ROWING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1913, Page 14

ROWING

(By "Scull.")

The Petone enthusiasts are sticking very staunchly to their crews.' The moment that there was a, glimmer of improvement in the form, of the crews the rowing public flocked • around them. Undoubtedly Petone are giving their supporters far . more interesting rowing than they were wont to ■' provide, and the junior foar-oar race, which Petone— * B. Freeman (6tr), S. M'Farland (3), H. Parrant (2), S. Sharon (bow) — won last Saturday ' at -the Christchurch regatta was one of the best, if not the best, races ■on the programme. The contested work of the crew was good, and they made their foeman struggle all the way. Hearty cheering illustrated the popularity of the win. The visit of the Petone maiden fouroar crew to Christchurch was not so productive of success. In the closing stages of a keenly-contested race they were close up, third. The display was not up to practice form, . a noticeable weakness being too much arm work. This crew also rowed in the youths' race. Union and Suinner. senior double-scull-ing and pair-oar crews proved easy prey for Akaroa. The latter combined speed with a good command over the boat, and gave an excellent display of oarsmanship. "Consistency" has been their motto, and for two or three years they have given some fine exhibitions of the game. It was a great day for the Union Rowing Club, and, fortune smiled most benignly upon it, from the raising of the curtain until the final act. The sum of £118 in prize money was won, as follows : — Union, five firsts, five seconds, £54 ; Avon, two firsts, two seconds, £21 ; Akaroa, two firsts, £16; Petone, one first, £12; Sumner, one first, £8; Canterbury, three seconds, £7. The Wellington Rowing Club's junior crew, which left to visit Wanganui on Thuraday, intends to compete in two races at the regatta. In their training work this weelc they appeared more formidable than was generally anticipated earlier. H. Hinchcliffe rows as well as ever, whilst E. Cairns, S. Shilling, and T. Jenkins are still in evidence. The Wellington Club's selectors were all well satisfied with the performance of their senior regatta, lour. The crew had a practice spin with the Star Club's seniors on Monday evening, which proved of service to them, and also to the Stars. A feature of the ' spin was the fine performance of both crews. Every man was good and effective. Rowing 36 to the minute, .Wellington*, were the more energetic and the more aggressive crew, but there was always something missing at the critical moment, and this failing, supported by the good, inceptive movements of tho Star crew, prevented one from outwitting the other. R. Crawford took R. Hegglun's place owing to the latter having a poisoned hand, but Hegglun expects to be in, his place next ' week. The Star Club's junior four-oar crew are rowing in a style suggestive of desperate onslaugh when they meet opponents. They row 36 to the minute in such sparkling style that 'there seems to be a good future for them. The Star youths flattered their supporters by rowing a> sturdy 35 to the minute. They ha-ve quickened up their work capitally during the last week. They seem to be using their legs to advantage, and are well locked together. The body jvork, however, is far from pretty, but they row in time, and get very fair pace. They make a fatal fault of rushing forward on the slides for the next stroke, and No. 2 might . just as well sit on. a. fixed seat — for all the use he gets out of the slide. Much appreciation is expressed by the members of the Wellington Rowing Club at the generous action of the Star Boating Club in giving their senior regatta crew the use of the Kaiwarrashed for training^purposes. Entries for the New Zealand championship regatta, to be held in Wellington, are now due. The' committee has arrangements well advanced, and on Easter Saturday a fine"' programme ,offourteen' events will be decided. Had it 'not been for the loss of about three days, the Wanganui regatta would probably have received' bigger entries from the Star, Wellington, and Petone Clubs. As it was, Wellington were the only representatives. The junior double sculls of the Star Club gave Mitchell (stroke), Heenan (bow) the opportunity of proving themselves the better crew. They won the first heat comfortably ; the second heat easily, and the final with plenty to spa-re. The winners showed themselves to be iwrere of good promise.