OVATION FOR WHANGAREI

Northern Advocate, 28 December 1934, Page 4

OVATION FOR WHANGAREI

ROWERS AT TAURANGA. SUCCESS OF HEAVY MAIDENS. “A FINE RACE.” • Congratulations will be extended to the Whangarei Rowing Club’s crew which won the maiden fours event at the Tauranga Regatta on Boxing Day. The crew won a fine race by a ■narrow margin and earned the applause of the large crowd-present. The win was all the more meritorious on account of the fact that -Whangarei is used to rowing in smooth water on the river, and at Tauranga the rowing everits~had to be postponed three times owing to rough water.

The conditions were tlie worst possible for Whangarei. However, at the start the course was protected by the railway bridge, and Whangarei got into their stride and gained the lead. Emerging on the other side of the bridge they ran into choppy water, and, unused to such conditions, had to fight every inch of the way. There were twelve starters, including .competitors from as far south as Wellington, and they represented the best in the Dominion. Whangarei drew No. 11 position. "Whangarei’s lead them in good stead, and they got past the finishing line with only a canvas to spare. The cox, J. Stewart, steered a great race, and at the finish the officials in charge of the rowing, members of the Auckland Rowing Association, congratulated him on his performance. The Whangarei crew received a great ovation from the spectators as they finished, and the opinion of the officials, the majority of whom have been connected with rowing for many years, was that it was one of the finest races that they had ever witnessed.

Whangarei did not compete in the doubles as intended, and dropped out of the pair-oar race. After the big race it presented too great an obstacle to overcome. Even so, they were level at the end of the first half-mile. One of the members of the Whangafei crew experienced bad luck when his racing colours were stolen'before the race. Somewhat in a quandary, the difficulty was overcome by borrowing the colours of another club that were somewhat similar.

Whangarei’s performance shows that the crew is one that could compete at any regatta in the Dominion, and its reputation was certainly enhanced by its success on Boxing Day. Southern clubs, which have never heard of Whangarei, will have to produce their best if they ever meet this crew. It is .considered that if the conditions had been favourable to Whangarei the race would have been won by a much wider margin.

It is hoped that Whangarei will be able to compete at Hamilton on January 29, but the question of finance is one that will enter into any decision made.

The successful Whangarei crew was as follows:—O. E, Bindoh, P. Gardner, H. Patterson, and C. Storey. ,J. Stewart was cox and Mr E.‘Dennis manager. ‘. .