ROWING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 117, 11 February 1926, Page 12

ROWING

(By

‘Sculls.”)

COMING EVENTS.

February 27.—Christchurch Regatta (Luke Forsyth). Wellington Regatta. March 6.—New Zealand Championship Regatta at Dunedin.

The result of the Mothes Shield contest on Saturday camo as no surprise, it having been confidently expected that Pefone would retain the trophy. It is invariably the crews with the training that are able to prove themselves over a distance of one mile, and Petones victory on Saturday was no exception to the rule. Ono of the best competing crews was Wellington’s .lightweigth junior four, comprising D. Campbell (str.), A. Collins (3), K. Chisholm (2), and I). McLeod (how), who in winning the event of their class rowed a splendid race. There was good combination, and provided the bow man improves his style there is every prospect of ths crew meeting with further successes.

What Went Wrong? Tt was indeed very pleasing to view such a number of spectators witnessing the contest, but if in future there is a similar lack of management the Wellington. Amateur Rowing Association can hardlv expect much public support. A lato start was made with the programme. which, at the sixth event, was almost an Four behind time. Tn view of the fact that there has been much said regarding laek of public support to rowing, it behoves rowing associations to endeavour to provide the public, with somthing worth watching. and nnv contests in which there are many delayed starts soon loses its interest from an onlooker’s point of view. Having regard In the circumstances the (hanks of the rowing association are fine to the public for the manner in which they maintained interest without making many complaints An Historic Occasion.

The 138th anniversary of the landing of Governor Phillip in Sydney H'uesday, January 26) was celebrated by a number of maritime functions, held at Sydney This anniversary regatta is, Judge Backhouse stated., taie oldest

continuous maritime sporting fixture in the world. He pointed out that there were other regattas, such) as that of Cowes and tho Cambridge and Oxford boat races, which were of older origin than the Sydney Anniversary Regatta, but these functions had, for various reasons, been allowed to lapse for some years during their history. On tin, other hand, tho Sydney Anniversary Regatta has been held continuously since 1887, and was, with tho sanction of the authorities, continued during the war years, but only on a small scale, to permit of an unbroken continuity. Before the war and since, the AnniversaryRegatta has become one of the most important historical and social functions of the year. It was a more important function this year than probably on any other occasion since its establishment. This was due not only to the number of entries and tho number and variety of the competitions, but also because of the attendance of tho GovernorGeneral and tho Prime Minister, and the interesting speeches delivered by both in regard to the future prosperity and development of Australia. Following the official opening there was a luncheon tendered by tho Anniversary Regatta Committee, at which the leading citizens of State were present. Included in tho rowing events were ths following-. Senior fours, maiden fours, light-weight maiden fours, junior fours, and single sculls handicap.