ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 20984, 24 December 1931, Page 4

ROWING

[By Coxswain. 3

OARSMEN’S OUTINGS. Boxing Day (December 26). Muandrew Bay Regatta. December 26.—Riverton Regatta. December 26.—Tauranga Regatta. New Year’s Day.—Akaroa Regatta; Bluff Regatta. January 16.—Port Chalmers Regatta. January 23.—Wanganui Regatta. January 29.—Championship Regatta at Hamilton. February 6.—Burkes-St. Leonards regatta. February 13.—Wellington Regatta. Easter Saturday (March 26). — Queenstown Regatta. Easter Saturday (tentative) .—lnterprovincial eight-oar championship, at Picton. 'TO ROWING FRIENDS. To all oarsmen of Otago, supporters, and friends, “Coxswain” extends Christmas greetings and best wishes for the new year ? hoping that clubs will be favoured with good fortune throughout the season. DATE OF EIGHTS. Since last week “Coxswain” has had the opportunity of speaking with several members of the O.R.A. on the decision of the Marlborough Association fixing Easter Saturday for the eights. It is evident from what these men stated that Marlborough will just have to go on with its fixture without Otago if the date is not changed, and now “Coxswain” hears from an authoritative source that the. Southlanders are sticking by Otago in this matter. Protest from two provinces should carry some weight, bub what the northern associations are thinking about the matter is not common knowledge here, for none of the rowing writers Has yet devoted any space to this subject. Until another meeting of the Marlborough, Association is called—and this is not expected right away—we shall still be in a quandary. BOXING DAY’S FIXTURE. Much time has been spent by all the local clubs’ crews in training for the initial regatta of the season, which will be at Macandrew Bay on Saturday, Boxing Day. Eight races are to be provided, and the entries have greatly pleased the regatta authorities, for they exceed those of last year by six. Last season forty-one crews competed; this year forty-seven crews will take part. Highest entries were received from the Otago Club, with Queen’s Drive next and then Port Chalmers. North End will also be well represented, and two boys from the Macandrew Bay Club will turn out in the maiden and youths’ double sculling events. The largest “field” will comprise eight competitors, and there will be two sevens, two sixes, and smaller entries. With such fine turn-outs some excellent and close racing should result, for every club will be right out after the donations so much desired in these times. ASPIRANTS TO CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS. Already considerable interest is being manifested in the championship regatta by uorthernites, and it appears to be the general opinion of writers that there will be some large and representative fields. One writer forecasts a good entry for the senior fours. W. .Turner, the holder of the New Zealand single sculling championship for the past three years, will he at Hamilton to defend his title, says an exchange. .With C. Tana he will defend the doubles title which they gained at Wellington last year. ■ W- Stevenson, an ex-New Zealand single sculls champion, who has won his title four,times, is now training hard at New Plymouth for a further attempt at the honours. He first won it at Bluff in the 1922-1923 season, and held it at Picton next year. He lost it to I. W. St. Clair at Hamilton in the 1924-1925 season, regained it at Dunedin in. 1925-1926 season, and also held in the following year at Picton. He finally lost it to A. K. Jackson, of the Wanganui Union Boating Club, at Wanganui, in the 1927-1928 season. A. K. Jackson, of the Wanganui Union, will wear the light blue of his club in an endeavour to wrest back the singles title taken from him by ■W. Turner. With Trail, Jackson’will most probably make an effort to regain the double sculls title which they held during the 1927-1928 and 1928-1929 seasons. As former New Zealand champions they will make matters interesting in this race for W. Turner and C. Tana. J. W. and G. St. Clair (Auckland) are entering for the champion double sculls. The Hamilton senior four—N. Pope, B. Saudos, W. Bowley, and E. A. Waters—is now in serious training for the championships. “As the champion fours is certain to be a hard-fought contest on that course, the crew’s belated appearance on the river is open to doubt,” says the ‘New Zealand Herald.’ Some of the executive of the Auckland Rowing Association were to have gone to Hamilton last Sunday to meet the Championship Regatta Committee and discuss various points regarding the regatta. The question of the best methods of buoying the course was to have been dealt with. JOTTINGS. On present indications the Port Club will not be represented at the Bluff regatta on New Year’s Day, although some of the members may change their minds at the last minute. Delivery lias been made to the Macandrew Bay Club by Mr J. Macpherson of a new convertible double-sculler, which is considered to he a great asset to the club. The boat,-which is a sister craft to the one received by the Otago Club some months ago, has greatly satisfied members, who have been delighted with the easy running of the shell. “If we can only get together a strong combination to sit the boat everything should be all right, and the club should at last take a share of regatta donations,” said one club man.

Mr A. M. N. Miller, of Port, and an assistant have been kept very busy turning out sets of oars and sculls to the order of various clubs throughout the dominion. The oars and sculls, which are constructed of Canadian spruce, are very light and strong, and the workmanship speaks for itself. Up north there has been a real coxswain “ find.” A contemporary records that the boy in question steered in an important event on his first day’s experience in the sport. Would, that there were several lads like this to be “ found ’’ down this way. February 6, it is understood, has been fixed for the Burkes-St. Leonards regatta, which will again provide a small rowing programme. Will this day fine? The Burkes-St. Leonards folk hope so, for they feel that they had their share ,of wet weather at last year’s fixture. Rowing men have been pleased to welcome to their fold another Brough—but not yet an oarsman! On Tuesday morning word came through that “‘Mick”* Brough and his wife had been presented with a baby boy, and Coxswain ” joins with “ Mick’s ” many friends in congratulating his wife and himself. Start him young, “ Mick.” We feel sure he should inherit some of his father’s rowing skill, and unless ha starts out early he will probably find it difficult to surpass his parent’s excellent record. The Auckland Ladies’ Rowing Club has its own shed this season, built underneath the Devenport Yacht Club.' Two clinker fours are housed there, and outings are made during the week-end on the harbour. There are over ten members this year.