PETONE OARSMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1938, Page 5

PETONE OARSMEN

FAREWELL FUNCTION

The members of the champion Petone rowing four and their coxswain, who are to represent New Zealand at the Empire Games in Sydney, were guests of honour at a farewell which was held in the Petone Rowing Club's clubhouse last night. Mr. C. PL Burridge, the dub's president, was in the

chair, and representatives oi the council of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association and local clubs were present. , The members of the crew are O. N. Clayton (stroke), A. Hope, K. Boswell, B. Rigby. and G. Burns (cox). This was a great day for the Petone oarsmen, said Mr. T. Lund, proposing the toast of "The Pelone Rowing Club." Many of the older members had for years been looking forward to the day when a Petone crew would travel abroad to represent New Zealand in international competition. Whatever laurels they gathered in Australia would reflect the greatest credit on the club >o which they belonged. "Now that we have a senior four that is going to represent us in Australia at the Empire Games, it is not only the active members of the club that must be proud of them, but there are numbers of men in this town and other towns in New Zealand that must get quite a kick to see that Petone has four men in the Empire class." said Mr: I. T Watson, club captain, replying to the toast. Past members of the club in all walks of life must have been proud to see that the club had been put on the map. The Mayor of Petone (Mr. A. Scholefield) proposed the toast of The Empire Rowing Four." "In the past we have looked forward each year—and very seldom have we been disappointed—to see a resident of Petone gaining Dominion honours, said Mr. Scholefield. "We were very proud when the Petone four won the Dominion championship, and we were also proud when, during the season, so many residents of Petone gained Dominion honours. I am sure members of the club will look forward with great interest to the activities _of the senior four during their stay in Australia." He hoped it would not be long before they would be able to welcome back a victorious crew.

All realised the splendid work that had been put in by the coach, said Mr. Scholefield. He, thought that Mr. White should be congratulated on the splendid manner in which he had coached the members of the crew. He hoped they would meet with success. Mr. O. N. Clayton, stroke of the crew, thanked Mr. Scholefield for his kind references, and, also, on behalf of the crew and coxswain, extended his gratitude to all those who had been responsible for the wonderful send-off accorded them.

Mr. A. Jones proposed the toast of the guests, to which Mr. A. M. Macfarlane responded. Mr. A. Cockroft, a member of the council of the New Zealand Rowing Association, wished the crew the very best of luck in Sydney. He knew they would uphold the rowing traditions of New Zealand. He knew Petone felt proud of their crew, and he hoped that the crew would lead the field home.

Mr. R. G. Croudis, also a council member, endorsed Mr. Cockroft's remarks. It was a pity that Mr. White could not accompany the crew to see the result of his training, said Mr. Croudis.

Mr. T. M. Hinkley, chairman of the Wellington Rowing Association, also extended his best wishes for the success of the crew.

Mr. Burridge paid a high tribute to the work of the coach, Mr. A. E. White, and his sentiments were heartily endorsed by other members of the club.

A number of musical items were given during the evening, and the floor was later cleared for dancing.