ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 292, 10 December 1929, Page 15

ROWING.

INTER-HOUSE CREWS. CORRECT CLUB COLOURS. DELAYS IN STARTING. SELECTION OF CREWS. A strong north-west wind accompanied with heavy rain and a rough sea running in the harbour made all prospects of the soft goods interhouse race eventuating last Saturday most unpromising. The various supporters decked in their house colours were not deterred and assembled in strong force —per foot and motor car— on the new waterfront roadway, and listened to the weather-wise ones. They predicted a fairly good course about 3 p.m., for the tide was on the ebb, and right they proved. There was much disappointment expressed when the crews arrived, that the Farmers' Trading crew had swamped twice in attempting the journey from Ponsonby, and Mould be compelled to forfeit a start. This left three crews—cjuite a favourite number of starters for the race. Milne and Choyce's and Sargood'g crews were well fancied with, perhaps, most favour on the wholesale ones,' as they set off for the line. Macky, Logan's had their supporters, who trusted in the little crew getting a break on in the rough water. Mr. \V. Mason, in his capable manner, soon had the crews lined up and dispatched on their jour-1 jiey. Then the excitement commenced. McCarthy, No. 2 of Milne and Choyce's, raised the first stir by coming off his seat, but he recovered quickly, and the crew jumped to the lead. Smith took his four along at a meriy pace, fully realising the advantage of his lighter ,men against the weight of Sargood's in the rough water. D'Authreau, using to : the full his knowledge of the course, ' came at the leaders just below the gap, ( and his crew seemed enlivened to drop Macky, Logan's and get a glimpse ol Milne' and Choyce's stern. The gap was passed at a great pace, and Sargood's ! cut close inshore and closed up. Excitement was aroused first opposite the ] ParneD baths, as Sargood's reduced the lead to less than a canvas. Then the , barracking commenced. "Milne and Choyce are done!", cried one group of supporters, but it seemed as if the crew heard it, and on went every ounce. 1 "They are going ahead!" came the cry, when, all of a sudden, Cruickshank, the \ No. 3, missed the water. "It's Sar- r . good's race!" But, no, Milne and Choyce i recovered and with a supreme effort c swung into their stroke, drew, ahead, t and, to their supporters' great delight, added another victory to their record. T It was a great race, the best contested one of the series, and the spectators were well rewarded for braving such wretched weather. j 1 The contest should go a long way to ]] arousing greater interest among the , various houses concerned. The rowing ■ clubs played their part, and will no doubt continue to, so long as crews will show their enthusiasm for such an event. The performance of the Milne and Choyce four was a highly creditable one. Owing to the illness of the No. 3, the four was reorganised last week. This meant, above all, putting in a man of three stone less weight. Sargood's rowed a solid stroke throughout and despite the rough water it was difficult to understand why at the start when Milne and Choye were in trouble they did not fight more for the lead. Macky Logan's little crew put up a good performance and hung well to the others for nearly half the journey. The four should hold together, for the experience of this race must stand well to them The support given the inter-club crews by the various rowing clubs calls for special mention. Sargood's trained from and were boated by St. George's, Macky Logan's by Auckland, Milne and Choyce trained from Waitemata, and had North Shore's new boat for the race, and the Farmers' Trading from West End. Club Events. The entry of sixteen members —eight crews—for the West End Club's handicap pair-oar trails for Mr. R. H. Cooper's trophies was not very encouraging. Late » arrivals were responsible for a late start, that on the falling tide greatly robbed ■the afternoon's sport of its interest.' A note of warning was given in these columns last week about the necessity of a punctual start, but it was disregarded, and the club was very lucky to have enough water on which to disclose the winners. Then too much delay occurred between the races and ft was difficult to understand why, when a race was finished, the next crew did not take the boats immediately. The afternoon's happenings- were broken by one incident that caused a laugh. It was when Bloxham broke his oar, the crew capsized and stood up to see the other crew paddle quietly across the line. Waitemata had Mr. Hugh Wright's trial fours, and the hopes of record ,entries were smashed by the weather. Six crews figured when the entries closed, and what was lacking in the number of crews was more than made up by the close racing. The tide deflector course was used and the crews, had to put. in every ounce. Three-quarters of a length was the biggest win, while the final left the judge with no alternative but to declare a dead heat. It was an expectant group that stood by the judge waiting for the re-row, but for some reason the crews decided otherwise and journeyed on to the boathouse. It was a strange course to adopt and caused the question to be asked, who controls the racing, the crews or the club officials? Twenty entrants figured on the list at the appointed hour for the George Cup handicap single sculls, an annual competition of the St. George's Rowing Club. The draw and handicap came out: T. M. V. Morton 30s, v. I. C. Horton 3s; J. R. Biss 30s, v G. H. Biss 30s; H. Tong / s, v. H. Hilliard 30s; F. Solomon 14s, v. E. Fort 14s; N. Banley 255, v. I. Duncan 12s; W. Bright 3s, v. C. D'Authreau scr; G. Fogartv 3s, v. J. Coote 12s; V. Dunne 225, v. V. Hargreaves scr; H. Jackson 16s, v. T. Lambert ISs; S. Hislop ISs, v. C. Kelleway 12s. .. - Two heats were decided with the result that Hargreaves and Hislop have placed Kelleway and Dunne among the spectators. The remaining races will be decided at an early date. Pronounced Faults. It has .been mentioned in these columns several times that tides - this season are most unsuitable and unless clubs are punctual in starting and get the races off quickly many days racing would not be completed. Some clubs are getting very lax, and not only does the first event start late, but too much time is wasted between the heats. There have ] Va

j been instances of clubs waiting for men ] bers to turn up. If members take s little interest in the racing the 600ne they are left on the harbour side th better. The apathetic spirit being dis played is not appreciated by man; staunch supporters. It all savours of . lack of discipline. Another matter is the posting of th crews. These appear with only the sur names. This in itself is disconcerting ti visitors, but it becomes more embarras sing when men do not take the seati they are selected for. If club official: classify the men for certain seats thej ■- must have an object in doing so; thei b why allow the crews- to be changec 1 around to satisfy individuals? Clul supporters offer the trophies for the encouragement of good healthy sporl and not for "pot hunting" stunts ' Several instances have already occurred = this season, and club officials should see i that their decisions are carried out. Starting Time. I While the bad habit of starting late * has marked several sets of trial fours, j crews should remember that at the regattas the practice will not be countenanced. It is just as easy to be in 1 the line at the correct time as to cause ! unnecessary delays. These are vexatious to the spectators, and as more pubi lie interest is being evinced in the sport i it behoves the various officials to see that the public is catered for properly. Club Colours. While a big improvement has been shown since the Barratt Cup day, there are still a number of men who seem to delight in wearing other than their club colours. JUst how quickly these offenders can appreciate crews turned out properly was shown by their remarks when the mterhouse crews appeared last Saturday. I Three old well-known oarsmen asked last Saturday if the local clubs had changed their cofours. The West. End Club will hold an At Home nest Saturday, when trial fours will be rowed for trophies donated by the patron, Mr. R. L. Stewart. During the afternoon, Mr. John Clark, who has played such an important part for so many years in the club'? activities, will, on behalf of the club, present an address to Mr. J. A. Peacock as a mark of appreciation for the services he has rendered. A veteran's race has been included, and should arouse much interest. St. George's have 'the Bankart Fours pencilled for next Saturday. Waitemata, Auckland, and North Shore will al?o row trial fours. Clubhouse Gossip. High tide about 5.25 on Saturday. Will the clubs make a punctual start ? A lot of speculation going on about Waitemata and North Shore's new racers. The boat across the harbour meets much favourable criticism, and as Towns wa? given a free hand it will be interesting to see what speed it shows. Will West End put on .a coxswains' race on Saturday? Quite a number of heavy boys up there. Just what Cruickshank thought when he lost his oar on Saturday would be interesting to know. -

i- The new waterfront roadway makes 0 a fine place to view the races from. There should be some big crowds at the ir interclub events. e Shore's new boats have won the first three principal races. W. Dean was afloat in his sculler on * Sunday. It was rumoured he had joined Waitemata. That was because of the singlet. All-blue next time, please. e There was no happier man than Mc- ■ C'orkindale after the soft goods race. A 0 recent illness kept him out of Milne and - Choyce's crew, and he felt pleased to see 5 the reorganised four win. 5 Space will .not permit discussion of t the merits of rowlocks and poppets. The 1 matter can be better discussed on the I balconies on a rough day. > Auckland Rowing Association officials > were in strong force along the waterfront • last Saturday. . _ W. Mason and A. Wilson related some [ interesting incidents last Saturday of , bygone rowing days. The Auckland Rowing Association was formed in February, ISB3, when Auckland, North Shore, and Ponsonby club i delegates met. The first association , regatta was in April, ISB3. The Waitemata and St. George's Clubs were also formed. West End was an offshoot of the Ponsonby Club, and was formed in 1884.