ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 22

ROWING

BY "STRIKE"

LOCAL ROWING

LAST WEEK'S REGATTA

CHAMPIONSHIPS TO-DAY

From tho point of view of a "gate,', 1 it was unfortunate that the annual regatta, held last week; had to go to the northern end of the harbour, but there were some compensations. There was no interference from: shipping or yacht races, and the regatta was well conducted and' finished on time. The weather remained fine, and very little fault could be found with the . mild squalls that occasionally swept down from the hills. One or two places along the course received more wind than others, but at any time tho weather conditions were not such as to cause any great inconvenienco to competitors or spectators alike. It is indeed to be regretted that tho Wellington and Wanganui regattas clashed as far as datos were concerned,' and although entries for the local fixture could hot bo called unsatisfactory, they wore not a a large as they should have been.: The same probably applies to the Wanganui regatta, for that regatta is a popular meeting with Wellington oarsmon, and there is no doubt that had tho dates not clashed Wellington crews would have been seen on the river. Unlike the majority of races seen at first-class regattas, there were few close finishes on Saturday, and there were no finishes in which the result of the race depended on a few feet of canvas. A ■ boat's length was the smallest margin during the day, and the spectators wero treated.to none of those thrilling finishes which make- the end of a boat race the best part. Senior Races. Eeviewing the rowing generally, it could not be said that the performances wero of the very best. Even as far as competition was concerned, there was a lack of sting. Ono of the most promising races of tho day was tho senior sculls, in which both the present amateur champion (W. Turner, of Tauranga) and the champion of the previous season (A. K. G. Jackson, of Wanganui Union) competed. Jackson rowed a much better race than Turner, and finished tho stronger sculler of the two to win by two lengths. Turner appeared tired at the finish. A third sculler, C.- Haua, also of Tauranga, entered, but he was never in a position likely to affect'either of the other two. In view of the fact' that Turner turned the tables on Jackson at Picton last year,-and now that Jackson has beaten Turner, the race to-day for the amateur championship should provide plenty of interest. It is quite possible that Turner last week had not reached tho top of his form,- and_ if that is so, and he has improved in his final week's training on the Sound, he should :bo capable of giving the Wanganui man a good race. ,' ■ The other, event .on the programme which attracted much attention —in spite.of the fact that the result of the race was a foregone conclusion —was the senior fours, in which the crack Hamilton crew was seen in action. They- wero up.against little opposition in. Star aud! Petonp, and consequently from a "race" point of view thoro was little to be seen. But the exhibition of rowing given by tho visitors was the subject of much favourable' comment. There is no doubt that the combination has improved, and it should give a fine account of itself in the championship race to-day. Petono and Star . wero ' outclassed by their rivals, but it is possible that had not Cooke and Mullins.been rowing in the senior pairs, the Star crew might have made a somewhat better showing. The other senior event, the senior pairs, was disappointing, in that the local representatives, Cooke and' Mullins, did not finish, and left Hamilton (Sandos and Bayley) to row over the course without any opposition. Turner and Haua also entered for this event, but with another Hamilton crew, St. Clair and. Waters, did not start. Star were occupying a good position when they got too close to the shore and damaged their boat slightly on the rocks. They stopped rowing and abandoned the race. It was unfortunate that at- the time they should have been using their new boat, which was completed'tmly a few weeks ago. The Star pair have been training carefully for their race in the championship event at Pieton, and though as a crew they do not appear to be as strong as the crew which won the title last season (Cooke and Williams), there is every indication-that they will give a good account of themselves. The supporting programme of races were responsible for some good performances. Everyone was pleased to note the Wellington Club's win in the maiden fours. The club has not been having a'very"successful season, and there is no doubt that the win will be responsible for livening matters in the' club. Petono secured a meritorious win in the lightweight maiden fours when the club rowed into first and second places. Entries Received. The following entries have been received for the New Zealand championship regatta:— New Zealand Champion' Fours: Hamilton, Picton, Wairau. Maiden Fours: Arapawa, Blenheim, Nelson, Petone, Picton, Star, Wairau. Junior Pairs: Avon, Blenheim, Picton, Wairau. . ■ New Zealand Champion Single Sculls: Picton, Tauranga No* 1, Tauranga No. 2, Wanganui Union. Lightweight Maiden Fours: Arapawa, Avon, Blenheim, Nelson, Petoue, Picton, Star. New Zealand Champion Pairs: Hamilton No. 1, Hamilton No. 2, Star, and Wairau. .... Junior Fours: Araraoho, Avon, Blenheim, Wanganui Union. Youths' Fours: Arapawa; Avon, Blenheim, N/olson, Petone, Picton, Star, Wairau.- ; Maiden Double Sculls: Petone, Picton, Star, Tauranga, Wanganui Union. Maiden Pairs: Blenheim, Star, Nelson, Wairau. Marlborough Plate: Avon, Aramoho, Pie ton, Star, Wanganui Union, Wairau. During a recent country cricket match in Australia, the ball bursty and could not bo replaced. The position gavo rise to much discussion, and it was recalled that many years previously there had been a similar happening, when the inside of the burst leather ball was used to finish the match. Don. Evans, who ran in the special 880 yards invitation race at tho Basin on Saturday, is the big man in athlotic circles in Wanganui at tho present time. Tiicro are many who are confident of his success at tho New Zealaud championships,