ROWING Oamaru Shows Brilliant Form To Win Fours

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29763, 5 March 1962, Page 7

ROWING Oamaru Shows Brilliant Form To Win Fours

The brilliant form and power of the Oamaru four swept them to victory as the champion crew at the finals of the national rowing championships at Kerr’s Reach on Saturday. Oamaru was nearly four lengths ahead of Union, Wanganui. * For the second year this Oamaru crew of W. Stephens, K. Heselwood, W. Smedley and G. Patterson, won this event at the national championships to be presented with the Boss Rooster, as the champions of champions and the Johnson-Hallyburton trophy.

Oamaru covered the 2000 yards course in 6min 17.2 sec, the fastest time of any senior four crew during the fourday championships. Now the crew wiU go all out for Commonwealth Gaines selection at the trials at Lake Karapiro at Easter. From the start, Oamaru rowing with a slow striking rate, but with the blades lifting the boat through the water, went into the lead from Union (Wanganui) and Otago. There was no doubting the superiority of Oamaru’s blade and body work. From start to finish, they never faltered or made one steering error, blades and bodies in perfect unison creating the effect of an endless chain action. Oamaru forged steadily ahead and the other two crews had no chance of closing the. gap. By the three-quarter mile. Union had established a lead of about half a length over Otago. Otago was showing the effects of having rowed four gruelling races in three days and could not catch up with Union, who were pulling strongly, striking about 36 most of the way to Otago’s 34. Passing the half mile, Otago, although their blades were, with the exception of the bow man who appeared to be rowing shorter, biting well into the water, were dropping back while at the same time the Union crew looking very even, pulled away, to about three lengths in front of Otago. Otago, however, taking advantage of the last bend, managed to come up to within a length and a bit of Union, as Oamaru swept magnificently across the finishing line. The times for the champion fours came as a surprise. Oamaru's superb exhibition of apparent effortless rowing was deceptive. All crews returned their fastest times of the regatta. Union covered the distance in 6min 28.4 sec, 14.9 seconds better than their best time in the semi-finals. while Otago’s time was 6min 35sec, 5.2 seconds faster. North Island oarsmen were victorious in three of the remaining four championship finals. Single Sculls Hamilton’s Jim Hill scored a magnificent victory over D. Storey of Auckland and T. Just of Wellington, in the champion single sculls. For the fifth year in succession, Hill has shown that he has no peer in single sculling. Coming into line for the start, Hill seemed a little nervous as he gently eased his skiff into the reach of the boat catcher. Although a strong north wind was blowing, it did not seem to give the scullers much trouble. The other boats were lined up ready for the gun, but a false start by Storey (Wellington) delayed the race for a few minutes. Finally all three moved away in a quick hand start, with Hill slower and more powerful taking the lead. Any chance that Storey had of being an effective challenger was lost through erratic steering. His zig-zag course kept the umpire, Mr E. Lindstrom, fully occupied for most of the race, and gave West End the opportunity of coming quietly up and into second position. Exciting Race Several thousand spectators lined the banks to watch the finish of the champion eights. Here was eight's rowing at its finest and spectators were tteated to a tense and exciting race. Drifting weed brought in with the full tide caused a 30minute delay as officials worked to clear the start. The full tide and strong following wind made it possible to create a new course record for eight-oared rowing. The

record for the course was Smin 45sec. but Union (Wanganui! rowed home in Smin 33.45ec. A great cheer went up as the new record was announced. The crew hopes to be able to beat the New Zealand crew at Karapiro and qualify for Games selection.

All crews got away well at the start and raced for the mile post in line. It is doubtful whether half a canvas separated them. Once past this point Union stepped up their rating to pull away into the lead.

West End soon fell back into third position. but fought Waikato all the way. Waikato, showing great determination, managed to beat off every West End challenge and kept their three-quarters of a length advantage over West End. while at the same time trying to come up on even terms with Union

In the champion pairs Otago’s Lawrence brothers kept their rating down and simply outclassed Waitemata and Hawke's Bay without any trouble. Otago kept up a steady 32 all the way and had no need to increase it. Leaving Waitemata and Hawke's Bay to fight it out for second piace.

Waitemata. fully extending themselves over the last 100 yards, came home half a length in front of Hawke’s Bay Auckland’s P. Masfen and M. Macdonald lost the champion doubles title to a superior west End crew in the Watkinson brothers They were the only title holders to lose their crown.

West End swept away to finish four lengths in front. Auckland just managed to hold off a determined effort from Whakatane by a distance of two feet in one of the most exciting finishes of the day.

The junior single sculls resulted in a win for B. Windelburn. of Aramoho, by half a length from Hamilton's A. Ruiterman. Ruiterman, a strong Dutchman, who has been rowing only a short time, had won his qualifying heats quite easily and was expected to carry off the finals.

However, under the pressure from the more experienced Aramoho sculler, Ruiterman was not able to keep his lead, and catching a crab near the finish he was passed by the powerful blades of the Aramoho man. Local crews were not able to win any of their final events, but the only Timaru crew entered in the championships had a well deserved win over Waikato with Nelson in third place in the junior fours. Weather conditions were extremely bad. Only the confined space of the river prevented a postponement. Spectators were bothered by the clouds of fine dust that was blown around by the strong winds. At times the course was almost obscured by the gritty haze.

The Waikato Rowing Club won the centennial oar presented by the Canterbury Rowing Club in commemoration of its first 100 years. Waikato made a total of 19 points. The Cook Cup for most points in championship events was won by West End with nine points. Finals resulted:— Championships New Zealand Single Sculls.— Hamilton (J. Rill) 1, West End 2 Wellington 3. Three lengths; three lengths. Times—B:44.6. 6:50.6.

New Zealand Eights.—Union (Wanganui) (J. Palmer. G Carey, T. Dickie, G. Moran, D. Gordan, J. Dobson, J. Brown, D Martin) 1. Waikato 2, West End 3. Three-quarters of a length; three-quarters of a length. Times—s:33.4. 5:35.6. New Zealand Double Sculls. —West End (P. Watkinson. M. Watkinson) 1, Auckland 2. Whakatane 3. Four lengths; 2ft. Times—6:l.2, 6:10.

New Zealand Fours.—Oamaru No 1 (W. Stephens, K. Heselwood. W. Smedley. G. Paterson)' 1. Union (Wanganui) No. 1 2 Otago 3. Three lengths and a half: one length and threequarters. Times—6:l7.2. 6:28.4. New Zealand Pairs.—Otago (M. Lawrence, G. Lawrence) 1, Waitemata 2, Hawke's Bay 3. Three lengths; half a length. Times—6:s2. 7:0. Non-championship Maiden Fours—Star (Wellington) 18. Armstrong. D. Winter. B. Welch, G. Skipper) 1, Riverton 2, Wanganui 3. Half a length: one length and a quarter. Times—s:4B.2, 5:49.4.

Light-weight Fours.—Union (Wanganui) (P. McGuinness, T. Coxon. T. Bills, B. Hunger) 1. Waikato 2, Union (Christchurch) <J. Mobbs, A. Davies, M. Cooper D. Williams) 3. One length and a quarter: six feet. Times—--5:25.4, 5:29. Youths’ Fours.—Waikato (M. Taylor, R. Cuff. A. Dowling, K. Bradbury) 1, Canterbury (A. Dearsley, J. Hunter, N. Smith. P. Dearslev) 2, Union (Wanganui) 3. Three lengths and a half: three lengths and a half. Times—s:3l.B, 5:41.8.

Junior Eights.—Semi-final, heat 1: West End (N. Dempster, L. Brebner. A. Maybey. S. Buckley, G. Perrott, R. Cante!!. P. Millbank, R. Bell) 1, Star (Wellington) 2. One length.

Time—6.64. Heat 2: Aramoho (Wanganui) (M. Parkes, K. Loveridge. P. Larsen. R Cawstqn. V. Carey. D Mclnnes. J Kjestrup. G. Beale) 1. Petone 2. One length and threequarters. Time—6:6.9 Final: Aramoho 1. West End 2. Star 3. One length and a quarter; two lengths and a half. Times—--5:44.2. 5:47.8. Novice Fours.—Auckland (B. Mann, G. Wells. D. Fuller, H. Stott) 1, Nelson 2. Alexandra 3. One length; three-quarters of a length Times—s:42.3. 5:47.5. Junior Single Sculls.—Aramoho <B Windelburn) 1, Hamilton 2, Nelson 3. Half a length: five lengths. Times—--7:1.2, 7:2. Malden Eights.—Waikato (M. Taylor. C. Keith. B. Waters. R. Cuff. K. Bradbury. R. Kenah. M. Dent, J. Pulmani 1. Avon (Christchurch) (N. Malcolm, K. Thompson. M. Brownlee, A. Popplewell. N. Dodd, W. Lambie, L. Hampton) 2. Alexandra 3. Three-quarters of a length; two lengths and a half. Times—s:s6.s, 5:59.7.

Junior Fours.—Timaru (D. Steven. K. Francis, D. Angland. J. Sheat) 1, Waikato 2. Nelson 3. One length: three lengths. Times—6:36, 6:37.8.