ROWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 6

ROWING.

REGATTA AT MERCER. All that is necessary to ensure the success of the New Zealand Championship Regatta at Mercer to-morrow is fine weather, . as complete arrangements for the gala have been made by the regatta officials. 1 Trains will leave Auckland at 8.41, 9.35, > and 10.18 a.m., arriving at Mercer about j i two hours later. These leave the regatta L ground on the return journey at 4.45, 5, 5.45, and 6.20 p.m. Special trains from 1 the country districts have also been ar- ' ranged, to return immediately after the re- , gatta. In view of the enormous number , of visitors anticipated at Mercer, full pro- 1 ' vision has been made in the matter of re- t freshment booths, and the various local , . restaurants will also be catering for the . public wants. For those who prefer to ' partake of their lunch in picnic fashion on * 1 the banks of the beautiful Waikato, hot a ' water is to be provided. ' t . There will be no lack of entertainment for those who may weary of the rowing < ( events, . the more serious features of the ' programme being delightfully interspersed 1 with native aquatic events, which never ] fail to create the utmost enthusiasm. A E , lengthy series of Maori canoe races has , been arranged, and in these classes the en- x tries are almost as numerous as in the row- i ing events. The hurdle races especially i prove particularly entertaining to the on-. . lookers, and, as no fewer than four of these . are to be contested_ considerable interest ■ should be aroused. Another event which ' 1 never fails to cause amusement—to those : ; not actually participating in the contests- t is the greasy boom competition, for which . the number of entries will probably bo heavy. The novel spectacle of races be- ' tween canoes manned by crews of eight « , native braves will also be witnessed, and { subsequently whakatiwai canoe races by r crews of eight wahines. , The rowing events of the carnival will I already be familiar to the miblic. For the first time in five years the New Zealand * championships are to be decided in the £ 1 Auckland provincial district, and the num- ? ber of entries for the classic events are 1 , proportionately large. The championship '" events to be decided are the single sculls, : double sculls, pair oars, and fours, all of * which will be rowed under the rules of the ' 1 Isew Zealand Amateur Rowing Association. l In addition to these events, the usual pro- £ • yincial class races will bo rowed and', '< judging from the keen contests at previous regattas during the season, and the consistent training indulged in by the local i trews during the past few weeks, some • interesting racing should result. * The Mercer regatta course is widely re- } cognised as one of the best in New Zealand, an outstanding feature being the fac\ r that the crews are easily visible to the ' spectators throughout the entire course of. * the races. The natural-advantages of the * district also assist materially towards the * enjoyment of the visitors; The grassy l ! banks of the willow-fringed river make i ideal grounds for picnic parties, and from c their position afford an almost uninter- J rupted view of the events. As the river s at Mercer runs practically north and south f it is not in any way influenced by the pre- t vailing westerly breezes, and the water, s being always smooth, makes the rowing s conditions perfect. Consequently, in view 1 of the work already put in by the many t training crews, the regatta should prove in v every way an unprecedented success. c t SOMERVILLE SHIELD. * The Auckland Rowing Club's.crew was I out again last evening and put in a very * good practice row. The crew is rowing r much better together now, and last evening r plenty of dash was put into the work. 9 Up to date this is the best row the crew J lias had, plenty of pace was got out of the * boat, and the finish of the stroke was r more satisfactory than hitherto. The dis- E taiice rowed last evening was about two miles, and the crew was going well at the finish With good weather conditions en Saturday next a big crowd is expected to v witness the race. a