ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 8, 9 July 1935, Page 14

ROWING

PETONE CLUB'S YEAR

ANNUAL MEETING

The past season for the Petone Rowing' Club has' been a remarkably successful one. In addition to the securing of New Zealand championship honours for the first lime in the club's history, the club has increased its membership and maintained a financial position which is probably the strongest of any rowing club in the Dominion. .At the annual meeting of the club several letters of congratulations were received, including one from the club's bankers. According to the annual report, the membership of the club totals 110, including 16 life, 80 active, and 14 honorary members. At the start of the financial year the club had an overdraft of £70, and although £10l 18s 6d was spent on a new balcony, and £91 19s 9d on new plant, the overdraft at the end of the year was only £63 9s lid. ' , , . In a letter, the manager of the club s bank stated that he had perused the annual report and balance-sheet with interest. He was sure that the executive of the club would feel gratified at the result shown, which reflected credit on all concerned. The committee extended its congratulations to Messrs. P. Abbott and C. Gimblett, who were successful in winning the club's first championship (the double sculls) when they convincingly defeated a strong field by a handsome margin. Congratulations were also extended to the club eight (O. N. Clayton. A. Hope, K. Boswell, P. Abbott, D. Boswell, C. Gimblett, E. Sharon, and D. Gane), which was selected to represent Wellington at the interprovincial eight-oar championship regatta held this year at Dunedin, and Messrs. Clayton, Abbott, and Sharon of that crew who were successful in gaining seats in the North Island eight. Meritorious performances were put up during the year by the youths crew (D. Boswell, G: H. Leopard, I. R. Carter, O. Anderson), which was successful in winning each race contested throughout the season, and also the senior four, which after .winning at Picton went on to Auckland, where it narrowly missed winning the New Zealand championship fours. The junior pair crews' representing the club at Both Picton and Wellington regattas registered outstanding '. performances. For the first time in its history, the ciub was represented overseas. Mr. Abbott, who represented the club, was to be congratulated on his splendid performances, when in the Centenary Sculls at Melbourne he was narrowly beaten by the present Australian titleholder, and again in Sydney, when he sculled second to Mr. H. Turner. Disappointment was expressed, however, at the response of members in nominating for club races, as in most of the events the entries showed a decline on previous years, in spite of increased membership. The ' committee stressed the importance of these races in gaining experience for regatta work. In view of the amount of time given by senior members in coaching novices in the early part of the season, it was disheartening to see that the new members showed a" lack of enthusiasm by neglecting to nominate for club races. In an endeavour to keep older members interested in the progress of the club it was decided, on the motion of Mr. A. E. White, to reduce the subscriptions of members with an active membership record of ten years to 10s. . ■ . Following on the instructions of a special general meeting held early in the year, the committee' was successful in erecting the balcony by opening day. This structure undoubtedly gave a finished appearance to the clubhouse, and had provided members with a splendid view of the club race course, as well as provision for general recreation. In addition it had proved most popular to the social functions. In finishing off the balcony the opportunity of reconditioning the clubhouse exterior was. taken. The plant generally had been kept in first-class

order, and a notable addition was the new best and best single sculler, built by Messrs. A. Green and Co., of Sydney. . , , . Mr. F. W. Mothes, who presided at the meeting, congratulated the club on its success during the season. Mr. E. S. Innes also extended his congratulations to the club, and said that by winning the double sculls championship the club had at last got its name on the rowing scroll ot honour. The success achieved during the past year augured very well for the future of the club. Not only had the club an excellent record in the field of sport, but it had made a wonderful success of its social activities. The following officers were elected:— Patron, Mr. F. W. Mothes; president, Mr E S. Innes; vice-presidents, all re-elected, with the addition of Messrs. H B. Gordon and A. Scholefield; captain Mr. R. G. Duncan; deputy captain! Mr. T. Crook; hon. secretary, Mr. T Watson; committee, Messrs. R. Poste'n D. J. Boswell, C. Gimblett, W. Move, R. Sharon. P. Abbott, and A. Hope; hon. auditor, Mr. W. P. Watkinson; hon. treasurer. Mr. J. Howe; selectors. Messrs. A. Jones and W. Lind. '