In the Boats

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 15

In the Boats

MOTHES SHIELD TO-DAY'

INTER-PROVINCIAL FOURS.

COMING EVEMS.. January 27—First Mothes Shield Regatta. February 3—Petone Jlowing Club Senior Fours. February 3—Wellington Rowing Club, Double

Sculls. February 10—Star Boating Club, President's

Fours. February 21—Annual Wellington Eegatta, Interprovincial Fours.

1 (By " Stroke.")

The principal fixtures of the season are now approaching, and to-day the first regatta to decide who shall hold the Mothes Shield for the next • twelve months is taking place. The Mothes Shield was presented in the 1919-1920 season by Mr. Mothes, of Petone, for local interclub competition, and in that season was won by the Wellington Club. Last season the Petone Club annexed the trophy, and this year the competition is again occasioning a lot of interest. The results to-day will not leave the winning club in final possession of the shield, as another regatta is to be held towards the end of the season in connection with the trophy.

The annual Wellington Regatta is fixed for 24th February, and on that day the interprovincial fours race will be "decided. The Wellington Rowing Association has decided to row this race in place of the senior fours, and it is expected that crews from all over the Dominion will participate in the event. Auckland, Canterbury, and Marlborough provinces have already signified their intention of participating in the race, and it is probable that Wanganui will also compete. A civic reception is .to be accorded the visiting oarsmen at 12.30 p.m. on 23rd February. With a view,to encouraging entries for the race, ' the Wellington Association has decided to defray part of the travelling expenses of competing crews. The 'aim of this race is to assist in popularising and encouraging interest-in the sport. There is no doubt that the proposal will be very acceptable to the visitors. The race should receive the support it deserves.

. The following crews are to represent Petone in the Mdthes Shield ' contest: — Senior Fours, Nd. 1: A. White (str), 0. Haddock, M. Love, W. Shannon. Senior Fours, No. 2: C. .H. Burridge (str), C. Drummond; R. M. Allan, L. Drummond. Senior Pairs: M. Love (str), 0. Haddock. Junior Fours: C. M'Lauchlin (str), A. Warden, E. Gardiner, K. Rodger. Junior Fours (lOst): C. H. Burridge (str), C. Drummond, R. N. Allan, L. Drummond. Maiden Fours, No. 1; H. Adamson (str), A. Hickson, J. Weatherley, J. Cropp. Maiden Fours, No. 3: W. Rusby (str), N. Dickens, A. Jones, T. Shim. Maiden Pairs: H. Adamson (str), A. Hickson. Maiden Sculls: W. Sharon. Maiden Fours (lOst), No. 1: R. Hollick (str). J. Cropp, K. Matthews, W. Buchnall. No. 2: J. Kirk (str), J. M'Lauchlan, W. Haddock, .T. Wilson. Youths' Fours, No. 1: C. M'Lauchlan (str), A. Warden, G. Gardiner, W. Wilson. Youths' Fours, No. 2: G.- Nicholls (str), R. Cameron, J. N. Collins,, W. Maude.

Mick Bush, whose death was recorded from Sydney last month, was a man of character and a sportsman and sculler of renown. A big-hearted man, he contested many races most desperately,, notably those with the famous Bill Hickey and the Tricketts. Rush was born at Armagh, Iroland, on 3rd January, 1843. One of a family of ten brothers, he came to Australia when seventeen years old. Bush's first race.' at twenty years of age, was the outcome of a friendly argument between four farmers •as to the merits-of*their respective boats, three of which w,ere Sydney built, and one of local origin. It was arranged to stage a £1 sweepstake race over a two-mite course, • the best fovir men available to man the boats. The scullers : . selected were Prosper Coloun, 1 Martin, R. C. Garrett, and Rush. The contest aroused much excitement locally, and was won by Rush. Coloun, not satisfied, and declaring that Mick's boat was the faster, .challenged him to change boats and row a Becond race that afternoon —Mick consented, and again won. Coloun had liis revenge, however, when he defeated Mick in light skiffs, Two boats were biwss*i? to the Clarence, and Coloun challenged his former conqueror and a match was made. Coloun had the advantage of trainirig in his boat, while Rush never rowed in a boat of this class until the day of the match. Coloun, a splendid sculler, defeated the. inexperienced Rush (who found it difficult to sit his craft) comfortably. The rivals subsequently met on a number of occasions at regattas with alternating * success. To decide who really was the better man, Rush, challenged him to a race for the championship of the Clarence in skiffs somewhat heavier than those used in. the second race. Coloun agreed, and an order was placed with Fred Morrow, of Grafton, for. t&o light skiffs to be built off- the. same moulds, and equal in all respects. Rush won. After this Rush and Coloun became fast friends, dividing their winnings, and coming to Sydney in 1870 to compete in the all-comers' double sculls and other races at the Anniversary Regatta. Rush also • entered for the amateur, sculling ■ race, rowed over a point from Dawkes' Point round the H.M.S. Vernon, moored off Wooloomooloo Bay, and back. He was most fortunate, through tho good offices of his Uncle, Mr. JVt'Grath, himself a prominent sculler, in securing one of the fastest light skiffs in the harbour—The Barb, owned by Mr. J. P. Garvan, M.L.A.—for the race. He experienced much difficulty in sitting his craft, but managed to reach the starting place. Once started, however, he soon headed the field, and despite the fact that he was first run down by a sailing boat, which cut his shell almost to .the water line forward of the rowlocks, and later fouled a pinnace lying astern of the Vernon, he eventually won. On the same afternoon he and Coloun won the all-comers' double sculls. At the-paying over of the stakes that night, the big Clarence River man caused much amusement by first claiming the prize for the amateur sculls, and later, on behalf of Coloun and "himself, collecting first money for the all-comers' double sculls. The chairman pointed out to Mick that it was an unusual happening for a man to row both as an amateur and a professional on the same day, and added: "That although a, protest had been lodged against him, the committee had decided to disallqw it, and asked which he preferred for the amateur event, a £10 trophy or the money equivalent! Mick's reply provoked a roar: Well, sir, as ■ the chaps I beat_ were a poor lot, I'll take the money. Members of the Otago Club met recently and made the presentation of an inscribed- fountain pen to Mr uoyce, the club's secretary, who has been transferred to Wellington. The appeal published for funds to send D'Arcy Hadfield, of Auckland, to Australia to row J. Paddon for the scullin- championship of the world, has met vitlv success. Mr. John Marshall, of Remuora. who lias always taken a kaen interest in' rowing, in Auckland and given several trophies, donated £10 to the funrl and agreed to guarantee the balance of the £/iOO reciuired, to that Hadfield can go into training at once, and seed have no further anxiety as to the financing of the project-