CHAMPION EIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 155, 29 March 1937, Page 11

CHAMPION EIGHTS

Wanganui Win Exciting Contest WELLINGTON SECOND North v. South Island Race a Fiasco The New Zealand interprovincial eight-oar rowing championship, decided at Wellington on Saturday morning, produced one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the race, the littlefancied Wanganui crew winning narrowly from Wellington, who again this year bad to be content with second place. It was xi thrilling struggle over the last 200 yards, but the generalship of A. K. Jackson, who captained the Wanganui crew, brought them to a victory which was as weft deserved as it was popular. ■ The Koro Koro course was jjx perfect order for rowing. Indeed, so calm was the water that it was considered to favour the river crews, Canterbury and Wanganui. While their condition lasted, Canterbury revelled in the going, but they rowed themselves out, and Wanganui, displaying much better judgment, had enough in reserve to hold off Wellington in a desperate finish.

Wellington had every chance, but over the last little bit their combination seemed to fail, and. though they fought on gamely, the better crew undoubtedly won. The Otago crew proved a big disappointment. Holders of the championship, they were confidently expected to be in the firing line all the way, but they rowed without life and were beaten a long way from home. Auckland, who were slow away, were rowing better' at the finish than at any other stage. They made up a good deal of leeway, and for a young and light crew finished with rare determination. Though hardly up to championship standard, East Coast rowed a game race, but the last three-quarters of a mil_e found them out. The fast pace set by Canterbury in the early stages soon bad Southland in difficulties, and they finished a fair way back. The crew is voung and keen, however, aud better things should come their way next season. The result was as follows:—

New Zealand Interprovincial Eight-oar Championship (Hally burton-Johnstone Cup); first £3O, second £lO- Two miles and three-quarters, approx. Wanganui (light blue, with pink sash): R. Gould (str.). R. Coxon (7), G. Delves (6). A. K. Jackson (5), R. Edwards (4), H. Halkett (3), D. Holmes (2), P. Stowers (bow), IV. Stodart (coxswain) 1 Welling'ton (gold and black hoops): O. N. Clayton (str.). G. Leopard (7), D. J. Boswell (6), P. A. Abbott (5), G. C. Cooke (4). J. G. Thodey (3), K. Boswell (2), A. A. Andrews (bow), A. Jones (coxswain) - Auckland (black and white hoops): O. W. Denison (str.), G. M. Brown (7), L. N. Ross (6), V. Hayward (5), C. H. Cairns (4). T. C. Bellringer (3), A. Harper (2), F. Weaver (bow), A. Nixon (coxswain) 3 Also started: Otago (blue, witli gold monogram): J. P. Vallis (str.), J. D. Solomon (7), G. P. Clark (6), C. E. C. Johnson (5), P. F. Verngreen (4), L. E. Pithie (3), N. Rae (2), G. R. Thorn (bow), K. Underwood (coxswain). Canterbury (red and black hoops): J. T. Harris (str.), F. H. Thompson (7), C. A. Stiles (6), H. G. Stiles (5), J. Rushworth (4) G. Browne (3), C. S. Sutherland (2), L. Hampton (bow), L. E. Hampton (coxswain). East Coast (light blue): IV. McLeod (str.), E. Fitzmaurice (7), H. Warren (6), C. McLernon (5). E. H. Dow (4), J. Barrett (3), L. IVinstanley (2), D. Gavin (bow), J. Williams (coxswain). Southland (maroon): G. Barton (str.), A. E. Cuff (7), J. Hogan (6). O. Lindqvlst (5) F. Te Koeti (4), J. Keppel (3), S. Eade (2), 11. Bailey (bow), C. Ward (coxswain).

Won by four feet; third ajength away. Otago was fourth. Time, 13.J5.

Tho Race Described.

Otago, Southland, and Wellington appeared to get slightly the better of a good dispatch, but Canterbury immediately took on the role of pacemaker and led Otago, Southland, and Wellington, with Wanganui and East Coast handy, and Auckland, who were last away, making up ground. Otago at this stage were rowing only 30 strokes to the minute as against Wellington’s and Wanganui’s 33. With a mile to go, Waganui and Wellington, rowing smoothly, had crept up to within a bare three-quarters of a length of Canterbury, with Otago four feet away, Auckland in behind Canterbury and East Coast also back but still showing plenty of fight. Southland, in the seaward position, did not appear to be combining well and were gradually drifting.

Positions changed rapidly in the next half mile, Wanganui and Wellington gradually overhauling Canterbury, and Auckland coming up into fourth place only a canvas away. Canterbury then began to drift, and Auckland challenged Wanganui and Wellington. There was great enthusiasm among the spectators when Wellington nosed ahead of 'Wanganui with a quarter of a mile to go. Auckland were only six inches further back, and Canterbury were also handy. Otago also made a forward move, but had no hope of catching the leaders. Wellington and Wanganui were fighting hard for the lead, and the latter, increasing their stroke, gradually pulled to the front. With 300 yards to go the issue was still in doubt, but 'Wanganui unleashed a powerful finishing burst to stall off a desperate challenge from Wellington by four feet. Auckland were third a bare length away and then came Otago, Canterbury, East Coast, and Southland. North v. South Island. The selectors chose the Wanganui crew to represent the North Island against the following South Island crew: —J. T. Harris (Canterbury), F. 11. Thompson (Canterbury), C. A. Stiles (Canterbury), C. E. C. Johnson (Otago), J. P. Vallis (Otago), L. E. P'ithie (Otago), G. Barton (Southland), J. D. Solomon (Otago), R. Underwood (Otago, coxswain). A by now choppy sea made rowing much less pleasant when this row came up for decision an hour and a half later. Soon after the start both boats began to ship water, and Wanganui swamped after going about half a mile. They pulled into the shore and the South Island crew, also carrying a good deal of water in their boat, slowly finished the mile and a half course. Trophy Presented. Later, at the Petone Rowing Club's shed, the Hallyburton-Johnstone Cup was presented to the winning crew by the donor, who congratulated Wanganui on its splendid performance in winning the trophy against such strong opposition. It was the third occasion on which Wanganui had won, and they had done so in impressive fashion. Air. E. J. Crotty, manager of the Wanganui crew, in reply, congratulated Wellington and the other crews on the opposition they had provided. Wanganui had not expected to win, he said, hut though some of the crew had been hanging out signals of distress before the finish, they had shown rare determination in a fighting finish.