HENLEY OF 1938.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 174, 26 July 1938, Page 16

HENLEY OF 1938.

WEATHER AFFECTS TIMES. Burk, American Champion Sculler, Defeats English Rival, Horwood. The Henley Royal Regatta of 193S will surely leave a vivid memory for years to come, if it i<s only for the manner in which the elements waxed into a fury as the practice days went l:y and the races drew near, says an English exchange of June 31.

Henley weather for many years lias brought oarsmen to expect fine weather and following zephyrs during practice and a change to head winds during the four racing days. Times this year, however, have beer, extremely slow, and yesterday evening the course was like a sea, and it was a miracle that boats were not sunk anii tents torn from their moorings. The wind had dropped considerably for the first race to-day. however, and a variable breeze was blowing from the Bushes: Pembroke were too good for Selwyn in an all-Cambridge opening Ladies' Plate heat in the fastest time <-f the morning Then followed eight more iieais ol tie Ladies' Plate, .i class, open o Brtish colleges and sclnuls. St. Edmund Hall after a good race drew first blood for Oxford over Cambridge by lieating Queen's. Three of the school races (in a seeded draw) were particularly interesting. Eton's headmaster, once tutor of a famous, rowing college in Jesus, saw Eton beat Bedford with some ease: Eton have a very powerful eight, and in it are many famous rowing names. Radlev showed themselves fast by paddling over half the course in beating Brvanston, and Bedford Modern made history by beating Shrewsbury by :i length after being led by half a length at the half-mile. First Trinity, Cambridge, were well stroked by Lawrence and beat New College, Oxford. There was a fine race between Trinity, Dublin, and Magdalene; Dublin gained a quarter of a length at the start, but could get no more ihan a half by the mile; then the pace pioved too much for Magdalene. Monkton Combe School, stroked by a young Lawrie, were led by nearly a length by St. Edward's at the mi.e, but fought splendidly ah the way up the enclosures iind 10-t only '.y a canvas. Tiie best race of the day was then seen between Emmanuel, Cambridge, and Exeter, Oxford. Emmanuel led by half a length at tlie quarter mile; Exeter drew level at the three-quarter, but Emmanuel had their bows ahead at the mile, and from here their greater ease gained them half a length

The most eagerly uvaitod race was l/tl\\ef]i Burk, the A.i.eii.-m eivunpion «ci:.,fr. and the l-'ngli*,! X.AJI.A. clianir pion Horwood. Lveryone wondered how Burk s jabbing style would serve him in the head wind. Horwood, three stone the lighter man. led to half-way, but the one pace of Burk then brought him an easy will. Harvard outclassed Henley, and Clifton surprisingly beat St. Catharines. A famous Leander pair, Laurie and Wilson, just home on leave fioin the Sudan, gave a tine exhibition of pair-oar rowing and outclassed Burton Leander.

Kent School gave the United States their third win of the day in beating yuinun, and it was sad to see Roval Chester put out of the regatta so early m the Thames Cup bv Reading \ further defeat for Quintin took place at „. e ,?! uls of Westminster Bank in the Wvfolds after a thrilling race up thq enclosures, although the Bank had already rowed in the morning in their eight. A great race then came between the police and Barclays Bank i,. the I names Cup. The police were never more than a few feet up to the mile, after which.they gradually drew away; lis was a fine first appearance at Henley. First Trinity made no mistake in their second heat in the Ladies' against L.M.8.C., and were a length up at the mile. Eton outclassed St. Edward's as Radley did Bedford Modern, and these are undoubtedly two fine school crews.