ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 16

ROWING.

INTER-CLUB TROPHIES. SMITH SHIELD TO ST. GEORGE S. SHORE WIN MASON PAIRS. On Saturday afternoon the Auckland rowill clubs were engaged in the annual interI flub competitions for the Smith Shield for fours and the Mason Cup for pair oars. The races were rowed under the control of the Waitemata Boating Club and the St. George's Club.

* • SMITH SHIELD. *• The annual inter-club non-class fours for the Smith Shield aroused great interest among the five clubs, and with the men in the best of condition a keen, hardfought raee was witnessed. Victory went to St. George's by a bare length. Owing to the northerly wind, the course was from Stanley Bay the entrance off the reclamation on the southern 6hore. This gave the crews the wind with them, the best course on the day. Mr. Reston kindly placed his launch at the disposal of the clubs, and Mr. G. Huddleston acted as starter, Mr. G. H. Reston umpire, and Mr. G. C. Cairns judge. The race resulted :— St. George's (M. Simons, F. Solomon, V. Hargreaves, F. Coote, Howse, cox) .. 1 Auckland (W. EadUey, A. Andrews, G. Cleal. J. McComish, F. Cochrane, cox> - Waitemata (C. G. Fearon, J. Stevenson. W. Lowe. G. Barker, G. Organ, cox).. 3 Also started : North Shore (D. Davies. W. Dean, W. Seagar, S. Challinor, D. Rapley, cox) ; West End (S. Hadley, W. 'Bloxham, G. Dowling, L. McDonald, M. McCarthy, cox). Also started : North Shore (W. Dean. W. Seagar, S. Challinor, D. Rapley, cox; S. Hadley, W. Bloxham, G. Dowling, L. McDonald, M. McCarthy, cox). Won by one length, with three lengths between second and third.

From a splendid start. Auckland jumped out in great style, but as the crews settled to their task, St. George's took the lead, with little between Waitemata, Auckland and North Shore. Half-way over the course, St. George's were leading, with Waitemata second, both making the best use of the flood tide, while North Shore, Auckland and West End were heading up harbour towards Luna Park. In the last two hundred yards Auckland squared up for the gap, and ran into second place. All then settled to their task, and in the final great effort St. George's held on to win by one length from Auckland, who defeated Waitemata by three lengths. North Shore was close up third, while West End were well in the rear. Auckland lost much by the course steered.

The Smith Shield record is :— 1913-14—North Shore. 1914-10—Waitemata. 1915-16—West End. 1916-17—West End. 1917-18—Hamilton. 1918-19—Waitemata. 1919-20—West End. 1920-21—West End. 1921-22—St. George's. 1922-23—St. George's. 1923-24—Waitemata. 1924-25—Waitemata. 1925-20—Auckland. 1926-27—Auckland. 1927-28—St. George's. MASON PAIRS. The Mason pair oar race attracted the entries of five crews. The course was from Stanley wharf to the Victoria wharf, and resulted: North Shore (W. Dean, E. Harvey) .. 1 Auckland lA. Ross. R. Mahon) 2 St. George's (C. D'Authreau, H. Jackson) 3 Waitemata and West End also started. Won by three lengths, with the other crews all close on one another. Just after the start, North Shore, in No. 1 position, jumped to the lead, while the other crews were almost even. Off the warships North Shore were about two lengths out with Auckland second, and the other crews see-sawing for position. Reaching the final stretch North Shore made no mistake, and drew out to win by three lengths, with just about two lengths covering the remaining four crews. M-ason Cup Record.—l92s-26, St. George's, 1926-27, St. George's, 1927-28, North Shore. REYNOLDS GOLD CUP. The first annual set of trial fours for the gold cup and facsimiles presented by Mr W. J. Hampton-Heynolds, will be 1 rowed bv the Waitemata Boating Club next Saturday. Keen interest in th« races i is being evinced by the members, and record 'entries are anticipated, —-«

AUCKLAND CLUB. The Auckland Club has made a slight alteration in their programme, and next Saturday trial fours for club trophies will be rowed instead of pair oar trials for Mr. MeCormick's trophies. CHRISTCHURCH REGATTA. CANTERBURY WIN MAIDEN FOURS. (By Telegraph—Tress Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. Following are the Christchurch regatta results :— Maiden Four Oars.—Canterbury, 1 ; Star (Wellington). 1!: Lyttelton, Youths' Double * Sculls.—Lyttelton, 1 ; Avon. '2 : Star, o. Senior Four Oars.—Canterbury 1, Avon 2, Star 3. Won by three lengths. Junior Double Sculls.—Star 1, Canterbury 2, Avon 3. Won by four lengths. Youths' Four Oars. —Star 1, Lyttelton 2. Avon 3. Won by six lengths.