ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 21641, 9 February 1934, Page 5

ROWING

CREAM OF OTAGO'S OARSMEN EIGHT MAY NOT BE ANNOUNCED TO-MORROW [By Coxswain.] Thirty-two of the . province’s best oarsmen will be seen in action at Port Chalmers to-morrow afternoon, when the seventh annual series of interclub eight-oar races for the challenge cup presented by Mr C. P. M. Butterworth and the late Mr John White will be decided. In past seasons very fine sport has been provided in these races, which serve to give a fair indication of the strength of the representative crew to compete in the interprovincial eights. Otago and North End, the two Upper Harbour clubs, will again meet in the first heat, which will probably bo Otago’s race. Otago has a strong crew in- the competition, and it is rowing much more impressively than the North End combination. The Lower Harbour clubs will fight out the second heat, which should be a close “ go,” though Port may be expected to get there first. Port and Otago should then make willing rivals in the final, and, judging on the form shown by the club crews at the regattas so far, Port should go pretty near to annexing the harbour championship. Interclub eights were commenced in Otago six years ago—the same year as the interprovincial contest was instituted. Port won the trophy- for the first .two seasons, then Otago carried it off for three years in succession. Last year Queen’s Drive was successful for the first, time. Following are the crews for to-mor-row:— Queen’s Drive.—L. R. Fountain (stroke), T, Porter (7), L. Pithie (6), D. M. Matheson (o), C. Macdonald (4), T. Treloar (3), B.' Anderson (2), and D. Clark (bow). Port Chalmers. C. Cramond (stroke), J. Solomon (7), C. Neilson (6), G. Thorn (5), G. Mitchell (4), J. Abernethy (3), W. Erridge (2), and H. L. Pritchard (bow). Otago.—J. P. "Vallis (stroke), H. G. Stiles (7), W. N. Binaie (6), C, Couchman (5), W. L. Zaffer (4), C. W. Brown (3), T. W. Finnic (2), and J. B. Henry (bow). North End.—F. W. Eggers (stroke), W. Marriner (7), P. Verngreen (6), R. Mathewson (5), H. Livingstone (4), J. Hurr ell (3), A. Hogan (2), and H. M‘L. Eggers (bow)u The selectors (Messrs W. J. Wilson, T. F. Mackie, and W. G. Glengarry) will be present to-morrow, and they will be looking out for men worthy of inclusion in the rep. eight. However, it is doubtful if the interclub eights will be sufficient for them to make their selection, because there is a likelihood of some difficulty being experienced in finding a stroke for the provincial crew. G. Clark, last year’s stroke, has met with an accident,’ which may prevent his rowing, and the veteran stroke “ Mick ” Brough _ assures “Coxswain” that he is definitely unavailable for selection 1 . There is, of course, a renfote possibility of Clark’s recovery in time to go away with the crew. In that case the selectors’ job will be considerably alleviated, and the confidence of rowing enthusiasts in the crew will be absolute. On the other hand another stroke will have ■to be chosen, and to do this the selectors may want to see crews in action again, and they may orler an Upper Harbour v. Lower Harbour race. Therefore the rep. eight may not be announced after to-morrow’s races. Regatta Form Reviewed. From the amount of hard work entailed in running its jubilee regatta Port Chalmers fully deserved the outstanding success of last Saturday’s function. Favoured with excellent weather for all. branches of aquatic sport, the devotees of each section followed the events with the greatest interest, and everyone seemed to have been, well pleased with the stirring contests provided. Air. W. J. Wilson has controlled many functions at Port Chalmers, but this latest was certainly his greatest achievement. . Ably seconded by an efficient committee, everything moved with clockwork regularity, and the sporting, holiday outing atmosphere of the old popular Boxing Day regatta was apparent not only •about the wharves, but in the town itself. The excellent entries and the presence of visiting crews gave the rowing events an added interest, and the form of the visitors was very closely scanned and criticised. With Avon, Oamaru, Invercargill, Railway, and Bluff Clubs competing, styles and form were discussed, and with the exception of Railway the visitors did not meet with the success their sporting enter.prise deserved, or what even their opponents would have desired. Invercargill was looked to for a big performance after their good win at Bluff on Boxing Day, but evidently did not reproduce that form. It is a long time since the White and Gold hoops were seen on Otago waters, and thi-iv appearance brought back memories of that very fine combination, composed of Bas. Basstian, Tom Brown, Morten, and Harry Lang. Jack M'Grath had many battles with that crew, and holds them in the highest respect. Avon was evidently not suited by the conditions, and a dead-heat for second in the junior fours was that club’s best performance. Railway did well in the junior and maiden fours and youths’ double sculls. Though not showing oarsmen of the orthodox type they are yet very effective and workmanlike. Older oarsmen remember well the good races put up by past members of this club in the persons of Barry, Walker, Cockroft, the Padgetts, M'Killip, and Robinson. Oamaru and Bluff were also welcome visitors, but did not display great form.. Our Oamaru friends must be real enthusiasts, for their training facilities in the limited harbour space does not give them the opportunity for the long work so necessary to good form. Bluff’s experience in such open and varied competition will be of advantage to the team of Queenstown, where more success may be looked for. Pride of place must be given Port Club for its sterling performance in the senior fours. This crew is now properly placed, and with Cramond setting the right stroke for the conditions and unwinding a perfect sprint at the finish, secured a good win. Queen’s Drive has disappointed this season, and, though Clark is still a fine stroke, his crew has not yet struck the form one expects. North End rowed well, but with a man of “ Snowy ’ Eggers’s ability and experience it is deplorable to see him in the No. 2 seat of a “ back ” crew. Eggers’s form is as good as has earned him his place in rep. eights on various occasions, and his form in the senior pairs bears this out. Otago went great guns for a mile, and then seemed to lose form. This strong, heavy crew needs harder conditions, and would be more at home against wind and tide.

After its good performance at Macandrews, Port was “ looked for ” in the junior four, but was well back. Railway went really well, and Drive was consistent. Avon fought out a gruelling second place, and showed gameness. North End should have done better after its good performance at Waihola. Otago for a rearranged crew went very well, and from the wharf appeared to be leading, and put up a good performance for a first appearance.

In the maiden fours Railway’s finish did the trick, though Port made the visitors hurry, and Awarua was well in it for most of the journey, though weakening slightly at the finish. After Waihola “ Coxswain ” stated that Queen’s Drive had the makings of the best youths’ crew in the harbour, and this opinion was amply justified on Saturday. The little extra length required was there, and a _ good swing and clean blade work did the rest. North End is still a good crew, but has either trained off or lost _ some of the good form shown on Boxing Day. , Solomon and Pritchard maintained their fine record in the senior sculls, Clark and Pithie (Drive) again rowing second. Brough and Zaffer (Otago) were going well, but lost all hope through erratic steering. This pair is sculling well, and is much fitter than at Waihola, where it made the Port pair row every inch of the way. In the youths’ maiden and junior sculls really good form was displayed by ail the winning crews. Mitchell and Potter (Port) will make a fine pair. Port robbed the senior pairs of its importance by two bad fouls. This should not be, and produces a certain “ needle ” feeling among crews that is not in the best interests of the sport. Otago seemed to have the race in hand, and must be considered unfortunate in losing, for Port should have been disqualified after the very apparent- foul halfway up. The Port seniors have a great fancy for the Otago seniors. They are always “mating up ” to them. Last year in the senior double sculls they did exactly the same as in the senior pairs last Saturday, but , they excelled themselves this time. They made two attempts at “ mating,” but finally manged at the third attempt, just when about 50yds from the line, with Otago in a winning position. There is no doubt they should have been disqualified and ordered out of the race in the early contact that took place when Otago appealed to the umpire. Eggers and Marriner (North End) rowed well, as also did Neilson and Gleugarry (Port No. 2 pair). Some of the form in this event was not very convincing, and it is a .pity that the financial position of most rowing bodies is such that pair-oar rowing cannot be catered for more extensively, A number of people think that any two men put of a four can row in a pair, but it is an art all its own, particularly when it comes to best boats.

The programme was not got off with the usual punctuality, but on two occasions the starts were held up by shipping in the' channel.

Wellington Eight Changed. Before the Wellington eight to represent the province in the eight-oar championship contest at Wellington on Easter Saturday went on the water for the first time on Tuesday, January 30, two alterations were made in its personnel (says the ‘Post’). The crew now comprises: B. Crane (stroke), A. Hope, G. Crabtree, W. Lind, K. Boswell, R. Pritchard, D. M'Bride, and C. Bishop (bow). The crew went out under the direction of Mr W. Garrett, and appeared to go quite well on its first spin. As soon as the Wellington regatta (to be held to-morrow) is over the eight will be able to settle down to train for the big event on Easter Saturday. Although there is a fair time to go before the interprovincial eights, the crew will have to get' in plenty of solid training. ■ Five-mile rows during the week-ends and regular practice during the week shoula get the crew into pretty good shape in time for the championship. The interclub eights this season should provide a more interesting spectacle than those of previous years now that the Wellington Association has decided to limit all races to one mile, and also stage a contest between the provisional Wellington eight and a crew comprising members of the Star and Wellington Clubs. Tf-the Star- • Wellington crew includes such men as Cooke, Mullins,'and Gray the Wellington eight may find itself fully extended. Even in the event of such a Star-Wel-lington crew defeating the representative eight there will be no suggestion of any dispute which crew should represent Wellington, for Cooke. Mullins, and Gray are not available to compete at the interprovincial eights. Championship Aspirants. For the first time in twenty years the Kawatiri Club (Westport) intends to enter a maiden four at the championship regatta on February 17. at Picton. The Star Club (Wellington) will lend a boat, as the cost of transporting the club’s own boat overland from Westport to Picton would be heavy. Possibly Petone will be represented in the senior, double sculls as well as in the single sculls. 0. Gimblett will be sculling with P. Abbott. The Union (Wanganui) senior crew intends to contest the fours, while Jackson and his co-partner will defend their titles in the singles and doubles respectively. The youths and juniors are also likely to make the trip, so that the club has given the members every opportunity to add to successes enjoyed by the club in past years. The Aramoho (Wanganui) senior fours are also in training for the big race at Picton. There is still no hint of any local club being represented in any class. Clubhouse Chatter. Charlie Butterfield, North End’s popular secretary, is in hospital, although the worst is now over, and “ Coxswain ” joins with local oarsmen in wishing him a speedy recovery. Complimentary mention of the steering by the coxwains at the Port Chalmers regatta was made by the umpire (Mr E. A. Newman) at the association meeting this week. Again the Port regatta saw a very representative gathering of the “ Old Brigade,” whose interest never seems to lag, two of the oldest and best known, Jack M'Grath and Tommy Wright, being as keenly interested as on the day they won their first red coats. Mr R. Sharpe, an old

champion, who now resides in Sydney, was also present. An unexpected visitor at Port Chalmers last Saturday afternoon, was one of the Taieri Moth planes, piloted by Mr lan M. Styche, who paid homage by circling the Port prior to his departure to Cromwell. An interesting lino on the standard of junior rowing in the Wellington province was provided by the Wanganui regatta. Both St. George’s and Hamilton proved themselves superior to the Aramoho crew in the Auckland championship contest at Rotorua, yet at the regatta Aramoho succeeded in defeating a field which comprised Star (Wellington), Petone, Clifton (Waitara), Wanganui, Wanganui Union, New Plymouth, and Napier. The Auckland Club’s senior four retained the provincial championship title, defeating Hamilton by four lengths at the Hamilton regatta. In the youths’ race St. George’s and Hamilton rowed a dead-heat, and the maiden double sculls went to St, George’s by a margin of 6in, while Hamilton beat St. George’s in the eights lor the Somerville Shield by 2ft.