ROWING.

Evening Star, Issue 17926, 23 March 1922, Page 5

ROWING.

[By Clinker.] The last event of importance in the local rowing world this season will be the Queenstown Regatta, to be held on Easter Saturday, April 15. Entries, which close on Miirch SI, are being forwarded by all the local clubs. Oarsmen will need to take advantage of all their chances for training, as the shortening twilight and early winter conditions will intervene within the next few weeks. The senior fours at Queenstown should provide an excellent contest, as most of the crews who rowed in the very close races at Port Chalmers and Dunedin regattas will again take part. The inclusion of a 14ft yacht race should give variety to the programme. The Thomson Fours of tho Otago Rowing Club, the last club four-oar race of the season, is now in progress. Five crews are taking part. There’is some talk, says tho Southland ‘News/ of sending tho Bluff seniorc to

Christchurch during Easter week as representatives of the province! but expense seems to bo tho obstacle. It is probable that it would take at least £2O to send tho crew up, and this outlay the association is not in the position, to stand. There is a proposal that the crew should pay its own expenses, they to bo refunded should it bo successful m its attempt to bring away the prize money. There can be little doubt 'that tho Port men would at least give a good account of themselves after their wins at both the Port Chalmers and Otago regattas. A feature of tho N.Z. Championship Regatta was the splendid showing of the Wanganui Union crews, who won six out of the sixteen events, including three championship events—fours, double sculls, and single sculls. The result of the Champion Pairs is still in abeyance, and depends upon the decision of the New Zealand Rowing Council, in connection with a protest lodged by Christchurch Union, which finished first and refused to rorow tho race, as ordered by the umpire. Arrangements are now well in hand, says the Christchurch ‘Referee,’ for tho Interprovincial Fours and tho Finns’ Race, which are to bo- rowed at Corsair Bay on Easter Saturday, April 15. At tho last meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association it was decided that the Firms’ Race start at 10.30 a.m., and tho Tntcrprovincial Fours at 11 a.m. The following officials wero appointed Starter, Air T. Chambers; umpire, Air 11. Berry; judges—Alessrs G. H. TTobbs, H. Ayers, F. D. Kestevcn. Atr 11. Ayers was appointed coach to the Canterbury crew for the Tnlcrprovincial Fours. A sub-commit-tee has been appointed to grange re housing of boats at Lyttelton and transport of boats from Lvttclton to Corsair Bav.

Tho Canterbury chibs, says the Christchurch ‘Star.’ had a highly successful innings at the northern regattas. The Cantor!) my Chib had three wins and two seconds out of five starts at Wellington, and at AVanganni were successful' in two out of three events.

Tlie tides arc working sorry havoc in tho Invercargill Ilailway Rowing Club's shed, and every day of Into the need for socking new quarters has become more, apparent to members. Railway is not in a very happy position so far ns its shed is concerned. Sooner or later a shift will become imperative, and where the homoloss shall go will have to bo decided. In tho meantime members introduce a little variety into tho day by speculating as to the number of boards the next tide will raise from tho floor. Much enthusiasm scorns to bo shown at present in rowing at Gisborne. The annual rowing contests for tho L.V.A. Shield are to take place on March 24 and 25. Great interest is being evinced in these contests this year, and, in fact, it is many a long year since such interest was shown. To give evidence of this, it is only necessary to state that the Gisborne Club selected a lOst team to represent the clnh, comprising IT. 0. Fraser (str), E. Holmes, G. C. Jones, and E. Williams. Four other members of the chib considered that this was not the strongest crew available, and issued a challenge to the rep. team. Tho challengers were F. Stevenson fstr), R. 0. Sweet, A. Stock, and IT. Kennedy. A great contest resulted in a win for the challengers by the narrow margin of half a canvas. The erstwhile challengers now become the nominated crew, and are open to any other challenge. The event mentioned above is the first of this nature for many vears.

Arthur Baynes, Australia’s champion sculler, is undergoing a month’s training under George Towns, formerly champion sculler of the world, on tho Parramatta. George Towns will accompany Barnes to England. They are to sail by tho Orvieto on March 25. Baynes’s objective is the Diamond Sculls at Royal Henley in July. Dealing with the Xew Zealand Championship. “Victor,’’ in tho Wanganui ‘Herald,’ writes: "There was a regrettable incident in the Champion Pairs .race —a foul in the concluding stages spoiling what promised to be a remarkably even and exciting finish. There were six starters. and the wind and water wore at their worst at this_ stage, with tho result that it made steering the coxswain less boats a difficult matter. In the very early stages of tho race there was a mix-up between Avon and Hamilton, which, however, did not make very much difference to either boat, Hamilton losing most way.. The Wanganui Union crew drew to the front, and must, have bad a length to the good approaching the bridge. Here, however, Christchurch Union, on the outside, near the hank, could be seen to be closing np. and Avon also were going well and gradually overhauling the leaders. Christchurch Union were the first to shoot the bridge, with the U.B.C. and Avon close up. Keeping close to the bank, Christchurch Union kept tho lead, while Avon drew up and went away from tho light blues. With some 300yds to go, it looked as if Christchurch Union would win: but Avon a little further on got in front. Then suddenly Henley and Hyland, who had not been rowing in unison, got together, and were rapidly catching Avon,“when the latter boat swerved in front of tho Wanganui Union crow, and a foul occurred ” For the A. M. Lewis Cup at Gisborne, which is for single sculling championship honors for the district, keen interest Is also being shown. On Wednesday evening R. Patty challenged his club mate, Ed" Corbett, to show cause why ho should represent tho Poverty Bay Club in the contest. A good race ensued, but in the finish Patty carried off tho honors by half a length. This sculler now represents his club in the fixture. By a curious coincidence, recalls the Christchurch ‘Star,’ the last two championship regattas have been marred by a foul in the Champion Pairs, the last" instance being very unfortunate for Avon, who, when appearing to have tho won, collided with Wanganui Union about 100yds from home. From t ho report of the gun the issue was always in doubt, Union (Christchurch), Avon, and Wanganui Union being in the hunt for over a mile. Avon crew were unfortunate in the race, mooting with trouble from the Hamilton pair soon after the start; but they made a fine recovery, and wore leading when tho foul happened. Avon claimed a foul, but did not learn of the umpire's decision to rerow the race until four hours later, which was one of the reasons why the two Christchurch crews would not rerow, their boats having been packed and trucked ready for home. Thus the Wanganui pair merely had to row over tho course to claim tho race.