KERRS REACH COURSE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27206, 25 November 1953, Page 6

KERRS REACH COURSE

ROWING

RACING IN LANES ASSOCIATION’S RULING Boats competing In rowing races on Kerrs reach must keep in lanes, according to a decision made by the Canterbury Rowing Association last evening. This procedure was followed in the rowing events at the Canterbury centennial games, when markers were used to denote the lanes. The ruling was the outcome of a letter to the association from Mr V. D. Hewer, coach to the Christchurch Boys’ High

School No. 1 crew, who said that before the recent race between Christchurch 3oys’ High School and Christ’s College .e had sought to obtain an opinion as the correct procedure for the coxswain to follow, but all he had been able to ascertain was the associations definition of a course being the shortest route between two given points. He had, however, made it clear to the coxswain that he was at least entitled to half the -iver in a two-crew contest, and to ta. ; as much more as circumstances permitted. On the day of the race a strong southerly was blowing and Boys High School lost the toss. Immediately before entering the cut Boys’ High School had a lead of one and a half lengths and then something had happened. It had also been noticed by several others. The boat had suddenly turned left and just as suddenly turned right. The race was virtually over, as the college crew, hugging the shelter, drew ahead and left Boys High School trying to battle with wind and current. Mr Hewer said he had subsequently been informed that the smarter, Mr F. H. Thompson, had directed both crews to beware that each had only half the river and that failure to observe that would mean disqualification* „ > “You can clearly picture the state of an Inexperienced boy’s mind with the thought of disqualification looming up all the time,” said Mr Hewer, “and this I think would fully explain his actions. “The actual result of the race is not in question and I would be the last person to question a starter’s direction, but foreseeing that this is likely to. happen again, could you not give us some clearcut understanding if special rules, are to pertain to Kerr’s reach?” Referring to the “rule book the president Mr B. R. Walker, said that a boat could cross over if it did not cross another boat’s water, but that the umpire was the sole judge of course. Acting on another suggestion contained in Mr Hewer's letter, the association decided that other secondary schools should be invited to take part in the race.

Lake Waltakl Regatta Asked by the Otago Association to comment on a proposal that a regatta on Lake Waitaki on February 6 be called, the South Island championships, the association decided to oppose the use of this name. Mr E. S. Adams suggested that if the Waitaki regatta was called a South Island championship it might be possible to have the title given to a Canterbury regatta in the following year. It was decided to ask clubs to organise and support a gala and that goods collected for an auction sale to raise funds should be sold on that occasion. Reporting on the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, Mr Walker said that the association could record its gratification that Mr W. H. Candy had been elected a vice-presi-dent of the association. He said that the association's application for the holding of the interprovincial eights had been successful and they would be held at Kerrs reach on the afternoon of Easter Saturday.