ROWING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1938, Page 13

ROWING NOTES

CREWS FOR THE GAMES

"BOSS ROOSTER'S" COMB

GENERAL TOPICS

(By "Feather.")

At long last the New Zealand rowing representatives, who have been training so assiduously, are en route for the Empire Games. The Petone crew has been seen in action by most Wellington oarsmen, but the fo:~n of the eight is more of a mystery to the great majority. According to an exchange from Wanganui, where the crew was in training, it was. some time before a definite style could be adopted, on account of the different styles of the various clubs represented; The eight did not give a promising exhibition for the first ten days, but of late it showed a considerable improvement in its combination, and judging by its final rows- the crew should be in good form after another ten days' training in Sydney.

A Real Rooster Now.

The Petone men are looking after the "boss rooster," the club's proudest trophy. . A comb was recently made from a piece of scrap steel, and attached to the bird, the job being neatly finished with the club blue and gold. As. one of the members, put it, it-now looks like a real rooster, and not like an old hen.

Will be Available.

T. Alexander and- G. Gibbons have notified the Star match committee that they will be: available for regatta crews for the rest of the. season. Gibbons has been put two in the junior four, and at the present, time it appears to be the intention of the-match committee to tet Alexander concentrate on maiden sculls.

Cookc Back Again.

G. Cooke.of Star, who has been indisposed for some weeks past, hopes to be able to get down to serious training again. . . ' ,

Swinging Along Well.

Star's No. 2 maiden four appear to be swinging along-fairly well together. The bow (H. Hall) has a tendency to be a bit late at the catch, and should concentrate oh the steady swing forward, and try to get a . little, more rhythm into. his rowing., Two, M. Toms, isjnclined to be a bit shorthand could get more work on the front of his rigger. Stroke and three appear to be settling down to a good combination, and with plenty of rowing together the crew as a whole should shape well at coming regattas, .

Wellington Junior.

O. Wares'(Wellington), who was rowing quite well some time ago, is inclined to rush his slide forward and drop his hands too low into the boat, consequently cocking at the catch.

Wellington Maidens.

Considerable interest will be shown in the next appearance of the Wellington maiden four after their brilliant row in Picton, when from a very bad start and consequent loss of six lengths from a crab, they were challenging -the leaders at the finish, having passed the bulk of the field.

Star's tDance,

Star7 will have a dance in-the clubhouse on the evening of the Mothes Shield Regatta. . .

Petone Junior Four Rearranged,

W. McGowan is taking the place of J. Howe in the Petone junior four, and the crew, is to be stroked at future regattas by K. Williams, a newcomer from 'the Hamilton Rowing Club. Williams is as yet a dark horse, but it is anticipated that he should be an asset to the club.

New Boats.

Petone should shortly be In; possession of several new boats.. The four that is being built for the Empire Games crew will eventually come home to roost. .It is to be the latest- thing out. The club is- somewhat hopeful of getting the set. of oars.to go with the boat, and if the champion'four-is successful few people would refute this claim. A pair is being ordered, also from Australia, and the old firm of I.

Carter and G. Leopard hope to have it on the water by the middle of March. The eight, being built in Wanganui, should be in Wellington in time for the Redding Shield. If this is the case the eigh^oar, race will be run in one heat, using the, new boat, the association eight, the University, and Star boats. ■

Could Have Been Better.

Star was represented at the Christchurch regatta by a maiden four, junior four, maiden double sculls, and lightweight double sculls, and with these crews they succeeded in getting one second and three fourths. The maidens, (Willis str, Hansen, Sidford, and Hughes) rowed a good race to gain the second place. Conditions were not good, with a strong head wind. The junior four was. a scratch combination, and as was to be expected it could not hold the lead which it established in the early stages of the race.

Mothes Contenders.

The lightweight crew for the Mothes Shield is now Pert '(str), Webb, McPherson, and Dawson, and the welterweight crew has also been changed. It is now Be van (str), Eggers, McWhinney, and Hawker. The junior four will comprise Shirley (str), Pearse, Gibbons, and J. Peterson.

Petone Crews for Napier.

Petone will probably be sending a senior four and two maiden crews to Napier to take part in the regatta there on February 12.

A Coming Champion.

The fine performance of J. Kilialea and M. Clarke, Petone, in winning the youths' and maiden double sculls at the Christchurch regatta is likely to be the forerunner of many more victories. Kilialea is being coached by P. Abbott, and is at present showing gi-eat possibilities. He should ifa a first-class sculler if the careful programme which has been mapped out for him is faithfully pursued, and he is not worked too hard in the initial stages. Kilialea and Clarke will also be rowing in the youths' fours at the Mothes Shield regatta on February 5.