CHAMPION EIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 9

CHAMPION EIGHTS

SATURDAY'S RACE

INTERPROVINCIAL CONTEST

On Saturday morning the Wellington public, will be able to witness the classic of sporting events, eight-oar rowing. The contest this year should be one of the best rowing events seen in this country, further enhanced by the fact that the crew to represent New Zealand at the British Empire Games will probably be decided on the day's racing. With this fact in view, rowing men all over the Dominion will be right at the top of their form.

' The trophy for the contest, is well worthy of the event. It is a splendid solid silver bowl valued at £200, presented in 1928 by« Mr. HallyburtonJohnson, of Auckland. Wellington has not • yet had the honour of winning the trophy, but how narrowly they were beaten last year at Wanganui by two feet by Otago will long live in the memory of the crowd,estimated at 20,000, which witnessed the spectacle of the seven . racing eights. This year Wellington is represented by the same crew.

This is the tenth contest, and the great public interest it has created is not surprising. The boats themselves are remarkable examples of the boatbuilder's art, and an inspection reveals a: fine example of workmanship, combining beauty of profile with strength and stability. They are over 60ft long and but 2ft wide, and the wood of the highly-polished shells ,is only l-Bin thick. The boats used are all of identical build, and were made in England.

Many years of experience of racing and rowing are necessary before an oarsman can row and balance what is termed the wager or best and best type of boat, the hull of- which is smooth and not flanked as.in the clinker-built boat. Manning the boat is a question which is. settled only by the expert* knowledge of a competent coach, and one of the' important features is the placing of the men so as •to give the most advantageous result from the weight and strength of the individual members. The men are chosen for their positions in the boat according to their ability. The stroke sets the type of racing stroke and timing, and to him the crew look for leadership. No. 7, directly behind him.' is • responsible for detecting immediately any slight •• quickening or sprint." No.'s 6, 5, 4, and 3 are the body qf the boat, and must be powerful .oarsmen. No. 2 must at all times be bright. Bow is usually the lightest man and has to be very clean and lively in his work, and to a great degree the balance and, run of the boat depends on his rowing. NEW ZEALAND TO THE FORE. . Rowing is one of the sports in which New Zealand can compare favourably with the rest of the world, and that is a fact which is • often overlooked by New Zealanders. How many people know how successful the New Zealand Army eight was,: and that it won the Inter-Allied eights on the Seine. Or, to come to more recent times, that at the 1932 Olympic Games New Zealand were only beaten by a narrow margin by Great Britain in the final of the pairnoar (championship. These same two men will be rowing in the Canter-bury-boat next Saturday. The sight of. six or seven eights racing gives a thrill, and the rhythmic swing and flash of blades suggests the poetry of motion. It is safe to say that this year will witness Wellington's supreme effort to annex the trophy. The Wellington ere w-^-.O.£N.:r play ton... (Petpne),:.; X Boswell '(Petone),' P. Abbott (Petone). G. C. Cooke (Star), J. Thodey (Start. D. Boswell (Pe.tone), and A. A. Andrews (Star)—has been in intensive training for the last three weeks, and is considered to have reproduced last year's form. On Sunday a second eight gave them a work-out over 1-J miles, and spectators were well satisfied with their showing. The standard ox Wellington club rowing is well to the fore, as shown by Petone's win in the champion fours this year at Akaroa. Suitable train arrangements have been made, and spectators will be in a position to follow every phase of the" race. Special trains will leave Wellington at 9.35 a.m., and another from Petone at 9.40 a.m. will be joined at Ngahauranga to run beside the crews for the whole of the 2£-mile course.