FINE, CLEAN SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 77, 1 April 1933, Page 13

FINE, CLEAN SPORT

UPHOLDING ITS TRADITIONS

Members of the six crews which are this afternoon competing for the Halliburton Johnstons Cup for eight-oar boats were' welcomed by the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, at the Town Hall today. Mr. Hislop said he was very pleased to have the opportunity of welcoming those who were taking part in aquatic sports! It was a pleasant duty which had not conic his way for some time. The cup presented by Mr. Johnstone had been competed for since 1928, Otago, the present holders, having won it four times and Canterbury once. The contest, ho was sure, would' be keen and in the best spirit; all ho wished was that the best crow should take tho cup. Though wind troubled rowers in' Wellington at times, tho KaiwarraPctonc course they would find in good order today. TRAiriNG WATER AND ROWING WATER. Councillor W. 11. Bennett, who incidentally is the oldest member of the Wellington Eowing Club, welcomed the teams on behalf of the members of the City Council. He spoke of tho facilities offering in various parts of the Dominion for training and rowing, and said that though Wellington could not claim such ideal water as was found on the Waikato or the Wanganui, yet when visiting rowers came "to Wellington they might find that training on smooth water was not always a;i advantage. Councillor Bennett recalled some old rowing history, mentioning the famous Dolly Varclen crew, which on one oeeasipn at Nelson cleaned up every championship that was offering. Tho introduction of eight-oar rowing was a great advance in tho finest and cleanest sport that could bo fostered. CLEAN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. . Mr. .A. M. Hales, replying to the welcome, said. that the men who took part in the sport of rowing carried on the high traditions of ,the sport. It was a very old sport, .' even in- this country, for the ' signing of ■ the deed which formally made Now Zealand a British colony was celebrated by a regatta on Waitemata Harbour, in ships' gigs and; whaleboats, over courses up to five miles. Grit and spirit were needed for such racing, andthat same grit and spirit were shown by the young fellows who enjoyed the sport today. Today's contest should bo one of the finest seen in Now Zealand or Australia, for if the course could be ironed out to reasonable smoothness the teams, would not let Wellington down. The fine thing about rowing was its cleanliness from top to bottom; tho gambling spirit did not enter into the picture at all, and lie had never known of _an amateur crew who could be approached to sell a race. The men made great sacrifices to get,themselves physically fit, and were in tho sport solely for the honour and glory of clean winning or hard trying. They were men who were carrying on well the traditions of many years. Tho function was closed by the singing of tho National Anthem, and with cheers for the Mayor and tho donor of the cup.