ROWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17622, 8 November 1920, Page 9

ROWING.

-o _ . THE WEST END CLUB. The official opening and "At Home" of the \Vest End Rowing Club was held on. Saturday afternoon, when trial fours were K wed _.[o trophies presented by the patron, Mr. Thos. Peacock There, was a large attendance of members and supporters of the club and they were treated to a most Interesting afternoon's racing Mt. E E Madden was judge and Mr. John Clark starter. Eleven crews competed. In the first, heat crews stroked by A Verran. T Ryan and L. Culpan faced the starter. The crews struck splendidly on the drop of the flag and raced together SI I J!r". art VS the Journey. Approaching St. Majlvs Wharf Ryan. an the centre, J moved ahead. His crew was swinging , well together, and. although Culpan's four I challenged. Ryan's crew crossed the line three-Quarters of a length to the good. 1 , In the second heat the crews were' stroked by Bright. A. Culpan and D Graham F rom a good start they raced on level termn x. the half-distance, where Bright forged ahead. At the wharf Culpan and Graham challenged, and an exciting finish resulted m Bright winning by half-a-length from Culpan, who led Graham by a. similar distance.

Crews stroked by Dawes, Norden and bkraner contested the third heat. They got away evenly, but Dawes quickly gained the lead. Norden challenged at the halfdistance, but could make no impression on the leaders. In the last hundred yard* -Nordcn's four again spurted, but Dawes maintained his advantage and crossed, the line, three-parts of a length ahead of Norden, with a. length and a-half separating second and third.

In the fourth heat the stroke* were Graham and Hunter. From the start the result was never in doubt Graham's crew went to the front on the fall of the flag and rowinc comfortably crossed the line with a length to spare. In the first semi-final the strokes were Ryan and Bright. An even race ensued until the wharf was reached, when Eyan's crew drew ahead and won by three-parts of a length. In the second semi-final the strokes were Graham and. Dawes. The latter led from the start and crossed the line a. comfortable winner by a len<rth. The final between Dawes and Ryan proved the race of the day. The crews struck together and rowing a solid stroke kept together for three-parts of the course. Dawes • then forged slightly ahead, and Ryan immediately spurted. At the wharf the boats were level. A great finish resulted in a w;n for Dawes' crew by a bare canvas. The winning crew was: J. Dawes (stroke). J. Johnston. J. Barber, R. Newdick. THE AUCKLAND CLUB. The Auckland Rowing Club on Saturday engaged in trial fours for the Clark Memorial Shield, and a good afternoon's sport was witnessed. The racing for an opening day was good. Seven crews competed and the races were rowed in three heats and a final. Crews stroked by O'Hanlon and Stevenson faced the starter in the first heat. They raced together until three-parts of the journey had been covered, when Stevenson spurted and won by two lengths. In the second heat Fleming and McMillan were the strokes. Floming took the lead at the Btart and maintained it throughout, winning by half-a-length.' The third heat was contested by crews •stroked by Hawes, O'Hanlon and McMillan. The crews kept together until the lost hundred yards, when a timely spurt by O'Hanlon gave his crew the lead, which they held until the finish.

The final between Stevenson, Fleming and O'Hanlon proved a fine race. The boats got away well together and O'Hanlon wag the first to show to advantage. Stevenson then challenged and went to the front. Fleming put in his claim, but Stevenson's four crossed the line a length ahead of Fleming's crew, with O'Hanlon half-a-length away. The winning crew was: W. Stevenson (.stroke), J. Lawrence. Hall. Eavestaff, Chapman (cox.).