ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 53, 4 March 1901, Page 3

ROWING.

SOME EXCITING FINISHES,

Tuere was a large attendance of spectators at the various points of vantage on Saturday evening to witness the trial four racos of the Gisborne and Poverty Bay Rowing Clubs. The former club rowed off two heats, and the latter one, each race resulting in an exciting finish, that between L. Shorriff and Barclay being won by tho former by the narrow margin of a foot.

GISBORNE CLUB. The first race was between—',-;, L. Shorriff (str) W. Duggan (str) C. Fraser (3) IT. Symcs (3) F. Pcttic (2) 11. Garrett (2) A. ITanson (bow) 11. Smith (bow) M. Doyle (cox) IT. Robinson (cox) From a good start Duggan soon had a slight lead, but when the footbridge was reached SherrifFs crew had got on terms with their opponents. From this point to tho winning post a hard struggle for supremacy onsued, Shorriff eventually winning by half a length. Tho next heat was between

L. Shorriff (str) Barclay (str) H. Faram (3) R. Davidson (3) 11. Graham (2) T. Kirk (2) K. Thomson (bow) W. Bright (bow) 11. Robinson (cox) M. Doyle (cox) Tho crows wore sent away to an even start, and one of tho most exciting races ever witnessed on the river ensued. At the footbridge SherrifFs crew had assumed a slight lead, but despito their most strenuous efforts they could not shake Barclay’s crew off. When Barton’s jetty was rcachod, SherrifFs crew still had an advantage of a quarter of a length. Barclay here called on his men, and, responding gamely, they gradually overhauled the loaders, and when within two boatlengths of the winning post, both boats wero level. On passing the post, SherrifFs crew had succeeded in getting their boat abeut a foot in front of their opponents’, and thus won one of the most exciting races witnessed on the river. Two more heats will bo rowed this evening.

POVERTY BAY ROWING CLUB. This Club only succeeded in getting off one heat of their trial fours, owing to a number of their members being unable to get away in time. In the heat that was rowed oil, tho following competed :

J. Martin (str) , C. Warren (str) F. Fox (8) ;-E. File (3)

A. W. Kirk (2) C. Keane (2) J. Parker (bow) K. McLeod (bow) S. Roderick (eox) Lucas (cox) In this race Warren’s crow got half a length the best of tho start, but before the hospital corner was reached Martin’s crew were on terms with them, and pulling in good style had assumed a load of half a ’ength at the bathing shed. When tho gasworks corner was reached Warren’s crew were almost on terms with their opponents, but want of condition now begau to toll on them. However, they stuck gamely to their well-trained opponents, who eventually won by quarter of a length. This evening J. -Webb will meet G. Taylor, and J. Martin will row D. West, when two good races should be witnessed.

The Selection Committee of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club meet at eight o'clock on Monday evening, when they will pick senior, junior, and ten-stone crows, to represent the Club in their annual fixtures with the Union and Napier crews. The races will bo rowed'during Easter week.