ROWING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 27, 27 October 1926, Page 8

ROWING

(By

“Sculls.”)

Wellington Rowing Club. The Wellington Rowing Club commenced its first series of club races on Saturday, the first and second heats of the "senior fours being rowed off. The teams were: R. Cookson (stroke), T. Adams (3), T. Carter (2), J. Donovan (bow), K. Chisholm (stroke), R. Sutherland (3), D. McLeod (2), CWilletts (bow) ; W. West (stroke), L. Jones (3), C. Collins (2)., W. Holland (bow); W. Fraser (stroke), F. Shanley (3), J. Graham (2), D. Campbell (bow). In the first heat Cookson met Chisholm, the former winning by a couple of feet after a keenly contested struggle. The second heat between West and Fraser was an exciting race, West’s crew winning by about a boat’s lengjh. The final will be rowed off at the earliest opportunity. The next club races will be the Bert Shaw Memorial cup fours. Whale Boat Races.

The race committee of the. Star Boating Club has decided tp institute a series of whale boat races to be held on those days when the water is not suitable for regular training in the skiffs. Points will be awarded and a trophy presented at the conclusion of the season.

Otago’s Easy Win. By their win at the Henley-on-Yarra regatta—one of the principal amateur sporting events in Australia —on Saturday, the Otago Rowing Club’s senior four have again shown that the Dominion is not lagging behind in the, sport of rowing. The crew appear to have had no difficulty in outclassing their opponents, and sculling in this country is undoubtedly on a high plane, capable of holding its own against anything else in the world. Indeed, the win is another argument m favour of a team of New Zealand scullers representing the Dominion at the next Olympic Games at Amsterdam in 1928, which all followers of rowing hope to see an accomplished fact. The membeis of the Otago crew were: Brough (stroke), J. Werges (3), C. J. McAra (2), and P. S. Anderson (bow). With voiith and enthusiasm on their side, all are excellent specimens of the spirting type of young New Zealand. Anderson, who is the oldest in the boat, is still on the younger side of 30. Hiving seen service in France with th* Ist Otago Infantry Battalion, he is a staunch member of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, of which he was president last year. He is the onlv married member of the crew, and a barrister and solicitor by profession. Brough, the stroke, is the tallest of th; four, and is of athletic build. As well as being an excellent oarsman and sculler, he is a prominent footballer, having played in the Pirates’ first nfteen last year, when the team won the Dtnedin championship, and again this vear when it was runner-up. Brough is also a good boxer, having taken part several years ago in local amaterr toumamente. Werges, probably

the strongest man physically in the boat is also a Rugby footballer, being a member of the Pirates’ Club second fifteen. McAra is prominent m athletic circles, in which he won distinction as a distance runner. Sculling at 76. Advice from Svdney states that Bill Beach, who is 76 years of age, consented to give an exhibition row at the “Back to Shoalhaven celebrations. Beach, who was unbeaten world # champion, states that, despite his vears, he feels he is still able to give a good account of himself in an outrigger. It was 42 years ago that Beach won the championship of the world from Hanlon on the Parramatta. He lives at Brownsville, on Lake Illawarra, and still enjoys perfect health. The veteran still possesses the sculis with which he won the first contest. George Towns, Jim Stanburv (exworld’s champions), and Christopher Nielsen (who holds the record for Parramatta River) were to give an exhibition in the club skiffs, and each was to be presented with a gold medal as a souvenir. Mr. Towns was also anvinns to participate in the outrigger handicap. English Amateur Sculling Bv winning the Wingfield sculls (representing the English amateur sculling championship) for the sixth time, J. Beresford, jun., has set up a new record. It cannot be said that lie won on his merits, however, as he was well outfinishdd by T. D. A. Collett, of Cambridge University, quite obviously the best sculler on the day, The latter went right away over the last mile and finished in 22mm. 24 4-ssec., good sculling for the Putney to Mortlake course. Early in the race Collett came across and twice slightly touched Beresford’s boat, but not so as to hamper him. Although Beresford made no claim at the time, he lodged an objection at the finish, and the referee, Harry Blackstaff, had no option but to disqualify Collett, so Beresford won on a foul. Wanganui’s Membership. The Wanganui Rowing Club appears to have prospects of a successful season. Tbe plant is all in good order and 30 new members have been elected since the annual meeting.