N.Z. ROWING TITLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 46, 24 February 1936, Page 14

N.Z. ROWING TITLES.

SMITH BEATS JACKSON.

ABBOTT STRIKES ROCK.

ONLY THREE FINISH IN THE

FOURS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Incidents without parallel in New Zealand rowing marked the finish this afternoon of the champion single sculls contest on tlie Korokoro course, near Petone, when the holder, A. Iv. G. Jackson, of the Wanganui Union Rowing Club, lost the title to R. B. Smith, Waitemata Boating Club, by a few feet. At the mile post of the mile and a half race, Jackson had secured a comfortable lead from Smith, Abbott, of Petone, being in third position. With about 100 yds to go Jackson had a good two lengths advantage of Smith. Jackson was rowing well out from the Hutt Railway embankment, Smith being much closer in. When it seemed that nothing could deprive Jackson of the title Smith quickened his stroke, and began to close tlle S a P" - ! l A few feet out from the bank and 20ytls from the finishing line, a rock was breaking the surfa'ce of the rising tide, and between 12ft and 15ft further out from there was another and a very much larger one standing high out of the water. Smith's course took him straight for these rocks, and it appeared to the spectators that he must hit one -or other. He was rowing furiously in a last-minute effort to beat Jackson, and disaster seemed inevitable, but just as Smith finished one stroke of his sculls, thereby bringing them alongside his skiff, it entered the channel formed by the rocks and passed cleanly between them just as he was swinging back for the next stroke. In a moment he had swept over the line, defeating Jackson bv half a canvas. Meanwhile, Abbott was coming up fast on approximately the course Smith had followed, but slightly more inshore. It was seen that he was headed straight for the submerged object that Smith had avoided before his astonishing entry jnto the channel between the other rocks. Ihe spectators shouted a warning, but evidently mistaking the clamour for encouragement, Abbott went 011 and eras heel his boat hard on to the rock, which pulled him up short. Luke, of Wellington, coming up behind him, crossed the line in third place. Abbott's boat had the bottom split for several feet, and sank in a few seconds. Six Boats Swamped. Three out of four national titles changed hands. Aramoho lost the fours to Picton Star, the pairs to Hamilton, and A. K. G. Jackson, of the Union Boating Club, Wanganui, was defeated in the single sculls by R. B. Smith, of (he Waitemata Boating Club, Auckland. The only title retained was the double sculls, defended by P. Abbott and C. Gimblett, of the Petone Rowing Club.

Except during the middle afternoon, when a jobble necessitated the postponement until later in the day of the champion single sculls and the cnampion double sculls, the water was almost ideal for rowing. ]\loro than 50 crews visited Wellington for the contests, which were held under the control of the Wellington Regatta Club. The big race of the day. the New Zealand champion fours, brought out _ crews, but actually only three finished, the rest giving up through their boats becoming swamped. Nevertheless, the very large crowd lining the coilrse on the Hutt Road, or following the race in motor cars, enjoyed a thrill "ear the finish, when Picton took the title from Aramoho in a close race for the line. Results: — New Zealand Champion Fours, two miles. —Picton Club (L. Jackson, G. Charters, K. Smith, A. Cornish), 1 ; Aramoho Clul) (P Stawers, F. Jones, T. Dltchfield. C. Harrison). 2: Blenheim Club <R. Lapp, s W Cox. W. Humphrey, H. Mac-key), .1. ' Light-weight Maiden Fours, one mile — Wanganui Club (W. Butzhack, W. Christian, M. G. Ilenui, B. Stroud), 1; Napier 01 Wellington 1 Plate, Me mile.—Wanganui A. U K. '"irSirif PoSii ClSb,""' HamuK Fours, one mile. —Vtilon fH O'Donnell, J. Lumsden, S. Butcher, lUmgman), 1; Canterbury Club 2, Petone C Junior Pairs, one mile.—Fetone Club (K. Bosweil, B. Rlgby), 1; Star Club, 2; Wel".TunVor^'sing?e Sculls, one mile.— Wellington Club. No. 1 (H. Spoor), 1; Union Club, 2 : Wellington Club, No. 2, 3. Champion Single Sculls, one mile and a half. —Waitemata Club (It. B. Smith), 1, Union Club (A. K. G. Jackson), 2; Weilington Club (11. J. I*uke). •>. Champion Double Sculls, one mile and a half—Petone Club (P. Abbott, t . Glmhleft). 1 : Wellington Club (H. J. Luke, J<„ Woolcott) 2 ; Union Club (A. K. G. JackS °Champion Pairs, one mile and a half.— Hamilton Club (B Sandos, J. F ; Star Club (G. C. Cooke. I'. H. Mulllns), _, Union Club, No. 2 (A. Tonks, W. B. Kruse),

Maiden Fours, one mile.—Canterbury Club (fi. Robertson, W. M. Graham, J. E. Stewart, H. S. Head), 1; Aramoho Club, 2 : Wairau Club, 3. Junior Fours. —Pctone 1, Star -, Picton

Welter-weight Junior Fours, one .nile.— Wellington (R. Pnterson, W. Melvor, R, McXnir. F. Meredith), 1; New Plymouth, 2 ; Aramolio, 3.