OTAGO ROWING ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 11696, 30 September 1902, Page 4

OTAGO ROWING ASSOCIATION.

noting 1 will ■' i' In. #acmg ninth annua) the' oatgoing Committee, wwSJo jflßpSw 4heur gratjfcsaturir at'tlie >«falfw nil season! Our standard c# been" well" ntamtiiiied, W-evld&eid by'the met of OtagV having two of the championship tafe" _ NMr v Zealand AULA. a< w,tti^^M«i&9 Ji M'Gratli and Flint' winning Doable Saflliigfiace and M'Grath wlHnjng.the Single''Sculls. TheNiadeS tournament, inaugurated at 1 the beginning of the season' proved a great success from a yowtog point of view, bringing forward many good men, and providing a real good afternoon's sport ifotwubBtandmg'the disagreeable weather, twentythree crews started," aad.aiter-Some capital racing the Hew Law Courts.crew, stroked bit fi. Shaw, proved the winners. The thanks of the Committee are due to Messrs' J. James (chairman) and M. Priest (the hon. secretary) for the able way in which they conducted the trade tournament. Ed•mond Challenge Shied t Our representatives journeyed to invertargill to mdec'th&Buu.hland Association representatives in a contest for this valuable trophy, and had to bow Under a defeat from'the local representatives, Who rowed a really line 'race. Our men speak very highly oi the courteous reception tendered them 4ty the Southland Association. It k our intention to invite a representative crew from Canterbury this season to take part in the next contest'at Waibola. Our annual fixtures—eight-oar tournament and Waihola regattas—were again carried out successfully. - The eightoar race was delayed owing to the weather, but every heat was interesting, -and the final was won by the Queen's Drive Boating Club's boat, stroked by C. Brarthwaite, after a hard tussle with the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club's boat, stroked by J. Williams. The White ? Butterworth challenge cup is therefore ,-fcald by the Queen's Drive Club for the year. The eight-oar boats were kindly lent to the Association by the D.A.B.G. and the N.K8.0., to whom the Association how convey their thanks. Regatta: This regatta could not have been held under more favorable conditions, the weather from a rowing point of view being all that could be.desired. xThe entries were large, and :'n •very case the events were well contested, and close finishes the order of the day. The Henley challenge cup was not competed •for, owing to visiting crews not being m a position at present to comply with the conditions. The Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club and the .Otago Model Yacht Club gave much assistance in making ine regatta the most successful yet held in Otago waters. The'president (Mr Leslie R. Wilson) entertained the visiting oarsmen and regatta" officials at lunch during nn interval in the programme, and in the evening the Association gave a dinner to the visitors—a fitting wind-up to a good day's sport Th# challenge cups, we ieel, have been of great.benefit to the promotion of rowing, for the keenest interest las been manifested throughout the season ss to the probable winners. The John Mill cup this season goes to the 0.R.C., who red 11 points m junior events, and the L. Hooper cup, for most points in maiden events, was secured by the DJLB.p. Instead of the usual smoke concert this year, a supper was when the various prizes were presented," and a 'most enjoyable, evening spent. The Association were unfortunate in losing the services of their hon. secretary (Mr A. E. Jay), who was removed to Christchurchj Mr Hooper generously took up his work, and carried out the duties with his usual energy.GeneraL—The thanks of the Committee are due to rowing men generally for the loyal support given them in carrying out the reforms lately proposed, and we hops our efforts will be rewarded by the establishment of local associations at no distant date. In this connection, also, we owe a debt of gratitude to our able advocates in Wellington. To the Press we are much in debted for their courtesy and assistance *c all times. Thanks are also due to the Dunedin Cycling Club for the use of thenrooms for meetings, etc. : In conclusion,- we ask the hearty support of all rowing men to enable us to keen the support of rowing in Otago in the advanced position it now occupies.