Good Rowing by Petone: Norton Cup Retained

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 63, 8 December 1936, Page 16

Good Rowing by Petone: Norton Cup Retained

(By

STROKE.)

SCORING six firsts and two second placings, Petone retained the Norton Memorial Cup by a margin of 11 points over Wellington, who were five' points ahead of Star. Misty rain, which fell throughout the afternoon, made conditions unpleasant, and a strong northerly, accompanied by a choppy sea, did not improve the chances of the outside boats. The Petone crews appeared much fitter than many of the others, and this stood to them under the poor conditions. D. J. Boswell proved himself the most promising oarsman at the regatta. He and Anderson won the junior pairs, and later, with I Carter (2) and G. Butler (bow), accounted for the junior fours after a ding-dong struggle with Wellington. In each of these races the Petone crews drew the outside course, aud this enhanced the merit of their win.

A point which commands attention by the W.A.R.A. is the provision of a sufficient interval between the pair-oared and double sculls races to allow the rigging to be changed. On Saturday both the Petone No. 1 and Wellington junior pairs were cut out of the start because , of the failure to provide a reasonable interval.

The programme of the Wellington regatta on Saturday, February 20, 1937, provides for twelve races with a total prize money of £lO5. The first race starts at 1.30 p.m., and the last at 4.40 p.m. The senior fours and the open eights are to be rowed over two miles, the senior single sculls and junior fours over 1-J miles, and the other events over a mile. The programme has been arranged as follows:. — Junior fours (under lOst. 71b.) ; junior single sculls; senior single sculls; maiden fours; senior fours; maiden double sculls; junior fours; maiden pairs; open eights; youths’ fours; junior pairs; maiden fours (under lOst.). Petone.

Saturday's strong wind made rowing difficult, and soon found out the crews that were not fit, but Petone did not suffer iu comparison with the other clubs. In view of the fact that the Wanganui regatta is less than three weeks away it is time that the crews started to train seriously. The maiden crew and the youths’ crew in particular did not appear to be over-trained, and these crews must realise that physical fitness is a first essential if regatta races are to be won. The senior crew gave a polished exhibition, and they should give a good account of themselves this season. Ken Boswell was in good form on the day, and he and Brian Rigby gave an excellent display in the pair-oared race. Abbott and Gimblett did quite well to win the double sculls, in view of the fact that they have been training in the senior four and had had practically no rowing in the doubles. The junior four were without the services of their usual three, G. Leopard, and his place was taken by J. Tegg. Though Tegg had earlier in the day stroked the youths’ crew in a hard race he did very well in the three seat, and must be commended for his fine performance. G. Leopard will be available for Wanganui, and the club will be able to boat the junior crew, which was so successful last season, namely, D. Boswell, Leopard, Carter, and Anderson. Watson and Clewei rowed well for the first half-mile in the maiden pair, and, had they been fit, would no doubt have been able to complete the journey in front. The club intends to put an eight on the water at Wanganui on Boxing Day, and it will be selected and start its training this week. The weather has prevented any heats of the senior novice pair being rowed, but an effort will be made this week to get them off. The favourites for the race are W. Lind and D. Foley, but on form B. Rigby and E. C. Macdonald should be hard to beat. As a rule there is never much to choose between the crews in this event, and some good finishes should result. Wellington. Though the Wellington club did not succeed in depriving Petone of the Norton Cup. they put up their best performance to date, under poor conditions. In the senior double sculls the two crews, Petone and Wellington, were neck and neck for three-quarters of the distance. but Petone then drew away to win by a bare three-quarters of a length. It was a great race.

The club's entry in the maiden four, I. Newson (str.), W. Morgan (3), N. Mathewson (2). aud W. O'Donnell (bow), came third. This was not entirely disappointing, as a general reararngement of the crew on the Tuesday gave them no hope of getting together before the regatta. Plenty of long rows, however, should improve their strength, stamina, and combination, and they should figure more prominently later iu the season. Wellington secured a lucky seven points in the welterweight junior fours. Star, the only other starter, breaking a seat at the quarter-niile. Fortune did not continue to smile, however, as a similar misfortune befel the youths’ four who, with a ’ bare 100 yards to go, were leading Petone b? 1 three-quarters of a length. Such are the fortunes of the game. Wellington’s win in the singles by a row over was the result of a misunderstanding regarding the rearrangement of the order of the races, neither the club nor the starter having been informed of the proposal. The disqualification of both Star crews who joined in a quarter of a mile after the start, gave the lightweights a lucky win, but the crew is keen though a bit raw, and their win will encourage- them. The maiden pair. N. Mathewson (str.), and I. Newson (bow), lacked combination, as they had not done the training required to bring them up to their heaviest rivals. As in the case of the four, however, a few long rows will make a difference in their work.

The junior fours was the most exciting race of the day. There were four starters, aud Petone No. 1 and Wellington forged ahead to fight it out over the whole distance. A great tussle saw Petone win. by half a length. With more training, Spoor’s crew may well turn the tables on their rivals, especially if a coach can be procured. The club had no entries in the senior fours or pairs.

The tw o most outstanding events of Saturday's racing as far as the Star club was concerned, were the excellent performances of all the maiden crews and the failure of the senior fours. Petone won. because they were more consistent, and were obviously fitter than the Star men.

In the maiden fours, the two Star crews came first and second, and should do well during the season. The No. 1 crew, T. Alexander (str.), G. Gibbons (3), P. Dennehy (2), and G. Broad (bow), won handily by 14 lengths from M. Willis (str.), R. Hansen (3), S. Sidford (2), and P. Hughes (bow). The second crew, rowing a very steady stroke, gained quite a lot of ground over the last quarter of a mile, and if they can improve the finish of their stroke, which is rather weak, they should seriously challenge the No. 1 crew for its position. Alexander's crew were not extended till their clubmates came at them over the last third of a mile. Stroke and three of this crew also had au easy win in the maiden pairs. It is certainly a good sign for the club when the maiden crews make such an auspicious start, and with such promising young oarsmen, both heavy and lightweights, the club should have a brighfi future.

Petone scored a decisive win in the senior fours. Neither of the Star crews was impressive, and have obviously some distance to go before they reach regatta standard. In the No. 1 boat, M. Clay was the only man consistently getting the work in at the catch. G. Cooke, though rowing well, was not getting through the water fast enough, and Thody appeared a very tired man at the finish. The No. 2 crew were rather patchy and did not seem to be able to get together. B. Webb, in the bow seat, is as yet far from impressive. , The lightweight maidens did not get down to the starting post in time, and took no part in the race. It was rather a pity some latitude was not allowed them, as they had no chance of getting their boats uji to the starting point in time, both having been used in the senior fours in the previous race. It looked as though Star would have picked up soma points here.

Though rowing well, the junior four did not have any life in their boat, and gave the impression they were having a quiet practice row. It is a pity that the combination, with Hosking as stroke, has had to be broken up to allow him to row in the No. 2 senior four. This practice, though it may give senior oarsmen a row, does not make for the smooth running of a club.