ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 11

ROWING

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS

REGATTA AT PICTON

Queen Charlotte Sound, the scene of many rowing encounters, is again the meeting place of oarsmen from all parts of tfie Dominion to-day, the occasion being the New Zealand Amateur 'Rowing Championship Regatta. For the past week crews have been arriving at Picton to put the finishing touches to their training, and as far as they are concerned, there is no reason why this season's championships should not be just as successful as those of previous seasons.

In spite of the appeal of sports which are not so arduous, ro\Ving maintains a strong hold on young men, and though there may not be so many active oarsmen as previously,, it may justly be said that the material is still good. In fact, recent performances of New Zealand's oarsmen have shown that the Dominion can produce men who can measure blades successfully with those of other countries. One does not have to go far back in substantiation of that statement. All still remember the great success of the."Digger Eight," and, coming nearer home, the successful trip of the New Zealand eight to Sydney only a few years ago. For many seasons it has been the custom for tho Dominion to send a four-oar crew to the Melbourne Henley regatta, and almost invariably the New Zealand oarsmen take pride of place when competing against their Australian .cousins.

Rowing demands a life of self-discipline, and the strictest training to maintain physical condition. In spite of the rigorous nature of 'the sport, it still has many devotees. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. A certain amount of added iuterest attaches to to-day's championships, in view of the probability of New Zealand sending an eight-oar crew to compete at the Empire Games, to be held in Canada in August. The proposed visit has been considered by the council of tho New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, and provisional selectors to pick a crew have already been appointed. These selectors are present at Picton, and will watch the form of various crews carefully, with an eye to making selections at a later elate. Their work, however, will not be confined to the championship regatta alone, as they will also attend the race for the interprovtncial eight-oar championship of New Zealand, which is to take place at Auckland on 22nd March. After a crew is picked, it will be necessary for it to assemble at a convenient place for the final stages of its training to be carried out. Advice is being awaited from the Canadian authorities before further definite steps arc taken, but in the meantime the parent body is losing no time. To-day's entries are not as large as they have been previously, but there is every indication that the racing should be keen. In the championship events there is a fair sprinkling of outside crews, but oarsmen from Auckland city, Christchurch, and iDunedin are missing. The championship races most likely to be of interest to Wellington oarsmen and their supporters are the champion pairs and the champion double sculls. In the pairs, the Star ■ Club 'is defending its championship title and in the double sculls Wellington clubs are represented by Star and Petone. In other non-championship events, Wellington crews are prominent in the entries. Crews are competing in all events as follow: Hamilton, Pieton, Wairau, Star, Blenheim, Arapawa, Nelson, Petoue, Avon, Aramoho, arid Wanganui Union. Adequate preparations have been made by Marlborough oarsmen to insure the success of the regatta. The officials are:— Judges, Messrs. O. J. Riddell, J. M. Carnaham, and 'Roy Smith; timekeeper, Mr. R. W. Wyber; starter and treasurer, Mr. G. Smith; umpire, Mr. C. Fredericks; secretary, Mr. H. C. Madsen. JUNIOR PAIRS. ONE MILE, CLINKER BOATS; first £5, second £2. Avon (G. Jordan stroke, F. H. Thompson bow) .— V • ■ • • ■ ! Blenheim (R. Hadfield stroke, J. Adams bow, A. O'Halloran cox) . 2 Wairau (O. Gibbons stroke, C. Patchett bow, Joe M'Donald cox) 3 Avon and Wairau drew out early and Avon's position was never threatened. They won by four lengths. In a final dash Blenheim overtook Wairau, who were beaten for second place by a canvas. lime, 7min 51sec. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION FOURS. Two miles, best and best boats; donations: First, £40; second, £10; third, £3. (Previous winners: Hamilton Rowing Club.) Picton (I/. Jackson stroke, V. Olsson 3, B. Wilson 2, B. Schimansky bow, S. Perano cox) 1 Hamilton (G. St. ®lair stroke, B. Sandos 3, W. Bayly 2, E. Waters bow, M. Molesworth cox) 2 Wairau (J. Rutledge stroke, J. M'Donald 3, M. M'Donald 2, H. Rutledge bow, Joe M'Donald cox) 3 Only starters.

A fresh southerly wind last evening looked very unpromising, but the wind dropped this morning, and when the crews went out to the starting line the wind was light'from'tko south. Though it was raining, the water for the champion iours was good. The boats were lined up shortly after 10 o'clock, and from a first-class start the crews got away smoothly, Pieton beating the gun by a second. Hamilton hit water powerfully and drew slightly ahead in the first hundred yards. Wairau were then on even terms with Picton. Hamilto- soon settled down and enjoyed a lead of about a length over the first half-mile. The Picton crew, however, was not to be denied, and they clung to last season's champions doggedly. At the end of the first half-mile Wairau had fallen back a couple of lengths, with Hamilton and Picton drawing ahead all the while. From then on, the race was close, and exciting. From the umpire's launch following the race, it was seen that Picton were gradually drawing up on Hamilton, and the excitement was tense when Picton got on level terms with their opponents. Could Picton stick it? Passing Mabel Island, the two leading boats raced canvas to canvas. Sometimes the difference between them was not discernible from the following launch. With half a mile to go, Hamilton seemed to be a bit ahead, but Picton again drew up on level terms, and the indications were that there would be a thrilling finish. The spectators were not disappointed. In the last quarter of a mile Picton quickened, and, though Hamilton responded, they could not catch the leaders, who won decisively .by a length and three-quarters. Time, 13min 7 4-ssec. Naturally, the win was most popular, the Picton people giving theii' representatives a rousing.reception. Wairau were never in the picture. MAIDEN FOURS. One mile, clinker boats; first, £10; second, £2. Arapawa (Wni. Keenau stroke, E. Keeuan 3, H. Love 2, It. Eiwaka haw, J. Huntly cox) 1 Star (F. M. Bell Htroke, I. A. Cromie 3, S. L. I. Tansley 2, M. P. Player bow, 11. liickson cox) 2 Wairau (E. Aldridgo stroke, Mason M'Donald 3, K. Thomas 2, F. Payne bow, A. Sadd, cox) 3 Arapawa jumped into the lead from the start, with Petone in close attendance. At the end of the first half-mile the positionl! were Arapawa, Star, Petone. From that point the Maori boys increased their lead and crossed the line \yith a length and a half to spare. The finishing order was Arapawa, Star, Wairau, Blenheim, Petone, Nelson, Pieton. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION SINGLE SCULLS. One and a half miles, best and best boats; donations: First £10, second £2. (Previous winner: Tauranga Rowing Club.)' W. Turner (Tauranga) 1 A. K. 0. Jackson (Union, Waugiiimi) :i C. Tarrant (Picton) ". 3 Also started: C. Haua (Tauranga). The water was ideal when the scullers Jiaeii US. lei ifes ChaiciiioftgMa Singles,

Tile wind had dropped, but it was still raining,. All the boats got away smartly, Tarrant particularly, and there was little difference over the first quarter of a mile. Haua showed up first, but not for long, and Jackson soon began to draw ahead, Tarant in the meantime dropping back. Haua, who was sculling nicely, gave place to his club-mate, and Turner and Jackson began to leave Tarrant and Haua beliind. As was the case in the Champion Fours, it semed as though there would be a great race between the present champion and the winner of the season before, but the race was spoiled when the blades of the leading scullers clashed and Jackson stopped rowing and raised his arm as a signal that he claimed a foul. From then on it was no. race, and Turner crossed the line six lengths- and a half ahead of Jackson.

. The umpire disallowed the appeal. Had not a foul occurred there would have been a great finish. From the mile peg Jackson and Turner were on even terms rowing in a neck-to-neck struggle. It was seen that a foul .'would occur, and the umpire called out to the. scullers. Turner's scull was dipping just ahead of Jackson's for several strokes before the incident, but though- the scullers were within a quarter of a mile from home it is extremely doubtful if Turner's slight advantage would have meant a great deal to him. Tarrant was fouv lengths behind Jackson, with Haua a similar distance further back. . Time, lOmin 48see. LIGHTWEIGHT MAIDEN FOURS. One mile, clinker' boats; for crews 10 stone and under; first £10, second £2. Potone (K. M'Gaviu stroke, J. Norton 3, T. Boswell 2, L. Benge bow) ... 1 Blenheim (F. O'Halloran stroke, S. Woodhouso 3, R. Ballingall 2, W. Longman bow, T. O'Halloran cox) 2 Arapawa (E. Hiintly stroke, R. Keenan 3. W. M'Donald 2, P. Love bow, J. Huntly cox) ~; 3 It was a very closely-contested nice. Petono did. not occupy a good positionearly in the race, but over the last quarttor of a mile they came well up from the back. In a wonderful effort they won by a length and three-quarters. There was half a length between, second and third. Time,. Omin 55 2-ssec. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION PAIRS. One and a half miles, best and best boats; donations, first £12, second £3. (Previous winners: Star Boating Club.) Hamilton No. 1 (B. Sandos stroke, W. Bayly bow) 1 Star (G. C. Cooke stroke, F. H. Mullins bow) 2 Wairau (W. E. Gibbons stroke, C. Saunders bow) 3 Star led for the greater part of the distance, but in the final desperate challenge Hamilton crossed the line only six inches ahead of Star. These two crews drew ahead of the others early and fought but a hard race. The water was excellent. It was raining hard. Wairau had a slight lead at the start, but were soon displaced. Hamilton No. 2 were never in a good position. Time, llmiii. JUNIOR FOURS. One and a half miles, best and best boats; first £12, second £3. Avon (T. Bushworth stroke, F. H. Thompson 3, G. Jordan 2, C. H. Bishop bow) 1 Blenheim (V. Glennie stroke, J. Adams 3, R. Hadfield 2, C. Hadfield bow, A. O'Halloran cox) 2 Union, Wanganui (J. Cotterell stroke, A. Tonks 3, E. R. Prince 2, S. ' Healey bow, E. Crutchley cox) .. 3