ROWING SEASON

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 9, 6 October 1941, Page 3

ROWING SEASON

Wellington Opening FRIENDLY RACES An appeal to the older members to rally round the rowing clubs and keep the sport alive till those members serving overseas could come back. and take up rowing again, was made by the president of the Wellington Rowing Association, Mr. W. j. Gaudin, speaking from the Star shed’s balcony at the official opening of the rowing season in Wellington on Saturday. ‘Urging tho older, members to do everything they could to keep the organization going, Mr. Gaudin said that could be 'done, though it might mean some small sacrifice in time and money. In time of war, however, all had to make sacrifices. A lot had happened since last year’s opening, said Mr. Gaudin. The Empire had been in the tightest corner she had ever been in, and a number of rowing men had gone to help her. Oarsmen in common with members of other sporting bodies had done much to claim for New Zealand’s Army fresh laurels in the field. Some had been killed in the service of their country, and to them they paid tribute. The last season had been one of difficulties, and in the coming year even greater difficulties would have to be faced. The membership of .clubs had been greatly depleted—something like 75 per cent, of the members had enrolled, and, being physically tit, as oarsmen were, had been accepted for the forces. .In the. coining season they woud have to call on some of the old hands, and recruit the younger members of the community. An Island People. “We as an island people owe our existence to the sea,’’ continued 'Mr. Gaudin. “Like Great Britain, our future is on the sea, and our lines of defence are on the sea too. If we develop an efficient naval force, and an efficient air force, we can be quite sure that our national solidarity will never be challenged.” In declaring the season open, Mr. Gaudin asked all oarsmen to put all their energies and enthusiasm into the sport, and thus enable the soldier members, on their return, to take up their sport where, they had left it. During the afternoon a series of friendly races was held, oarsmen from the Star, Wellington, and Petone clubs being mixed in the crews. Afternoon tea was served. The three winning crews consisted of the following:—-Boswell, Grant, George and Braid. Nicholson, Alexander, Hawker and Columb, Mapleson, Luke, Cross and Hollander.

REGATTA SUCCESSES

Wellington Club’s Good Season , Despite the absence of many experienced oarsmep overseas, the remaining members had carried the club colours to victory on many occasions, stated the report presented at the annual meeting of the Wellington Rowing Club. The president, Mr. W. J. Gaudin, was in the. chair. At the close of the 1939-40 season the membership was 81 active, 12 honorary, and three associate members, the report stated, and it now stood at 43 active, 13 honorary and four associate members. In addition, there were 34 members serving with the defence forces. The club was represented at the Picton, Wanganui an'd Christchurch regattas, and secured one first and two seconds at Picton, two firsts and three seconds at Wanganui, and two firsts at Christchurch. The club won. the local Wellington regatta, the Mothes .Shield regatta, and the Norton Cup regatta. The election of officers resulted President, Mr. W. J. Gaudin ; vice-presidents. Messrs. D. Duff, A. Duncan. F. Bacon, T. W. Leslie. H. Redding. W. Simin, R. P. Stewart, and C. C. Odlin; club captain, Mr. W. T. Jury; deputy captain, Mr. E. Rola'nder; lion, secretary-treas-urer, Mr. A. Anderson; general committee, Messrs. J. Kofoed. R. Nicholson, A. Clouston. J. Francis, H. J. Luke, E. Boivin, S. Hinchliff, and S. Brambleby.