HONOURS TO ST. GEORGE'S CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 19

HONOURS TO ST. GEORGE'S CLUB.

HAMILTON REGATTA. WEST END'S SURPRISE. DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. The postponed Hamilton regatta was held last Saturday and under the circumstances the executive have every reason to ieel .satisfied with the support accorded by competitors and spectators end the general happenings of the day. It was a big tiling for the oarsmen to Make the Innn joiirnc.\ twite, especially when expenses were paid by each individual. From what could be gathered about the refill ns lor the day there seems a likelihood of the finance* breaking even. However, t fie crowd on the riverbaiik was a pleaeant surprise nntl greatly compensated the officials for their eiipigios. The St. George's youths. Auckland's light-weight maidens, and Clifton's senior four, nil accomplished their tasks ae they were expected to do. and on their performances will be hard to beat in the future. Surprises. The liin surprise of the day was West End's victory in Lhe maiden eights. The news pnve ii Hup display and maintained n l< until of stroke thnt was the main i-onti'ibntiliK factor to the win. Throe crews that nominated for the New Ze aland championships at l'icton next Saturday made a very poor showing. Knell clew finished last ill its race and displayed a Mandard of rowing far removed from Hint looked for at a championship. St. George's Leading. Congratulations must be extended to the St. George's members. They repeated their performance of Tnnranpra in topping the winning donation list with £27. This brinirs the club's total for two regattas up to £'.12. Many years have passed by since St. (Jeorne's held such a cominaudinji position after (he first two galas. The rest of the donations were well shared, Clifton setting £20. Xjiai uawahia £18. Auckland £10. West End CIO, Wnitemata £0, Tauranga £8, Hamilton £7. Provincial Titles.

During tlic next three weeks very intensive trainlns will be indulged in l>y tlic pre«T« in view of tlic provincial championships at t)>o Mrrcer rcuntta on March 11. Kacing with the current on this course is entirely different from the comw tlm crews have been on this season. As in tlip past, unprepared crew* will find it their undoing. It is reported that in several crown changes will be made. One Winning combination. St. Grorue's. has no alternative but to find another stroke in place of J. Oootp, who will ho over ajro. In all probability R. Speer will take the seat. New Zealand Championships.

The XeW Zealand championship regatta nt Picton next Saturday will claim the attention of oarsmen throughout the Dominion. There will be a few withdrawals from the entries already published, but this will be for the 'betterment of the raring. Several creWs should never have nominated as they are nowhere hobi , ohattininnnhip rinse*.' Auckland's main interest centres in the Kiii(tle sctills. double sculls anil pair oars beihtr contested by Auckland Club crews. R. B. Smith and A. Mnrey will defend the douhlßß title, while Smith defends the singles, in whir-h Morey will competp. Tlie latest hiippeninps place P. Abbott, of Pctone, as their most daneerons rival. C. Chamberlain aod D, Simmonde will meaetire the* blades ih tht pair oars. „ Trial ftactni. Xext Saturday the clubi will resume trial rmWj Went End row the Herdman Cup fours, and if it is not coin- , fielaediand- felie final of the ■ einglc sculls. Auckland have the Q. Hogan JMcmorLil foilfs, While Waitetnhta, St;. tlnivetsitv and North Snore virill aleb trials. Activities continue at «ie >orth Shore, and with two more ne* , anembers jtist enrolled , tfie eedsbh's total stands at 17. The members are netting ■plenty of rowing end ere very keetjj oh trial racing. Several sets of tinphin? have been pto■misod in addition to tilt net <rf ineditls donated by ilcttsia. W. Beck aiid M. Campbell. The trophy for the most improved oarsman for fltHt-yenf nrfhittne was donated l>y Mr. 8. McDtiff, who will I>e reniembereil ae a very keen treanlirer ahd ofrk-ial several dcasone affcti His return to the club will 4>e -welcomed, and it is hoped lie can again spare the time to take ofik-e. I'he niemlbetß in the ruriniuff tor the S. McDuff trapliy are Stevenson, Bribes, Aibpletoti, Uoheham and Brawn, and the selector* have a difficult and Unenviable task ahead of them in selectihjj the winner.

The club'* sole selector, Mr. W. Dean, has chosen the following crews for the inter-club races on February 18. The CfeWs are tentative and arc subject to alteration if members <lo not train. Dr. Stuart Reid eights: W. Dean, (stroke). E. Hofcliam (7), V. Mallett (6), F. Jalfon (5), C. Willetts (4), A. Moore (3), E. Korn (2), B. Lister (bow). Emergency: Stevenson. Sir Henry Brett Memorial Cup: W. Dean, E. Hotha.m,_E. Korn, F. Jalfon. Mason Cup: C. Willetts, A. Moore, B. Lister, Stevenson* B. Dwyer (cox . waltemata Club. The Waitemata crewd suffered through the Hamilton regatta being postponed, as several menlbei-fc were unaible to take their eente owing bo previous engagements'. The crews uffected were the light maiden*, both junior fours and the eights. J. Jones, who was jnotorins through to take a seat in the eights, had the misfortune to meet with an accident and, although not injured, arrived too late to take |wrt in the race. 4moliß the supportet-s present on the day was E. H. Bishop, one of the prominent old' members of the club. On the whole the crews ehowed great promise; although stricter training will undoubtedly improve their positions The light maiden font made a good ehowinff. leading the field to the rniiway bridge, but unfortunately they dropped lengths behind in the last run to the finishing J' lle .- , The two junior crews j>ut up a Rood performance, the No. 1 ordw making a good run on the Claudclands bank to finish strotißiiy iti scdoiul position. The maiden eight, with two of their : «e#iUfr cJ-few absent, were a little bnt should be a well-balanced crew for Mercer. ~ In the senior fours, Cormay's crew rowed well, but had to give way to the c-hftrtiipion Clifton dew, The Xo. 2 crew dil well to finish in fourth position. The non-class eight crew lay second to West End till half-way ovet the course, but With a good Bwins* in the boat they went away to win by a clear length. On the whole, although not in wim nine form, all crews showed promise and ahoTild tee fttfht en their mettle at Mefeef on March 11.