ROWING

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 54, 27 November 1929, Page 9

ROWING

(By

“COX.”)

THE BATTLE OF SITES

BOUND THE LOCAL CLUBS.

“It is only a matter of time when rowing will have to go to some other pa»t of the harbour," said the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Trouo), speaking at the opening of the rowing season in Wellington last month. Since then matters pertaining to the proposed removal of the Star and Wellington sheds have received lengthy consideration at the hands of the Wellington Fire'Board, and it is now just a point whether the clubs will be compelled to go to some other part of the harbour or not. It seems that Fire Superintendent J. Creek and the board’s architect (Mr. William Turnbull) were of the opinion that the present site of the fire station is the most suitable for lire brigade purposes, opening out as it does on a quiet street (Mercer Street), besides having a frontage of a total length of 386 ft. oin. “The proposed boatshed site opens out on to a busy thoroughfare (Jervois Quay),’’ stated their report, “and is situated between the ambulance station on the west boundary and Odlin's building on the south-eastern boundary. . . . The element of danger In opening out 'on the busy thoroughfare could be minimised by installing a system of street alarm bells. The areas of the two sites are almost identical. The present site is more compact and regular on plan, and the building can be altered to meet the requirements of a central fire station at moderate cost.” Kegarding the question of expenditure, from the figures given, it would be undoubtedly a saving of many thousands of pounds for the brigade to stay in their present quarters. In the opinion of Mr. M. Marks a Civic Square was all very, well as an Ideal, but it would be a very costly business. Besides, the board had to consider the.fact that a clear get-away for the fire enginewas a very important matter. The getaway from the present Central Fire Station was the best Mr. Marks had ever seen anywhere. In Sydney the get-away at the central station was very awkward indeed, and was a nightmare to the superintendent of the brigade. Other speakers at the’ meeting expressed the opinion that the civic square idea was praiseworthy but was too costly. From the facts it would seem that the Fire Board has no wish to move from the present premises. As a sport, rowing is perhaps the oldest in Welllugton, and being purely amateur, does not count on ‘‘gates’’ for its finance. Experienced oarsmen have voiced their opinion that rowing will be. killed if the clubs are compelled to vacate the present site. For there Is no other, place close to the city which is suited for the frail craft. The Jervois Quay site is eminently: suited in every respect; in fact, there are very few cities in the world which can boast of rowing sheds within a minute’s walk of the busiest business centres.

At . the present it seems that the Wellington and Star clubs will not be disturbed. One ' point to be remembered is that many of Wellington’s most prominent men in every walk of life have belonged to either the Star or the .Wellington Club, and as each and every one must have the interests of his old club, and the sport as a whole, at heart, present-day oarsmen may be assured that their old members will’ see to it that the sport of rowing, which they loved so well, will not become extinct In Wellington.

Petone Rowing Club. Still another Saturday has passed, and the Fetone Club was unable to push ahead with its club racing programme, ■ The weather has certainly been against the northern harbour club this year, as a prevailing southerly has .blown week-end after. week-end, so that so far they have only managed to row off one race—the trial fours. However, to show that there is no lack of keenness at Petone. it is worth recording that on Sunday morning there were at least sixty men training on the water. The pairs were in great demand, there being too many men requiring the boats. The’novices are showing, great keenness, and marked Improvement, an indication that the little extra trouble taken in training has really been worth while.

Wellington Rowing Club. Good progress was made during the past week, with the club races, and as Saturday afternon was fine and the water suitable for rowing purposes the race committee held the preliminaries of the Bert Shaw Cup race. Five crews entered, and the racing provided some of the finest and most thrilling finishes seen in club racing for some time. In two of the races the competitors did not know who had won. so close was the finish: the judges announced the official distance between the crews as being a matter of inches only. In the first heat McAuley’s crew defeated Hyde’s crew by one length. Both crews were racing evenly up to Clyde Quay Wharf, when the cox in Hyde's boat steered his boat well off 'the course and this undoubtedly lost them the race. In the second heat Clarke’s crew—Clarke (stroke), Holland (3), Joyee (2), Allan (bow)—defeated Herd's crew. This was one of the best races witnessed for some time. Both crews maintained a quick, sharp sprint stroke from the start, and raced level to the finish, Clarke’s , crew winning a very fine race by six inches. Luke’s crew had a bye. The semi-final was again a very closely contested race, McAuley’s crew defeating Luke’s crew by nine Inches. In this event bad coxiug was again responsible for the loss of the race. The two crews Were up and down until the last quarter of a mile, when Luke’s crew gradually drew away. The cox, however, took the boat well off the course, and McAuley’s crew was announced the winner by nine inches. The final between Clarke and McAuley will be rowed on the first fine evening during the coming week, and a good finish Is expected.

During the week both crews in the final of the fixed seat race were practising well, and the final, Which was rowed on Saturday afternoon, resulted in Herd's crew defeating Sutherland’s by one length. The winning crew consisted of Herd (stroke). Henesy (3), Carpenter ■ (2), Allan (bow). Crews have been picked for the club pairs and all concerned are training well. The junior ladder sculls-has been arranged and some good material, has been discovered. It is regretted that last year’s junior champion (T. H. (“Hugh”) Miller) has left New Zealand, and cannot defend his title, but the club is looking forward to the time when he will return and again don the club colours. A picnic outing has been arranged for December Id, and will be conducted alon« the same lines as last year. Quite a number of new members are finding it better to gain sculling experience in a double scull before attempting to row in a single. w A iH C ? nisioD . ’between a Star four and a Wellington single scull has resulted in the single being put out of commission for the time being. The next club race will be the Kempthorne “fours,” to be rowed on Saturday afternoon next. Star Boating Club. The rowing of the President’s Fours club race was postponed for a week so as to enable the crews to have more practice in actual rowing. The first heat is set down for to-night (Wednesday). Since the date when the first race was postponed, rowable water has been present on ali days except one, and it is anticipated that there will be some interesting racing and close finishes. The club’s regatta crew have now settled down to hard training, and the club has placed high hopes upon them. The following notes concerning them are of Interest Junior Fours:: The Junior tours crew are now fairly well advanced Id their training in the capable hands of their coach, Mr. H. T. Farrar. They have now finished all4heir tub work, and have been seen in the practice best and best four This boat takes a lot of sitting, and the crew will still require a considerable amount of work in the boat itself before they will be able to get their best out of it. Although the stroke, which has been set in training rows, is probably In accordance with the conch’s instructions, the appearance from outside is that the crew Is. as a whole, too sluggish. High-weight Maiden Fours: This crew appears to be the best of its class that the Star Club has been able to put on the water for about six or seven seasons. In their training rows, every man in the boat appears to be working hard, and the rate of stroke noticed was particularly bright and eminently suited for the crew. There appears to be a slight tendency for one or two of the crew not to sit up as well as they should, and probably this point has already been mentioned by their coach. It Is unfortunate that Lincoln, the stroke. Is unable to make the trip to Picton. but possibly arrangements will be made for a substitute to take his place In the practice spins, so as to give the crew as a whole some experience before the local regatta.

Youths' Fours: Under the capable guidance and tuition of Mr. M. A. Turner, this crew has been making regular appearances on the water. They are still rowing In the tub "four." and their work In this boat 1s particularly Impressive, with the exception of a slight tendency to roundness of one or two backs. Their style in this boat Is of a very high standard, and If they can maintain their combination, there are great possibilities ahead of them. With the exception of the stroke, none of the men have had any experience of regatta rowing. but if the present form is any Indication this crew should go a long way towards maintaining the high standard of rowing which has been set by practically til the youths’ crews from the Star Club.