ROWING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 16

ROWING SEASON.

OPENING AT NORTMI SHORE.

FIRST INTER-CLUB EVENT.

PROGRAMMES FOR REGATTAS.

The •fcfiicial opening of the fifty-sixth season of tho North Shore Rowing Club lust Saturday afternoon was a most successful function. There was not only a largo attendance of friends, and supporters of tho club, but also the largest gathering of oarsmen seen at the North Shore for tho last nine years. No doubt tho attraction was the first interclub raco for the Barrett Cup. The conditions of the raco, necessitating each club racing 'trial fours, niado a long programme, anil for tho wJjolo of the racing twenty-five crews were seen in competition. In addition all the clubs had many other ciews present, while oarsmen unable to spare the time rowing across the harbour went by ferry or launch. The various club races produced some good rowing with remarkably close finishes, and tho winners of trophies fully earned the honours Tho race for tho Barrett Cup was worth going a long way to see. Fortunately the wind dropped considerably and there was little fault to find with tho water conditions. Tho boats were fairly closo throughout the journey, but it was on that portion from Ventnor to tho finishing line that tho excitement grew intense. North Shore came with a spurt and seemed likely to overhaul the leaders. Auckland and West End then challenged and Bygate's crew, travelling fast, closed on West End. A desperate fight to tho line resulted and the judge returned tho verdict to West End by two feet. This makes the fourtli occasion on which West End has won tho cup. The next best record is that of Waitomata, with two wins. Club Trials. While tho racing wan enjoyable lo watch, there was considerable delay in deciding tho programme. Tho big race did not start until after Eix o'clock, when the majority of the spectators had left. The Waitemala Boating Club will hold trial fours next Saturday afternoon for Mr. A. J. Ellcrbeck's trophies. North Shore will also hold trial fours, but Auckland, West End and St. George's, owing to the poor tide, will bo engaged with regatta and pleasure crews;. The Auckland Club's semi-final of tho Henderson Cup resulted in .Tonson's crew defeating deal's. The final has been postponed until later in tho season, owing to tho indisposition of one member of Eaddv's crow.

Following is the Waltemata Club's programme for the season :—December 1, Mr. Ellerbeck's trophies; December 8, Mr. H. Schmidt's trophies: December 15, Mr. T. Impey's trophies; January 12, Mr. Hugh Wright's trophies; January 19, Mr. W. Hampton-Reynolds' trophies; January 26, Mr. If. Buck's trophies; February 2, Mr. \Y. Denison's trophies; February 16, executive's trials for maiden oarsmen. These are all four-oar events. April 6 and 13, pair oars for Messrs. Fearon Bros.' trophies; April 20, double sculls trials, Foreman Cup. The recatta programme for the season is as follows: —December 27, Tauranga Jlegatta; January 1, Whangarei Regatta; January 29, Hamilton Regatta; March 2, Rangiriri Regatta: March 16, Ngarnawahia Regatta; March 23, Auckland Rowing Association's championships. Inter-Club Events. The next inter-club races will be held on February 9. The Smith Shield for fours under the control of the Waitemata Boating Club and the Mason pair oars controlled by the St. Georgc'si Club, will be decided. A week later, on February 16, (lie first raco for the Sir Henry Brett Memorial Cup for fours will be rowed under the management of the St. George's Club. On February 23, at the Auckland Club's At Homo, the eight-oar race for the Dr. Stuart Reid Cup has been arranged. The North Shore will row the lasL of these races, the Mcllraith Cup, on March 9.

The Whangarei Regatta Committee has submitted a programme for the annual regatta at Onerahi on January 1. The secretary, Mr. C. Maloney, stated many new arrangements were being provided for the comfort of visiting oarsmen. The sum of £SO had been allotted to the winning donations.

The races are:—Maiden Double Sculls (open), Maiden Fours, 10.4. and under; Youths' Fours: Maiden Fours (open) ; Junior Fours; Maiden Pair Oars (open); Junior Pair Oars (open); Handicap Single Sculls.

In spite of the strong northerly wind during the week-end the St. George's Club was enabled to get all crews afloat on the insido of the railway embankment. The regatta crows engaged in steady work and the coaches were able to work their crews from the embankment. This method proves most advantageous. The dance held a fortnight ago proved so successful that the committee has decided to hold a series of such functions during the season. Tlio next ono will take place on December 8. following the trial fours for Mr. A. S. liankart's trophies. RIFLE SHOOTING. THE REGIMENTAL MEETING. KEEN ENTHUSIASM SHOWN. The Auckland Regimental rifle meeting was conducted at Penrose last Saturday, ail machine-gun matches having been fired a week previously. This year a very marked keenness and enthusiasm was shown by those units of territorials and senior cadets engaged on machine-gun training, as can be gauged by the fact that nearly three times the number of entries were received as compared with previous meetings. The standard of shooting showed a decided improvement and was particularly good on the screen, tiiangle and traverso targets used at six, fivo and four hundred yards respectively. All arms were represented arid the results must have been most satisfactory to those responsible for the excellent performances of the trainees. Corporal W. M. Tongue, of the Auckland Battalion B team, who was team gunner on the traverso target for Vickers guns, put up a rcmarkabla performance in making 41 out of a possible 50. His shoot has created a record which is likely to remain unbeaten for some time and ho practically won tho match singlehanded.

The shooting in the Lewis gun section was exceedingly gooil, especially at the screen targets. There were lb tennis competing and tho •winners of a very keenly-contested match proved to he C Company, Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, which won narrowly for a scratch B team from tho corps of signallers.

Entries in the riflo matches were not as heavy as last year, school examinations interfering with a number of hoys who would otherwise liavo been competitors. The range organisation was admirable throughout and the facility given to competitors to examine their charges before shooting was the subject of very favourable comment. As usual tho teams matches created great interest and here again the arrangements made cut the element of luck down to a minimum. The City and Suburbs Rifle Club No. 1 team proved it was no novice at service shooting by winning tho moving figure and plate competition fairly easily. In the knock out competition, however, four of its number were "killed" in the first burst of firo by tho Artillery team, which in turn was beaten, a thrilling final being won by tho Signallers team from the Engineers. The all-comers' match proved easy for that fine shot, Lieut. K.'Duncan, his score of 146 being three points better than last year's aggregate. That his victory was no chance effort is shown by his highclass shooting in the territorial matches, two of which lie won easily in addition to tho aggregate. Ho has outstanding ability as a marksman and should prove a champion over long range work, as his match temperament is ideal*