Strong Competition At Picton Rowing Regatta

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 5

Strong Competition At Picton Rowing Regatta

TIICTON is knowp throughout A New Zealand as airowing centre with a magnificent harbour course on which many classic races have been held in the past, As such, its annual New Yehr’s Day Regatta invariably draiws large entries from clubs as! far afield as Gisborne and Timaru, and the standard of rowing ;is very high. A winning crew th£re is a good prospect for national championship honours. ; This season’s regatta promises to be no different, and everal crews will be watched with interest by oarsmen with thoughts of the New Zealand championships and selection to take part ip the British I Empire Games at pardiff.

The result, of the senior fours will be awaited with great interest as the strong Wellington and Wairau crews will have their first clash of the season. Form shown in this event last season was erratic, and the championhip was won by the Clifton (Waitara) four which contained two of the Olympic Games four. The Wellington four was second in this premier national event, but was beaten on two other occasions by the. Wairau four. It is expected that these two crews will be strong contenders for the title again. The only Christchurch entry this year comes from the Canterbury Rowing Club, whose crew has won both races held locally this season. The senior pairs is another open event this season with rhe reported retirement of Parker and Douglas, of the Mercer Club, the national titleholders and Olympic representatives. The Canterbury and Petone entries appear to be the strongest. Of the local rowing clubs only Union is not attending this year’s regatta. The Avon, Canterbury, and Cure (Kaiapoi) clubs all have large entries, with a number of crews. Avon has a promising sculler, B. Reid, who has entered the senior singles race. This club’s junior and youths fours have also had some success in local competition. The Cure club has a number of capable crews. Without doubt, the strongest club in the province at the moment is Canterbury whose entries in the junior, maiden, youths, and novice fours must all be regarded as potential winners after their successes in the Kerr’s Reach Pennant and Head of the Rover races. This club is also strong in the pair oar events in these classes and has had some success in these races at Picton in recent years.