ROWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18566, 26 November 1923, Page 12

ROWING.

THE WAITEMATA CLUB. SEASON OFFICIALLY OPENED The Waitemata Boating Club's season was officially opened!, on Saturday afternoon, when an At Homo was held in the boathouse. King's Drive. A large number of friends rind supporters responded to the club's invitation. The boathouse was tastefully decorated, and the club's records and trophies were displayed. The orchestra rendered! a good musical programme. The commodore, Mr. W. G. Smith (one of the founders of the club) welcomed the visitors reiving a brief interesting outline oi the history of the club and the programme for the ensuing season. Mr. .W. Madden represented ' the Auckland Bowing Association. ' '...•»» Trial fours for trophies presented by Mr. W. G. Smith, commodore, were rowed, and interesting races were witnessed'. Seven crews competed, and the standard of rowing, was very- good for an opening day. Although, a heavy south-westerly wind prevailed, the water was fair for rowinsr. The course was from the King's Wharf to a point off the boathouse. The starting was by mutual consent, and Mr. W. G. Smith acted as judge. _ . _ The crews in the first heat were: C. Thompson, C. 1 Cairns, A. Smith, L. Wilson: C. Brooker. F. Collingson. D. Corson, E. Keely. The crews went away to- an even start and hung closely. Clearing the reclamation Thompson showed to advantage and on the run to the line increased the lead to win by two lengths. In the second heat, the crews were: A. Maokay, F. Goodall. E. Shoreland. R. Benson: V. Smith. A. Bryant. F. Burns. A. Hart. There was little between the crews until n-aring the line, where Smith's crew spurted, winning by a length and a-half. In the third heat, the crews ' were: D. Smith. F. Wright. H. Cullen. C. Read: J. Herd. N. Lowe. G. Peace. D .Hyde. This was a hard-fought race and was won by Smith's crew by three-quarters of a length. T. Johnson who drew a bye met C. Thompson's crew in the first semi-final. It was a good race in the early stages, then Thompson's crew drew away and won The' second semi-final was stroked by D. Smith and "V. Smith and provided a fine race, D, Smith gaining the v verdict .by a Much donbt existed as to the likely winners, as the crews of C. Thompson and D. Smith set off to contest the final. The start was splendid and the crews need along the reclamation practically on svefl terms. Passing the boat sheds Thompson s four was rowing the best and, swinging nicely on to their work, forged,ahead and won by six feet. The winning crew was. C. Thompson (4). C. Cairns (3). A. Smith (2). L. Wilson (1).

WEST END CLUB. MR. B. L. STEWART'S TROPHIES. The members . of the West End Rowing Club held the second set of trial fours on Saturday afternoon for trophies presented by Mr. R. L. Stewart, a vice-president. The course was from the reclamation to the clubhouse, eight crews competed. The first heat drew the crews of T, O'Brien and A. W. Newdick. There was little between the crews for half the journey, then O'Brien .took the lead. Passing St Mary's Wharf he led by a, length. Newdick challenged, but though he closed in the leader failed to catch the judge's eye by half a length. • The second beat crews were stroked by J. Skinner. W. Wright and 0. Felton. The crews went off to a fine st*rt and raced on even terms till half way, Skinner being the first to show to advantage. At St. Mary's Wharf the three crews spurted, and in an exciting finish Skinner won by half a canvas from Wright, a canvas length separating the second and third . boats. 'the third heat brought out the crews of T. Dawes, L. . Skinner and A. C. Norden. This was another fine race with an exciting finish. Dawes getting .the verdict by two feet from Skinner, with Norden half a length away. The crews of T. O'Brien. J. Skinner and J. Dawes faced the' starter for the final. The crews went off to a Rood' start and raced evenly until passing the, wharf. The challenge was then thrown out and amid great excitement O'Brien's four crossed the line half a length ahead of Skinner's, with Dawes half a lencth away. The winning crew was. T. O'Brien (4). 0. Nicklin (3), G. Bloxham (2), K. Newdick (1). K. Conway (cox). *

ST. GEORGE'S CLUB. ROWSELL MEMORIAL CUP. The St. George's Rowing Club towed off the Rowsell Memorial Cud on Saturday afternoon. Seven crews competed. The first heat was ' won rather easily by A. Lamb's crew, the other two crews finishing well and very evenly. In the second heat the crews were stroked by Wright and Hammond. Wright's crew won by a length, after a hard-fought race. . The third heat was contested by crews stroked by ' Surman end Horton. An exciting race, won on the post by Burman's For 'the final the following crews faced the starter: A. Lamb. A. Porter. Fraser. Spensley; S. Wright. Butchart. L. Witherow. Sham; R. Surman. K. Welch. W. Har-p-eaves. C. Manning. ■ This, race was rowed in excellent water, with a making tide, From an even start the crews dashed away in real regatta style. A quarter way from home. Lamb had a slight lead, the other two crews being nose and nose. A spurt by Surman's crew placed them slightly in the lead, when ,300 yards, from the finishing line. A ding-dong tussle # from there onwards resulted in Surman winning by a canvas, with Wright a length behind Lamb's crew. The afternoon's, sport was an entire success, the boats being in perfect order. Light refreshment ' was served. ' ~-■-,