CHAMPION OARSMEN

Evening Star, Issue 19412, 22 November 1926, Page 4

CHAMPION OARSMEN

HONORED BY CLUB MEMBERS OTAGO CREW'S PROUD ACHIEVEMENT Recently returned from their victorious tour - in Victoria, the members of the Otago Rowing Club’s senior four, who created a record unequalled by returning to New Zealand undefeated, were tendered a complimentary social at the Somerset Lounge of the Savoy on Saturday night by the members of their own club; There was an attendance of about sixty, Mr F. W. Mitchell (president of the club) being in the chair, and others present being- the mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.), Mr J. w. Smeaton (president of the Otago Rowing Association), and representatives of other clubs. . Prominently displayed on ..the chairman’s table, at which the members of the crew were placed, were the handsome Stewards’ Cup, won at the Hen-loy-on-Yarra regatta, and the excellent modal of an eight-oared skiff, complete in every detail and adorned with the Otago Club’s colors, presented to the crew by Mr J. Vigor Brown. “ Our Champions ■ was the mam toast of the evening, it being proposed by the mayor, who said he knew of no occasion when oarsmen had been so proud of an achievement as that of the Otago Rowing Club’s four in Australia. (Applause.) To- have won the big fouroared race at the Henley-on-Yarra regatta was a performance to be justly proud of. . (Applause.) The best crews of nearly all the Australian States had competed, including the West Australia crew that won the honor last year. The Otago crew had brought honor not only to themselves and their club, but also to this city and to the whole of the dominion. (Applause.) Its members were Messrs F. Brough (stroke), J. Werges (3), C. J. M'Ara (2), and P. S. Anderson (bow); Master Roy Hook was the cox, and Mr T. Wheelwright was the trainer.^ The Mayor said the fact that at a regatta a week later the crew had won the four-oared race and Messrs Werges and Brough had won the pairs showed that the victory at Henley-on-Yarra was not a fluke. Ho advised the members of the crew to keep together in view of the fact that it was probable that New Zealand qarsmen would be asked to attend the Olympic Games in Sweden in‘l92B. If this crew was sent ho felt that it would give a good account Aif itself. The visit of the crow to Australia had no doubt helped to further cement the bond of friendship between Australia and New Zealand. Most important of all was the tribute which had been paid to the Otago oarsmen. when a message from Australia stated that, as well as being excellent oarsmen, they were gentlemen. (Applana.) The toast was honored with great enthusiasm. .... The Mayor* also paid a tribute to the work of the cox, Master Roy Hook, who, he said, had earned great praise for his skill. -MEMBERS OF CREW REPLY. Mr P. S. Anderson, who also acted as manager of the crew in Australia, received an enthusiastic reception when he replied to the toast. He expressed thanks on behalf of the crew for the forethought which prompted the gathering that night. To all those who had contributed towards the expense of despatching the crow to Australia, its members were deeply grateful. v They were glad their trainer, • Mr T. Wheelwright, had accompanied them, because his services in more ways than one had been/ most vehiable. Before they obtained the excellent ‘services of Mr J, A. Shepherd as a qoach, “ Tom ” had asted m and had cycled

along the bank of the river “stirring them up ” with a megaphone. The speaker referred to the mishaps which tne crew had had in the way of broken riggers and oars when in training. On one of the third spins they did the mile in smin 25sec, which was faster than the time in the final of the race. Mr Anderson went on to refer to a very complete diary of the tour kept by him a and recounted many incidents of the trip. In the big race M'Ara was a sick man, hut carried on with grit and determination. The starting of the rowing races was carried out excellently; there was no chance of “heating the gun,” as the rudders were held till it was fired. The official version was that Otago won by five lengths. The time in the first heat was smm 32sec, the fastest of the day, and the time of the final was smin 59sec. To indicate the size and importance of the regatta, Mr Anderson pointed out that 428 oarsmen, representing thirtythree clubs, took part. At the Victorian regatta on tne following Saturday the crew won the fours race by four lengths, and he would not like to say by how many lengths Brough and Werges won the senior pairs. Though the crew had won the races by a big margin, the races were not so easy as might be supposed. There was a good deal of hard training, and they did not take it easy. The Melbourne University Club gave them the us© of its shed and their splendid quarters for training and dressing. Mr Anderson referred to the great hospitality extended to them on all sides in Melbourne, and in this respect mentioned Mr H. R. Hill, the president of the New Zealand Old Boys’ Association, an organisation which did a great .deal for them.In conclusion Mr Anderson referred to the gratitude of the- crew -to Mr H. Brasch for his coaching before they left for Melbourne. In all weathers Mr Brasch had come out with them, and they felt they would bo lacking in respect if they did not acknowledge the debt they owed to him. (Applause.) Mr F. Brough also returned thanks on behalf of the crew. He said the party had been a very happy one, and everything had gone smoothly.

other toasts. The toast “Otago Rowing Association ” was proopsed by Mr E. W. Mitchell, who pointed out that the association had come into being when the clubs in the harbor found it necessary to have a controlling body. In the early days of the association valuaole work had been done by Mr J. James. The association had had many worthy men as presidents, and had organised many successful regattas and sent crews to other parts o$ INew Zealand. Mr J. Smeaton, replying to the toast, said the victories of the Otago Rowing Club’s crew had brought honor ot ooily to the club and the association, but also to rowing throughout New Zealand. He referred to the work of Mr J. James in the interests of the association. Mr W. J. Wilson had been a member of 'the association since it was formed, and had done valuable work. Mr Maurice Priest and others had also given splendid service to the association. The speaker referred to the ups and downs of the various clubs in the harbor, and said each had been in the ascendancy. He doubted if anyone would ever beat the record of Mr J. M'Grath in winning eleven New Zealand championships. In five of those wins - he had had as a partner Mr Maurice Priest. The association had had cups for- all rowing classes except that of youths, but recently a cup lor that class had been presented by Messrs M'Grath and Priest. _ He trusted it would encourage rowing among the younger members. “ Sister Clubs ” was proposed by Me E. V. Fairbairn and responded to by the representatives of the North Emi, Port Chalmers, and Queen’s Dri /o Ckiba, “ n - was proposed jjg

Mr S. G. Stycho, who expressed thanks for the subscriptions towards the expenses of the crew and regattas. “ Coach and Trainer ” was proposed by Mr A. Massey, who paid a tribute to the services of Mr Brasch (coach) and Mr Wheelwright (trainer). An excellent programme of vocal items was given during the evening, those who contributed being Messrs J. D. M'Kechnie, Geo. Dunn J. A. Haggitt, and A. A Perry A humorous recitation was given by Mr G. Z. Lindley. Mr J. A. Haggiit acted as accompanist.