ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 22227, 3 January 1936, Page 4

ROWING

FORM DOWN THE BAY

MACANDREW BAY REGATTA

[By Coxswain.]

This popular 'fixture again opened ihe racing activities of oarsmen for th» 1935-36 season, and very general satisfaction at its control was expressed by' all rowing men present. i . The committee deserves the thank* of all followers of aquatic sport for tha excellent and varied programme arranged,, while the hospitality* extended was much appreciated. Commodore Rowlands and Secretary Yates, both acting for the first time, had all details at their finger-tips, and the smoothness and promptitude with which the whole programme worked out gave proof . of their organising ability and of the team work of the whole committee. Regret was expressed at -the failure of some clubs to- be represented, in all the rowing events; it is unusual to have junior double sculls and fours ■without .representation from Port and Queen’s Driyai Clubs, both of which have always been strong in this-class. The weather was changeable, arid afs one time raised a nasty jobble whichl tested the watermanship of corripetitors, but this is all to the good, as a) succession of flat calms leads to a de* gree of easy rowing that may easily develop to, carelessness and slovenly work.

Racing commenced with the youths* l fours,'in which. Mr Faifbairn gave a; start in which, his own club, Otago, was the sufferer. This was' brought about by a defect in his gun which was later rectified. Queen’s Drive and Port dial* mers showed excellent, form, whila North End will appear to better advantage later. For Otago, Lysaght set a! fine stroke which should have been easily followed. In the junior double sculls only two crews started, and Otago, going very nicely, won comfortably by several lengths. The maiden fours proved a surprise,' as it was not expected that Otago would fill both places. The crews wenfi away well together, hut after half a mile the Otago boats led the field to eventually fight out the finish, Petria winning nicely from his club mate White. At the start White’s crew was rowing a nice lively stroke, with good work right through the boat, but Petrie’s stronger crew wore them down. Port and Drive had the. youths’double sculls to themselves, the former winning. The sculling by all the competitors in this class was really good. For the classic senior fours Queen a Drive was unfortunate in losing, the services of its stroke, Gordon Clark, who had not sufficiently recovered from an injury to be able to row. Pithia had the stroke seat, and though rowing well such a radical alteration-so soon before a regatta is a serious handicap in senior races. - North .Ehd B had a slight advantage in an otherwise good start, and led out at the gunfire. Fine form by all crews kept them even tor half a mile, when Port started to assert itself, and, showing fine form, went on to win by two lengths from Otago. With Clark back in the Drive boat and a further period of training by North End some excellent senior racing should bo witnessed at forthcoming regattas. The maiden double sculls _ again found Otago gaining-first and second places, Lysaght and Davidson put up a good performance to heat Valhs and Jack, the combination gained by these two lads in youth’s events last year has stood them in good stead. .Una should have been a better race as outside the winners the form was much below that expected. Two crews from each of the. Upper Harbour clubs contested the junior fours m winch Petria stroked the No. 2 Otago crew with a second win for the day. North End No 2 beat its No. 1 crew for second place. The Otago No. 1 crew had bad luck in a breakage when in a favour- ■ able position. It will be interesting to see the next meeting between the two Otago crews. „ . , , No regatta could have finished with a better race tliat than provided by the senior sculls. Drive rowed Mathison in Clark’s place, while Mick Brough, who has so often competed itt this race, was unable; to compete through pressure of work and at the last minute Zaffer took the 1 stroke seat arid Binnie, who not scullod for some time, went bow. From 'an | excellent start Otago took a slight lead from Drive and Port, with North End handy. Otago was first tackled by Drive and after staving that, crew, ofS was then taken on by Solomon and Ncilson, who two yards from the post,were almost level. In a desperate finish Zaffer prevailed by less than, a; length} with Port beating _Drivie by a, very narrow margin. This race was certainly the high light of the regatta, and provided a most exciting finish'to the day’s sport. . Umpire Robinson and Starter Pairbairn were very grateful to the-various crews for their continuous -promptitude! at the post. CLUBHOUSE CHATTER. Mr W. J. Wilson was present in hit official capacity ! of president of the N.Z.A.R.A. at Macandrews, and the numerous congratulations showered oa the genial “ Billy P proved the popularity of his appointment to the highest position offered in the rowing circles of New Zealand. Several of the old hands were again at the Bay. Garry Hogan, Alec Watson, and Jimmy Solomon were all fighting out the battles 0f'.40 years ago. Ex-champions Bill Pinkham, of Blenheim. and Jack Werges, of Dunedin, were casting a critical eye, while several of the prominent oarsmen of the last 15 years made up a most representative gathering. After the fine performances on Boxing Day the Otago Club’s large entry at the Bluff’ regatta should meet with a fair measure of success. ./ Good fellowship amongst oarsmen H proverbial, but the congratulations extended to Zaffer and Binnie after tha senior sculls on Thursday was a very fine gesture of sportsmanship. Harry Pritchard, probably the best known oarsman in Otago, _ was at Macandrews. Since its inception Pritchard lias never missed competing at the-fix-ture and his fine performances are well known. Many were the congratulations extended to him on his marriage. A decision to hold an inter-club qightoar race on a Sunday was made at » recent meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association.. An Auckland Rowing Association official, to whom this decision was referred, states that the position as far as the Auckland Association was concerned had been definitely laid down at a meeting of-dele-gates some years ago. At that meet-, ing, it was decided that no inter-club 1 contests would be held on a Sunday, and there has since been no alteration to that decision. Individual clubs, of course, remained free to frame theic own regulations regarding Sunday racing. •