ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1934, Page 18

ROWING.

CHAMPIONSHIPS WELL SHARED. WEST END'S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. The forty-third annual New Zealand championship rowing regatta was held at Pieton during the last weekend, and the four championships were widely distributed, the ointrle sculls going to W. Turner (Napier), double sculls to Waitcmata (Smith and Johnson), pairs to Avon (Stiles and Thompson), and the fours to Wairau (Gibbons, H. Rutledge, J. McDonald, J. Rutledge). The water conditions were rough and upset the arranged programme, but the management did not rise to the occasion, and their inability to make more certain arrangements caused much dissatisfaction among the visiting oarsmen. The weather last Saturday was the same! as for the several previous days—smooth in the morning and rough in the afternoon. The officials were conversant with the "local" weather conditions, and it was surprising that no attempt was mad"* to run olf the championship events earlier, and ' act_ in accordance with rule 65. Instead it was quite apparent that the officials overlooked the importance of the championship events in order to satisfy the Blenheim public, who arrived in the afternoon. More consideration must be given to the oarsmen if their support is expected. The oarsmen travel at - their own expense, spend long periods of training for the championship, and should be the regatta committee's first consideration. The competitors were not unreasonable at Picton, but the uncertainty of starting times greatly upset the crews. The championship pair-oar was a glaring instance. If the crews' wishes to row the race at 8 a.m. on Sunday had been acceded to every crew entered would have competed. Instead, a decision on Saturday by the officials for 10 a.m. found the water too rough at that time, necessitating a further postponement, the race eventually being rowed oil Monday, with the result that Waitemata could not wait and Picton also scratched.

The single sculls was a most unsatisfactory contest, and, again, if rule 65 —"All championships shall be decided on smooth water"—had been acted upon, the race would never have started. Smith's fouling of Jackson was not a deliberate action; his shell was caught by a wave and swung across the Wanganui man's course. The race should have been called off and rerowed, and Jackson, after such an accident happening, given an opportunity of defending his title. Auckland lost the fours title, and Wairau must be congratulated upon scoring the coveted honour for the first time. The Avon. crew. Stiles and Thompson, { add another recoi'd to their list of sucj cesscs in the pair oars, while Waitcmata j (Smith and Johnson) retrieved the double | sculls title that tlieir club mates, Steven- ! son and D. Smith, lost in the 1925-L'O | season. West End's crack light maiden four met its first reverse at Pic ton. Jumping away at a great pace the crew led_ at tiie quarter distance, when Barton (Xo. 3) got j cramp. He hung on gamely, and at the ! half-mile the crew still led; but from the:i on it was too much, and for the first time this season they were passed and had to bow to defeat. Next Saturday is the West End Club's big day, when the jubilee celebrations will be held. In the afternoon the first portion, the jubilee "At ITomc," takes place at the boathouse, St. Mary's Bay, and u most interesting programme has been arranged. Splendid entries have been te ceived for the trial fours, and keen, closeracing is expected. The old memb-rs have responded in strong force to the committee's appeals for the memorable occasion, and it is safe to predict a record attendance at St. Mary's Bay next Satr.iday. The second portion of the oelcbra-1 tions will be the jubilee dinner at Hotel Auckland on Saturday night. Rough water last Saturday upset the club programmes, only West End and North Shore being able to engage in racing. The marine suburbs clubs got fairly sheltered course from the North Head,' and enjoyed two good races. W. Dean stroking the winning crew. West End' got- rough conditions for the Mrs. John Clark Shield, but had four crews out. The winners were stroked by V. Mo Farlane, and scored their victory by half a length. On Sunday St. George's got off the fours for the Sir James Coates Cup and Caps, and W. Dean landed his second win for the week-end. A club on cach side of the harbour is very handy. The University selectors advanced crcws last Saturday to go into training in view of the inter-'Varsity eights at the annual 'Varsity tournament at Easter.