KEEN ROWING

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 18, 16 October 1933, Page 2

KEEN ROWING

Redding' Shield Regatta PETONE KEEP TROPHY Saturday’s Events Described Keen racing was witnessed along the Petone foreshore on Saturday afternoon, when the thirteenth annual Redding Shield rowing regatta was held in conjunction with the opening of the Petone Rowing Club’s season. Petone did not have much difficulty in retaining the shield, the final points, calculated on the basis of five for a first place and two for a second, being Petone 19.}, Star 13}, and Wellington 9. There was an exceedingly large gathering of oarsmen, their friends and supporters of the Petone Rowing Club, at the official opening ceremony performed in front of the clubhouse by the Mayor of Petone, Mr. p. McKenzie. The mayor was introduced by Mr. F. W. Mothes, vice-president of the Wellington Amateur Rowing Association, who expressed his gratification at the very fine attendance. It was very pleasing indeed, he said, to see the interest that was being taken in the club’s activities. He extended a cordial welcome to oarsmen from Star and Wellington clubs, and also Introduced Miss Nancy Olphert, the Confidence Carnival Aquatic Princess. He appealed to oarsmen to accord her all the support they could. Sport of Rowing. The mayor, in declaring the 1933-34 season open, apologised for the absence of Mr. W. Nash, M.P., who was at present on his way back to New Zealand after having attended the Institute of Pacific Relations Conference at Banff. He referred to the keen interest taken . by Mr. F. W. Mothes and bis family in the Petone Rowing Club, an association extending over a long period of years. The mayor said he knew of no better sport for developing the body, both mentally and physically, than rowing. There was no reason why members of the Petone club could not be world champions if they stuck at it. He trusted the coming season would be a pleasant and a successful one. With their success on Saturday, Petone club has now won the shield seven times, while Wellington has won it five times and Star once. The races were held over a quarter-mile course in clinker boats, the water having a slight jobble, but not over troublesome. Races Described. In the first race, the open double sculls, Petone pulled out early after the start, but nearing the post Wellington No. 1, by dint of a great effort, went ahead to win by a bare half length. Star was third. Five crews pulled away evenly in the maiden fours, but with half the course covered Petone No. 2, on the outside position, was slightly ahead of Petone No. 1. Star, however, with the slightly smoother water of the inside position, issued a strong challenge to the leaders, and managed to pull the race off by the narrow margin of three feet.

Petone No. 1 went to the fore early in the open fours, and held first position most of the course. Approaching the post, Star No. 2, who had been rowing strongly nil through, spurted magnificently, pulling up to Petone No. 1, to secure a dead-heat. Petone No. 2 was third. In the junior fours four crews faced the starter, Petone No. 3 drawing out after about 200 yards, followed by Wellington. Nearing the finish Star made a bold bid for second place, but Wellington just managed to hold them off. Petone finished strongly ( with three-quarters of a length to spare. The youths’ fours early in the race developed into a stern tussle between Wellington and Petone, Star falling well back. One hundred yards from the finish Petone had a clear length lead from Wellington, but this was reduced to three-quarters of a length when the post was passed. The champion New Zealand pair, G. C. Cooke and F. H. Mullins, had little difficulty in pulling the Star boat home to victory in the open pairs. They went to the fore at the start, and were never seriously challenged. Results in Detail OPEN DOUBLE SCULLS. Wellington No. 1 (H. ,T. Luke, str., and H. Spoor) 1 PetonedL. Horne, str., and P. Abbott) 2 Star 3 Also started: Wellington No. 2. ' Won'by half a length. MAIDEN FOURS. Star (H. Paton, st.. M. Moffat, A. Lawson and J. F. Eggers) J Petone No. 2 (G. Barney. H. Vicarage, ■ N. Alexander. A. Collin) 2 Petone No. 1 g Also started: Wellington No. 1 and WelUjigton No. 2, Won by three feel. OPEN FOURS. Star No. 2 (B. Webb, str., P. H, Field. W. J. Kemp and M. P. Player) and Petone No, 1 (B. Crane, str., A. Hope. G. Rodda, R. Pritchard), equal j Petone No. 2 3 Also started: Star No. 1 and Wellington JUNIOR FOURS. Petone No. 1 (W. Kennedy, str. G. Crabtree, D. Mcßride’ and B. Iligby) j Wellington (R. Horsman. str.. W. McLean, H. Spoor and T. H. Millar) 2 Star 3 Also started: Petone No. 2. Won by three-quarters of a length. YOUTHS’ FOURS. Petone (O. Anderson, str., W. Clewer G. Woodcock, and H. Hobbs) 1 Wellington (R. Millar, str./ T. Whilelaw, H. Tester and W. Jury) 2 Star 3 Won by three-quarters ot a OPEN PAIRS. Star No. 1 (G. C. Cooke, str., and F. H. Mullins) ; Petone (W. Lind, str., and C. Gimblett) 2 Wellington 3 Won by three-quarters of a length.