ROWING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20423, 27 November 1929, Page 15

ROWING SEASON.

NORTH SHORE CLUB OPENS

SECOND INTER-CLUB EVENT.

FIRST REGATTA AT TAURANGA

The most important event in Auckland rowing circles last Saturday was the official opening of tho North Shore Club's fifty-fifth season. Tho function proved most successful in every way and the largo attendance of supporters and friends testified to the popularity of the sport. Tho trial fours for trophies donated by tho president drew six crews, necessitating five races with tho two boats. Theso events were contested under the most adverse water conditions and it speaks well for the qualities of the boats that the full programme of racing was completed. The club officials are deserving of much praise for the good standard of rowing which clearly indicated the amount of work indulged in, and attention paid by the oarsmen to the instruction given. Tho rough conditions necessitated a short course, but it was sufficient to show the determined manner in which the members fought out each race. The finishes were all close and on two occasions the judgo experienced uneasy moments as tho boats approached the line. The final was left to tho crews of Cotes and Norris, and a stirring race resulted. Cotes won by half a length and the victory went to the best rowing crew.

The veterans' race drew two crews, the conditions not being enticing enough for several more veterans to enter the fray again. Tho race did not reach expectations, as one crew, after shipping a lot of water, thought more of the care of the boat than racing, and carefully nursed the craft ashore.

The Waitemata Boating Club with trial fours for Mr. C. J. Ellerbeck's trophies had eight crews out. Three heats and a final were rowed. Erratic steering spoiled the first event, but the remainder created a good afternoon's sport. The day's honours were won by Belton's crew, and its success was well deserved. Several New Oarsmen. included in the crews were many new men who showed good promise, and a few such races should add more finish to their work. The course was hard but tho men stood up to their tasks well. The work of the new men must have been very pleasing to the selectors, who at the present time are engaged in the difficult task of selecting the regatta crews. The club has certainly some fine material to work upon, and in spite of the fact that new men will figure in so many crews, Waitemata will be hard to beat in the maiden events.

The St. George's Club set about a most ambitious programme and almost completed it. Trial fours usually prove sufficient for a week-end, but in addition pair-oar trials were also started. The fours for Walker and Hall's trophieswere taken first and the three races resulted in close contests. No crew had a runaway win, while the final was a tussle over the long journey and Hargreaves' crew, holding out best, won by half a length. The pair-oars for the Thomas trophies showed how quickly the members could adapt themselves to this class of racing. Six races were arranged but owing to two events resulting in a dead heat the spectators were treated to eight. On account of the falling tide it was decided to row the final over the long course outside the roadway. Misfortune, however, overtook one crew in going under the bridge and a collision with the piles resulted in one outrigger being damaged beyond any hope of racing. This event will he decided later in the week. Next Saturday afternoon all the clubs will asscmblo at the Auckland Rowing Club for the second inter-club race of the. season. The trophies for the occasion have been donated by Mr. Schmidt to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the Auckland Club of which he is an officer. All clubs will row trial fours and the respective winners will (hen engage in the final for tho trophies. The Auckland Club is holding an At Home in the boathouse.

The. races, weather permitting, will be rowed over the long course, from Orakei to the eastern tide deflector. The officers request all other club members to be punctual for with the, long course and big programme the events must bo decided in an expeditious manner in order to come to finality on the day. So many events are ahead this season that whenever possible the programmes must strictly be adhered to. Regatta Crews Training. Every available chance of a row is being accepted by the various regatta crews. It is safe even now to predict the best racing seen for some years at the first regatta at Tauranga. Practically all the crews are under the care of one coach, and this method will have a more beneficial effect than several coaches handling the same four, as was the case last, season. The crows all contain many new men, who are keen, and they have already given a taste of their qualities in the trial racing. The country clubs have their crews in solid training and while they enjoy decided advantages in their work over the fitv oarsmen, they will find that no event, will be won easily at the opening regatta. The North Shore Club has been advised that the new racing clinker four from Towns, of Sydney, will arrive shortly. The club is well satisfied with the practice fours, that show great pace and are good in rough water.

BOXING RING

MATCHES FOR PETE SARRON

Boxing mailers arc brightening in Auckland and the Northern Boxing Association has in view two more contests before this year ends, one for December 16 and one for December 27. Unfortunately Artie liay has intimated that owing to business reasons he will not be available until the New Year. It is expected, however, that the association will bo able to prevail upon him to accept tho second date, when it is thought one of tho leading Australians will bo his opponent. As yet no definite arrangement has been made for December 16, although several men have been considered. Trowern and Morgan may possibly meet. A match between this pair was to have taken place at Gisborne last Saturday, but Trowern injured his hand. Although by no moans a pretty boxer, Tommy Donovan is a crowd plcascr, and if a suitable opponent could bo found for him in tho time he is worth considering. Lou Bloom, an American light-weight who catne over with Pete Sarron from Australia, might be considered as an opponent for Morgan, who is just over tho light-weight mark. Bloom has beaten Norman Gillespie, Australian lightweight champion, and Harry Corbett, and lost to Billy Grime in a close fight.i Peto Sarron meets Jack Jones at Wellington next Monday, and Billy Grime in Wellington on December 16. It will bo their fourth meeting, and Sarron has two decisions to Grime's one. Later, Sarron will be matched with Johnnie Leckie at either Napier or Palmerston North. While in Auckland Sarron said that he would like a fight under the Northern Boxing Association. Fidel la Barba, who was the outstanding importation in Australia earlier in the year, met dofeat at the hands of an Italian, Kid Francis, in Paris last month before a. crowd of between 20,000 and 30,000 people. La Barba, it is said, is returning to Australia in tjie Qeac future.