Rowing KERR’S REACH WEED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30044, 31 January 1963, Page 14

Rowing KERR’S REACH WEED

Association To

Complain

Oarsmen in training lor national championships r . mouth at* being greeuy nMnfMtra oy tot wwa wumkbj ii once again choking the course at Karr’s Ranch. The Avon dalagate to th* Canterbury Rowing Aaaoctatfon told the aoaoaintion’s mootint last evening that the course had been reduced to teas than three-quarters ot ■ mite. The association aft rd to write to the Chrtotehurch Drtonaste Board utcinc that the weed thoukl be cut immediately.

Mr W. Richarris (Union) said the board had not kept its pramtoe. made when the elube moved to Kerr’s Reach, that it would maintain a course.

To ensure adequate training, tbe course bad to be kept free from weed from Christmas to March, he said.

Thia question came up every year, said the president, Mr B. Walker. He said that he felt the cutters used by the board were not very efficient. They were the same type that were in use 50 years ago. Modem cutters would surely be both quicker and cheaper, he said.

D.C.L. Cap Pointe The association ruled that points for the DjCX>. Cup could be awarded only on status races at statue regattas. This meant that races, except for the first two, at the Timam regatta on Saturday were not counted for D.C.L. points. The regatta course bad to be shortened, owing to bad water conditions, to lees than the minimum length allowed for a

status regatta. Mr Walker said that rules for the DC.L. Cup had been formed when there were only a few races under tbe authority ot the Canterbury association, and those were all status races. Tie ruling meant a revision of points. Timaru, which was leading, is now in second place behind Union.

The revised ptocings are: Union, 41 pointe (20). 1; Timaru, 35 pointe (24), 2; Avon, 34 pointe (10), 3; Akaroa, 14 pointe (2), 4; Canterbury, 13 pointe (16) and Cure. 13 pointe (2). equal 5. The association decided to be more strict about requirements tor regatta programmes. Clubs seeking approval to hold regattas must give the correct times and order of events. At regattas this season, crews had had to scratch from certain events because insufficient time had been allowed between races tor the change-over of boats.

Avon Tests Its Shovel Oars j

Eighteen shovel oars, the first in Canterbury, were delivered to the Avon Rowing Club at Kerr’s Reach, yesterday. The first shovel sculls in the province were delivered to Timaru Rowing Club a few days ago.

Also in the consignment, valued at £233, were 12 standard sculls. The oars were made by an English firm and were tested in a pair soon after they were unpacked. The crew, A. Popplewell and M. Brownlee, were impressed with the results. They found the boat balanced better and the oars were easier to handle tn the water than conventiona l oera. They also seemed lighter. The club will give the oars their first racing trial in the Christchurch Regatta at Charteris Bay on Saturday. The oars will be used by the crews of both eights, the maiden and senior fours and the maiden and senior pairs.