated their success of New Year's Day by annexing the Marsden Fours open, and a powerful crew It Is. Second honours were also shared in that gruelling race, the junior fours.

Auckland again had an innings of seconds, but a big improvement was noticeable in several of their crews.

North Shore got second place In junior pairs, but the other, crews, although prominent. suffered through want of weight. Still the boys put up some good performances, and will yet catch the judge's eye.

What a change—Waitemata failed to enter the winning lists, and the Baine distinction fell to West End.

Senior Fours (two milesl. —Hamilton 1, St. George's 2, Waitemata 3. Won by sixlengths.

Handicap Single Sculls (one mile).—R. Cruickshank (Hamilton) 1. I. St. Clair (Hamilton) 2, C. Molcsworth (Hamilton)

Maiden Fours, Open.—Whangarei 1. Auckland 2, Tauranga S. Won by a length and a-half. Maiden Single Sculls.—This proved an easy row over for Alexander (Hamilton). Hargreaves (St. George's) withdrew. Youths' Fours.—Hamilton No. 1 1. Auckland 2, Hamilton No. 2 3. Won by four lengths. Second Eight Oars Test. —Smith's crew won by just over a length. Junior Pair Oars. —St. George's 1, North Shore 2, Hamilton 3. Won by two lengths and a-half.