ROWING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 75, 22 December 1926, Page 8

ROWING

(By

"Sculls.”)

Wellington Regatta. The Wellington Regatta Club has decided to adopt the suggestion of the New Zealand Rowing Council that the local regatta be held on March 12, this date being a week before the championships at Picton. Several amendments to last year’s programme have been made, and three races, namely, the junior’ sculls, junior double sculls, and senior double sculls, have been deleted. Few entries were received for these events last year, and as it was essential that the programme should bo shortened they were the first to go. Donations for the programme of races this year total jCIOS. The order of events has been arranged so that the senior fours race will commence at 3 p.m., and in view of the probable entry of a Victorian four this race will undoubtedly arouse a great deal of public interest. It is also confidently expected that the majority of crews en route to the championships will arrange to compete at Wellington, and some really high-class rowing should be seen at this season’s regatta. The programme of events is as follows:-—Senior sculls, 12.30 p.m.; maiden fours, 1 p.m.: junior pairs, 1.30 p.m.; youths’ fours, 2 p.m.; maiden pairs, 2.30 p.m.; senior tours, 3 p.m.; light-weight maiden fours, 3.30 p.m.; maiden doubles, 4 p.m.; junior fours, 4.30 p.m.; senior pairs, 5 p.m. Petone Club’s Affairs.

At the ohalf-yearly meeting of the Petone Rowing Club, Messrs. A. E. White and L. Drummond tendered their resignations as captain and vice-captain respectively, finding they were unable to give the time that the offices demanded, in their stead O. H. Haddock was elected captain and T. Slinn vice-captain. The election of the latter created two vacancies on the committee, and they were filled by the appointment of R. G. Drummond and K. Rogers. The Petone Club, tor some considerable time, has felt the need of additional boathouse accommodation, the present facilities being quite inadequate. In order to raise funds towards the erection of a new shed, (he club intends to run a side show at the gala., which is to be held at Petone from Boxjng Day to New Year’s Day. An Australian Visit.

The New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association displays praiseworthy enterprise in enueavouring to arrange races between crews from the Commonwealth and those of the Dominion (states an Australian paper). It is proposed that the Wanganui and Wellington regattas should be held on March 5 and 12, and the Picton championship regatta on March 19. The New Zealand Association will invite the Victorian Association to send representative crews to compete at these regattas, and it is suggested that New Zealand should assist in (lie matter of finance by contributing to the travelling expenses of Victorian competitors. There is no doubt that a meeting v ith New Zealand crews would be. of great interest, and also of benefit to Victorian rowing, for it is recognised that any crews wnich we might send would need to be of good calibre to stand a chance against the New Zealanders. Unfortunately the above elates clash with the Ballarat and Barwon regattas on March 5 and 12 respectively, at which most of our best men are likely to be engaged. Enthusiasm in Dunedin.

Great enthusiasm is being shown in all the sheds, and competition will ba keen among the various crews at the forthcoming regatta (states the Dunedin "Evening Star”). The water has been favourable on most occasions recently, allowing a great deal of training to be carried out. There seems no doubt that the recent victorious visit of the Otago champion four to Australia has given the sport a decided impetus in the harbour, this being evidenced by the increased enthusiasm and consistent training in all the clubs. The Sport in Christchurch.

The Christchurch Regatta Club is tacod with a big problem In finding a suitable regatta course other than Lake Forsyth, which has been used for so many years. The change of venue has been necessitated by the failure to make arrangements regarding railway transit. The club feels that it is unable to put forward a guarantee for a special train, without which guarantee the Railway Department is stated .o be unwilling to run the train. Without the public the regatta cannot be a success, and it stands to reason that if a suitable course can be found nearer Christchurch the regatta would bo better patronised. The potentialities of Christchurch and its environs for a course have been explored pretty thoroughly, and Kairaki, at the mouth of tne Wai makariri, appears to bo the only t’te likely to yield satisfaction. The tides will need to be studied, and upon the state of these will be dependent iho date of the regatta. January 8 is the next date when the tide will be suitable on a Saturdav, and on that date the committee of the Regatta Club will meet at Kairaki to determine whether a regatta could be held on that course. Veteran Australian Rower.

Mr. Q. L. Deloitte, president of both the New South Wales Rowing Assqcia tion and Sydney Rowing Chib, attained his eightv-third year recently (pays the "Referee 1 '). He has a record of service unparalleled l in his State. Mr. Deloitte became president of the New South Wales Rowing Association in 1902, and has held the position for twenty-four successive years. He was the first captain of the Sydney Rowing Club, which was formed on Ji arch 7, 1870- On the death of Mr. George Thornton, the club s first president, who held office tor thirtyone years, Mr. Deloitte was looted to the position, and has occupied it ever since—a period of twenty-five years. Mr. Deloitte sailed for England on a holiday trip on January .2, and is expected to return shortly. ‘ Ever ready to tender advice and render help, he is Australia s grand old man of rowing.