ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1934, Page 11

ROWING.

ROTGRUA REGATTA. PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. TAURANGA HEAD LIST. On Saturday it looked as though the great crowd of spectators which assembled at Rotorua to witness the Auckland Rowing Association's provincial championships were doomed to disappointment. The early morning broke dull but fine, with a light northerly breeze. Some familiar with the weather conditions considered the wind would die down, but others —and their predictions came true —pictured heavy rain and a rough sea on the lake. Only too well did the worst forecast prevail, leaving the management with no alternative but postponement until the next morning. Fates from the start seemed adverse, despite all the fine arrangements the Rotorua Advancement Committee had made. First the late arrival of the Wellington train, carrying many competitors, then engine trouble on the starter's launches caused further delay. At last a start was made, and when hopes seemed raised that the lost time would be overcome, up came the wind and rain. The day's efforts were almost a fiasco, but fortunately the Maori events stepped into the breach and offered splendid entertainment. Many of the items were entirely new to the majority of the spectators. Race Re-rowed. The course —especially the mile, a fine straight run—-was good, and everything could bo seen from start to finish. In the heavy maiden fours the Ngaruawahia crew swamped, a breakdown on the starter's launch caused delay In rescuing, and with very little of the journey covered down went Ngaruawaliia again. All this led up to the re-row of the race on Sunday morning. It was on Sunday morning, when five races were decided, that weather conditions were favourable, and the spectators witnessed events worth seeing. The winning donations were divided among nine clubs, Tauranga easily leading with £42. Then came West End £22, St. George's £20, Waitemata £18, Hamilton £6, Wanganui Union £3, Aramoho £3, Ngaruawaliia £2, North Shore £2. Keen Racing. The racing was closer than at the two previous fegattas this season, and Tauranga crews, also West End's light maiden fours, maintain their reputations. Tauranga started with the maiden double sculls, and, leading throughout, won, with North Shore, placing an improvised crew, only a length away. The Sboreites made a fine showing under the circumstances. With victories at Tauranga and Tine Island to their credit, West End ruled favourites in the light maiden fours. It was not misplaced, for West End, leading throughout, won by two lengths from Ngaruawahia, with Mercer third. Hamiltou and Aramoho failed to show up. The junior double sculls was disappointing, only Tauranga and North Shore competing. It was a hollow victory throughout for Tauranga. A Close Finish. On Sunday morning the racing started with the maiden fours open, re-rowed from Saturday as the result of a protest by Aramoho. This was a most spectacular contest throughout, and Tauranga, with a fine swinging stroke and after leading almost all the way, stalled off in the final stages a determined challenge to beat Aramoho by a bare canvas. Enthusiasm increased as the contestants in the champion sculls —rowed for the first time—came down. Smith (Waitemata) had a great lead of his rival, Jackson (Wanganui Union). Over the last stretch Jackson simply flew along, but could not close up, and victory went to Smith by two lengths. This season West End and Hamilton had already accounted for the junior fours, while St. George's were a quantity that knocked hard. As the crews showed up Hamilton, who ruled favourites, were in front, but pressed hard by St. George's. The Waikato oarsmen, by hard plugging, held the lead until some 300 yards from the line, where Biss, with a flue, long swinging stroke, challenged to take the lead. It was then Hamilton came again, and in a most gruelling finish St. George's, running smoothly, staved off the stronger plugging Hamilton crew to win by three-quarters of a length. Aramoho was a further two lengths away. In the youths' fours, Hamilton, with two wins to their credit, were favourites, but they had as contenders for the title the unbeaten West End lightweights. The race was between these crews, and over the. final stages Hamilton could not overhaul West End, who crossed the line half a length ahead. The winners are a lively combination, and made the pace very hot. As generally considered, Tauranga had an easy win in the maiden pair oars. In the single sculls handicap Jackson had one second off Smith. Off went the handicap men, and l'lummer (Tauranga), 15 seconds, soon opened a big lead. For some unknown reason lie steered wide of the finishing flag, and was disqualified and the finish saw Smith four lengths ahead of Jackson. It was a great performance to down the crack Wanganui Union man twice in the one morning. The junior pair oar went to Tauranga, but was a very lucky win, as Smith, of Waitemata, had just rowed in the single sculls and kept faith with his partner by stepping into the boat so quickly. Only in the last stages did Tauranga get command to win by a canvas. The holding of the regatta on the lake was somewhat of an experiment and at the same time an effort to revive rowing throughout the province. The attempt was well worth while, nnd but for the unfavourable conditions that prevailed would have been voted a pronounced success. There is much to commend a regatta on the lake, nnd it is hoped that next season better weather conditions will prevail. Results were :— Maiden Double Sculls, 1 mile.—Tauranga (T. Harvey, S. Smith) 1, North Shore (F. G. Norris, H. Sharpe) 2, Ngaruawahia (W. Fuller, W. Payne) 3. Won by a length. Maiden Fours, lOst and under, 1 mile.— West End (W. Parnell, J. Barton, C. Murdoch, Karo) 1, Ngaruawahia (E. Dlven, W. Johnston, L. Powell, S. Brown) 2, Mercer (J. Jutton, J. McFadzean, R. Barron, A. Firman) 3. Won by two lengths. Single Sculls Championship, 1J miles.—R. B. Smith (Waitemata) 1, G. Jackson (Union, Wanganui) 2, C. D'Authreau (Hamilton) 3. Won by two lengths. Maiden Fours, open weights, 1 mile.— Tauranga (D. Cameron, C. Rhodes, H. Rayment, I'. Sanders) 1, West End (J. A. Parsons, J. 11. Newcombe, E. Such, J. H. Davey) 2, Aramoho (L. Anderson, W. Firman, T. Syme, J. Hailigan) 3. Won by half a length. Junior Double Sculls. 1J miles.—Tauranga (.T. Y. l'lummer, J. 11. Plummer) 1, North Shore (R. W. Seagar, C. J. Oliver) 2. Won easily. Junior Fours, 11 miles.—St. George's (.T. R. 11. Biss, G. M. Brown, W. L. Carr, G. H. Biss) 1, Hamilton (R. T. Hurrell, J.

Clough, J. Flynn, W. Tombs) 2, Aramoho (P. S towers, F. Jones, E. Armstrong, K, Shaw) 3. Won by three-quarters of a length. Youths' Fours, 1 mile. —West End (W. Parnell, J. Barton, C. Murdoch, R. Aro) 1, Hamilton (L. Skeet, L. Pardington, K. Williams, W. Burrell) 2, Mercer (A. Donaldson, C. Mcßobbie, D. K. Dowling, L. Cronin) 3. Won by half a length. Maiden Pair Oars, 1 mile. —Tauranga (D. Cameron, H. Rayment) 1, Hamiltou No. 1 (S. F. Penbertliy, M. Taylor) 2, Waitemata (L. N. Ross, J. W. lteiman) 3. Won by two lengths. . „ Single Sculls Handicap, 1 mile.—R. B. Smith (Waitemata), scr, 1; G. K. Jackson (Wanganui), scr, 2; D. Denniston (Tauranga), 15s, 3. Won by four lengths. Junior Pair Oar, 11 miles.—Tauranga (S. Smith, T. Harvey) 1, Waitemata (It. B. Smith, G. W. Ross) 2, Hamilton No. 2 (J. Flynn, J. Clough) 3. Won by a canvas. Horse Swimming Race. —M. Mcßae 1, J. Binsdalc 2, B. Jacobs 3. SWIMMING RACES. In conjunction with the rowing regatta a swimming carnival was held last evening in the new Blue Baths, under the management of the Ohinemutu Amateur Swimming Club. There was a good attendance, although the weather conditions were unfavourable, light rain falling throughout the evening. The events were well contested, and much interest was centred in the 100 yards invitation race, which was won by R. Frankham, the New Zealand 100 yards champion, after an exciting race, in which W. Whareaitu, the well-known local swimmer," competed. Results were as follow :— 33 1-3 Yards Handicap, boys under 14.— L. Dixon (2s) 1, B. Morrison (4s) 2. Time, Yards Ladies' Club championship.— P. Mitchell 1, R. Martin 2, W. Simeon 3. Time, 35 3-ss. 33 1-3 Yards Handicap, girls under 14.— P.- Kira (2s) 1, J. Wlndeler (8s) 2, H. Kingi (7s) 3. 50 Yards Men's Club Championship.—R. Simeon 1, H. Manahi 2, N. Mcßae 3. Time. 275. . . 33 1-3 Yards Handicap, girls under 17.— Wehi I'ango (2s) 1, I'. Kira (3s) 2, Wengo Pango (2s) 3. 06 2-3 Yards Men's Handicap.—Hane Manahi (scr) 1, Iliwi Manahi (Is) 2, H. Ilowe (7s) 3. Time, 49 4-ss. 66 2-3 Yards Ladies' Handicap.—M. Mitchell (scr) 1, J. Ford (2s) 2, R. Martin (2s) 3. Time, 49 4-ss. 100 Yards Backstroke. —W. Whareaitu ' 133 1-3 Yards Rowers' Relay Race. —St.. George's 1, Aramoho 2. 50 Yards Novelty Sculling Championship.—P. Boyland 1, F. Solomon 2. 50 Yards Rowers' Championship.—C. Hilliard 1, C. Gurr 2, Denz 3. 06 2-3 Yards Dual Relay Race. —W. Whareaitu and M. Mitchell 1, J. Rogers and R. Martin 2. Men's Dive. —Egdell 1, Hancock 2, AndrWaikato Challenge Relay Swimming Banner. —Rotorua 1, Ohinemutu 2. 33 1-3 Yards Ladies' Handicap.—K. Williams (4s) 1, M. Mitchell (scr) 2, J. Ford (2s) 3. Time, 28 3-ss. 100 Yards Invitation Race. —TTrankham (Auckland) 1, W. Whareaitu (Rotorua) 2, It. Simeon (Ohinemutu) 3. Time, 54 4-ss. 33 1-3 Yards Men's Handicap.—B. Martin (4s) 1, R. Bene (Is) 2, S. Baker (2s) 3. T 'aii Interesting water polo exhibition was given by members of Auckland clubs at the conclusion of the programme. CUP RACE AT OPOTIKI. A challenge race for the King's Picture Cup was rowed at Opotiki on Sunday in fine weather between Opotiki, the holders, and Whakatane. A very close race resulted in Opotiki retaining the cup by about a vard. In other races the Whakatane lightweights defeated Opotiki lightweights by a length, and the Whakatane youths' crew beat an Opotiki youths' crew by three lengths.