ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 85, 20 October 1928, Page 22

ROWING

PETONE GLUB OPENS REDDING SHIELD CONTEST WON BY STAR CLUB • The weather was ideal for the opening of the Petone Bowing Club's season on Saturday afternoon, when the Red--ding Shield Regatta, which was postponed from the previous Saturday was successfully staged. Though it was early in the season the standard or rowing displayed was satisfactory. The bright weather was in contrast to the dull day when tho season was opened in Wellington, and though there was a fairly stiff breeze it was not strong enough to seriously interfere with the racing, though it made the going a bit heavy for the crews which drew tho outside positions. _ Incorporated with the opening ot the season was the official opening of the club's new shed, which has recently been completed. The construction of the shell of tho building Was done by contract, but the rest of the work was^ clone by members of the rowing club, who are to be complimented upon their effort. Tho new clubhouse is not only an acquisition to the club itself, but is an improvement to the beach and to the district. , The Bedding Shield Regatta is a small regatta run on opening day, and the races are only sprints, the distance being about 300 yards. Usually, crews do very little training for those events, ana it is not infrequent for some Of the results to be surprising. Star, who last season met with considerable success in club competitions, again were to the front and won the shield with a margin of four points. The day's racing finished with- Star securing 19 points, Petone 15 points, and Wellington 8 points. -In nearly all eases the racing was very closely contested, and though Star established a substantial lead fairly oarly in the regatta, the Potono Club almost lowered their colours. Star won the first three races,, but thereafter socured only two seconds. Petone started badly, but picked" up as the racing progressed, and finished only four points behind the winners. AVellingtou did not do. at all well. Better was expected of them.; They won only 0.110 race, and secured only eight points all told. .. ■ . Generally, the entries were satisfactory. The open fours drew four crews, Star eutering two crews. Pptono- led mpst of the .way, but when a few yards from the finishing post Star put in a Strong challenge,:and, going up With a sprint, finished'with two feet to spare. The other Star crew, which was third, finished a length and a half behind Pe■tono. , ■ .. / • ' AVellington were unlucky in being beaten on the post in.the youths' fours. In the last dozen strokes: they put in a great finish, but their sprint was a bit too late and th^y just failed to catch Star.,- -..'■ .. '-'; ...:. -". - ■;' .■■••; -The open -doubles provided a good win for Star, Who.were never threatened. Potono and Wellington fought a great finish for second place, which was divided, tho judge declaring a deadheat. Star won by two lengths. The maiden pairs Was Won by a quarter of a length by Pqtpne, who also won the open pairs. In the latter race, Jones, and Wardon gave a : good exhibition of rowing. and'were.never pushed. 1 AVellington entered two crews in tho maiden fours,..the-last race of the day. ■Everything went well till the last fifty yards or so were reached, when Clarke's crew (Wellington) and'Steele's (Star) fouled. Wellington won the race in a good effort, finishing with three-quar-ters of a length to spare. Five points were awarded first place, and'two second. The following table shows how the points were obtained:-1 — Eace. Petone. Star. AVgtn. Open Fours .. 2 5 : 0 Yoiiths fours * 0 5 2 Open D.S. .... 1 5 1 Maiden Pairs .5 2 0 '. ' Open pairs .. 5 2 0 Maiden fours . 2.0 5 15 19 8 Pearce's Record. Bob Pearcfe, the Olympic champion sculler, has won every- honour in Australian sculling (says the "Australasian"). He is a magnificent specimen of an Australian, 2iJ years old, standing 6ft high, and Woighing 13st 31b. As a boy he learnt the art of rowing about the spit in his father's boats. His father, Harry Pearce, successfully defended the Australian professional sculling championship title seven times. He went down to Dick Arnst on the Parrainatta in 1911, and' Ernest Barry beat him on the Thames in 1013. B6b's grandfather was the first of the family to gain distinction in the sculling World, having held the title of professional champion of New Sottth Wales. He was known as "Footie" Pearce, on account of his enormous strength with his feet. He could pick up a scull and perform all sorts of capers while holding it with his toes. He could grip a man with his toes, and the victim would soon call "enough!" An uncle of Bob's is Sid Pearce, Well known in Sydney as a sculler and boxer. By the Way, Bob is cleyer With his hands, and is a class swimmer. Picton'S Claims. Everything points to JPicton being the selected course for the 192& championships (states a Writer in the "Marlbbrough Express"). tJnfortunately, chances do not look too bright for the Marlborough clubs producing crews up to championship four standard.'' Pietott's promising crew of last year disappointed me greatly. What looked bright and hopeful at 6ne' part 66mpletely "went .toI'the All for. wait of co'6peratidn aftd clnb unity. Still.'it's early days and "hdpe Springs dteraa.l." •"' " ' - ■ , Lack of senior oarsmen will be felt for a season or two in Marlb6r6ugh, diio entirely t6 the fact, that the clubs have not befeii able to develop a good; juiiiov- combination f6r many seasons. :It is:years since we'saw ah-outstanding junior four crew. How I long for the day when-'we ma-y see a "Broezer" Jordan, Tom Heffer, Gargie Thompson, and a Jerry Cosstello crew! To tell how they won the junior four race, by twenty lengths ftt the Christchurch Exhibition in 1&67 Would take tip too much space; but the memory of that crew lingers long. In the aoutli. Is there any rowing club in New Zealand.so well situated financially as the "Union Kowing Club ■of Christ' church? (asks an exchange). The balance' Sheet for the year-ending 31st July, I§2B, places the assets at £6608 176 3d, attd there ate no liabilities. The assets consist ot Jofopetty, plant, a&d furniture, value* at £6S3p, »M cash |o ih* aiftounJ: ofi *15$ Vti M..