ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 22

ROWING

By 'strcki.'

THE "EIGHTS"

A LOCAL RAGE

MOTHES SHIELD TO-DAY

The Mothes Shield, which is competed for annually by the three local clubs —Petone, Star, and Wellington— is to be rowed for to-day. So far, Star has not won this trophy, but this season the club is reported to have strong crews, and their chances are brighter than tlicy have been previously. The shield is always keenly contested, and excellent rowing is seen. The course is' dependent on the wind. If northerly, the regatta will be held at Pctone, and if southerly on the Oriental Bay course.

On Saturday week the two eights which arrived from England last month will be used in an interclub race, which will probably be held at Petone. The boats, which are built in three sections, are housed at the Star Club's shed, from which they will be removed for assemblage at Petone. This will probably be the only occasion on which they will be used this season, as accommodation necessary to house them in their assembled state has not been provided yet. At Christchurch. The eights were recently tried out on the Avon Biver, Christchurch. In breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow of the first eight-oar boat to be rowed on the Avon, the president of the Canterbury Bowing Association (Mr. F. D. Kesteven) said he hoped eight-oared rowing would go ahead,.and that the real christening of the boat which took the water would be in annual interprovincial eights contests; at Corsair Bay (states an exchange). The hope was expressed- that the next Christchurch regatta would be held on the Avon, instead of a course having to be many miles from the city. The great enthusiasm in the head of the river events,' continued Mr. Kesteven, went to show, that spectators appreciated races, the progress of which they could follow from start to finish. This was not the case at regattas some distance from the city. The question of having to row heats mattered little, for at Henley and other big regattas heats were the order. Interviewed subsequently, Mr. Kesteven said his idea was to apply to the council of the New Zealand Bowing Association for the holding of the interpovincial .eights at Corsair Bay. He would bring the matter before next meeting of the Canterbury Association. "I was very much impressed with the way the crew rowed in the eight," continued Mr. Kesteven. "I will do all in my power to forward the new type, •"'are will have to be taken with the selection of coxswains. Mr. A. Dunn, who has 'had much experience of the long boats, handled her wellj but otluVs who will have- control of the rudders in future will, seeing they lack experience of eights, have to be very careful." -

That the idea of racing two eights abreast on the Avon had never been seriously advanced was the opinion of Mr. H. Ayres, who coached the New Zealand eight in Australia. The suggestion, he said, was to train the crews on o the river in preparation for a final try-out on open water. Saturday's row had shown that an eight could be used on the Avon.

"There are places on the river where there is plenty of room to turn the eight," said Mr. A. Dunn, who was coxswain on Saturday. "Turns can be made at Cowlishaw's Corner, at the bend at the mile peg, and at Dudley Creek, whero we turned on Saturday." "Two eights could row abreast on a straight course of the Avon," continued Mr. Dunn. "Kaces abreast could not be rowed on the usual mile course, for there is a bad bend at Swarm's Boad Bridge, and Cowlishaw's Corner does not give enough water for the turn. It takes a good deal of strength to use the rudder of an eight, and I don't think a boy could manage it."

Mr. Dunn, who. has had much experience of eight-oar rowing in Eng. land, with the Bedford Bowing Club, has coached the Christ's College crews since his arrival in New Zealand three years ago.

The Colquhoun Sculls.

To the general run of New Zealanders the Colquhoun Sculls at Cambridge is of no interest, but it is to New Zealandera who have been in' residence at the university and'particularly to those who while there turned their attention to rowing. In this year's race, one of the competitors was a New Zealander, P. O'Rorke, of Christ College, who was defeated in the final by a fellow collegian, T. E. Letchworth. The Colquhoun Sculls is the oldest event for which competition takes place at Cambridge University. It was originally instituted as a Lady Margaret College fixture in 1837, and was carried off by an outsider for the first time in 1842. It gives its name to the portion of the River Cam, over which the race usually takes place, and the winner is accorded the title of "Champion of the Cam." An Ex-champion. James Paddon, who has now definitely retired from rowing, held "The Referee" Challenge Cup, emblematical of the sculling championship of Australia, for thirteen years, first winning it from Arnst in 1913 (says an exchange). He then made his first bid for the world's title, journeying to England in 1914, where he met Ernest Barry over the Putney to Mortlake course, on the Thames. He went close to wresting the hQnour from Barry, but he had to wait until 1922 before he received his second opportunity, against Darcy Hadfield, whom -he beat on the Wanganui River. Paddon again beat Hadfield on the Richmond River (21/7/23), and also successfully defended 'the title against A. D. Felton on the Brisbane River (12/8/24), and Major Goodsell, present champion, on the Richmond River (20/9/24). Paddon then retired, but after "W. C. M'Devist, who assumed the mantle of champion, was beaten by Goodsell, and the latter had also retained the title against J. P. Hannan (New Zealand). Paddon challenged the holder for a race for the Championship and £200 on the side. The contest was held on 7th November, Goodsell winning by a length and a half. The Evans Head giant has now definitely retired. On his retirement Alf. Burns assumed the title of Australian cham pion, and Paddon had charge of Burns in his first race against Frank Seroppe, in which the latter was defeated. Paddon was one of the tallest and heaviest scullers who ever sat in a rigger, but, with it all, modest and an adornment to the sport in which he achieved so much fame. In recognition of his having I held the Australian championship so i long, and, to njark his retirement, '' The Referee" presented him with a handsome cup, of which the champion and his family are extremely proud.