ROWING EVENTS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26031, 7 February 1950, Page 6

ROWING EVENTS

AUSTRALIA WINS FOUR TITLES GOULD BROTHERS BEATEN (New Zeaiana Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 6. Proof that rowing in Australia is at its peak at present was conclusively given in to-day’s Empire Games regatta at Lake Karapiro. The highlight of the day was the magnificent race for the eight-oared title, and, exhibitions of sculling and rowing for the doubles and pairs titles delighted about 40.000 spectators assembled on the banks of the lake. Conditions were not quite normal, but even with occasional strong gusts of wind, the water was never more than a little lively. The control of the regatta was faultless, every race going off to time and no hitch of any kind marring the carefully-planned facilities. Australia won the eight-oared shell (wittf cox), the single sculls, the double sculls, and the pair oars. The four-oar shell was won by New Zealand. New Zealand had no reason to be ashamed of the performance of its crews. Its eight was beaten in what was almost a dead-heat. Its four won convincingly, and in the other events it was never far behind. A stylish exhibition of sculling was given by Wood and Riley, of Australia, when they took the third rowing title of the day for the Commonwealth. Although there did not appeal- to be any difference in the length of the strokes of the three crews, Wood and his part- i ner went ahead with a much slower ' rate of stroking than their opponents. I providing convincing evidence of the power of their drive. New Zealand was the first to show out and over the first 100 yards led by a canvas from Australia, with England only two feet away third New Zealand increased the lead to half a length in the next 100 yards with the other two competitors practically level. Australia then started to come through, and at the 500 metres mark had drawn level with New Zealand, with England half a length behind. From then on the Australian crew settled down and Riley gave excellent support to his partner, who sculled with the same rhythmical power as he did in the singles. At half-way, Australia was one and a Quarter lengths in the lead, with New Zealand a length ahead of England. Australia gradually drew further away and sculling well within themselves crossed the line four lengths ahead of New Zealand, with England two lengths further back. A strong challenge by New Zealanci over the final stages of the event failed by Ift to give them the honours in the 2000-metre eight-oar shell (with cox> race. Three crews—Australia. New Zealand. and England—started, and the Australians, who had a half-length lead over New Zealand from the start, kept up their powerful stroking to shade the New 2.landers with a time of 6min 27sec—halt a second better than New Zealand.

A magnificent exhibition of sculling was given by Wood in winning the Empire Games singles Swinging smoothly and evenly with long, powerful strokes. lie,

swept over the finishing line clear of his opponents.

New Zealand recaptured the four-oar title from Australia, when, after having lost a few feet to the Australian crew’ at the start, they came away approaching the 44)0 metres mark, where they established a length lead over the Australians. Rowing with perfect balance and precision and steering faultlessly, the Australian pair, Webster and Lambert, steadily drew away from their opponents, the Gould brothers, of New Zealand. It was pair-oared rowing at its best. Australia led by three-quarters of a length, and giving an outstanding exhibition of pairoar rowing, built up a commanding lead at the 500 metres. Over the last part of the race the Australians continued to show magnificent form and had four lengths in *hand at the finish. Results were as follows: 2000 METRES EIGHT-OAR SHELL (WITH COX) (Previous winners—l93o, England; .1938, England.) Australia (A. W. Brown, stroke; E. O. Pain, 7; E. O. Longley, 6; R. L. Selman, 5; B. H. Goswell, 4: A. P. Holmes, 3: P. A. Cayzer, 2; R. N. Tinning, bow; J. E. Barnes, cox); 6min 27sec .. 1 New Zealand (T. C. Engel, stroke; K. Ashby. 7; W. Tinnock. 6; M. Ashby, 5; G. Jarratt. 4; D. Rowlands, 3; B. Culpan, 2; E. Smith, bow; D. Adams, cox): 6min 27£sec .. 2 England (P. Bradley, stroke; M. Lapage, 7; P. C. Kirkpatrick, 6; R. Burnell, 5: H. W. Rushmere. 4; W. A. Windham, 3; P. A. DeGiles, 2; A. S. Butcher, bow; J. G. Dearlove, cox); 6min 40sec .. .. ..3 Australia won by Ift. 2000 METRES SINGLE SCULLS (Previous winners: 1930, Australia (R. Pearce); 1938, Australia (H. J. TurM. T. Wood (Australia) .. .. 1 A. Rowe (England) .. ..2 I. R. G. Stephen (South Africa) .. 3 T. Hegglun (New Zealand) .. ..4 Time, 7min 46.95ec. 2000 METRES FOUR-OAR SHELL (WITH COX) (Previous winners: 1930, New Zealand; 1938. Australia.) New Zealand (E. Johnson, stroke; J. O’Brien, 3; W. James, 2; W. Carroll, bow; D. McGonagle. cox) .. 1 Australia (L. E. Montgomery, stroke; E. E. Eder. 3; C. W. Winkworth, 2; K. T. Gee. bow: K. Fox. cox) .. .. 2 Time, 7min 17 l-ssec. New Zealand won by two lengths. 2000 METRES DOUBLE SCULLS (No previous title-holders.) Australia (M. S. Riley, stroke; M. T. Wood, bow) .. 1 New Zealand (J. Schneider, stroke; D. Simonson, bow) . - .. 2 England (K. W. Tinegate, stroke; J. Brown, bow) .. .. ..3 Time. 7min 22sec. Australia won by four lengths. 2000 METRES PAIR OAR (No previous title-holders) Australia (J. W. Webster, stroke; W. J. Lambert, bow) .. 1 New Zealand (D. Gould, stroke; H. Gould, bow) .. ..2 Time, 7min 58sec. Australia won by four lengths.