TEST TRIAL RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20521, 24 March 1930, Page 12

TEST TRIAL RACE

POSSIBLES AND PROBABLES. CREW FOR EMPIRE GAMES. TWELVE MEN SELECTED. With a view to assisting the selectors in choosing the crew to represent New Zealand at the Empire Games in Canada next August a test row was arranged on Saturday between the Possibles and Probables. The crews were as follows: —

Possibles. —F. Brough (Otago), B. Sandos (Auckland), G. St. Clair (Auckland), J. McDonald (Marlborough), N. Pope' (Auckland), G. Cooke (Welling' ton), E. A. Waters (Auckland).

Probables.—G. Saunders (Marlborough), L. Brooker (Auckland), B. Wilson (Marlborough), G. B. Johnson (Otago), L. Fountain (Otago), J. C. Mitchell (Otago), W. Dean (Auckland), J. Adams (Marlborough). It was not regarded as a race, 'but purely as an exhibition and no decision was given.

The selectors, Messrs. E. Innes, A. D. Bayfeild, H. Ay res and A. M. Hale, have chosen the following crew, from which the final selection will be made after preliminary training:—F. Brough, L. Fountain, G. B. Johnson (Otago), V. Olsson (Picton); G. St. Clair, B. Sandos (Hamilton), A. Ross (Auckland), F, H. Thompson, C F. J. Gibby (Canterbury); C. Saunders, J. McDonald (Wairau); G. Cook (Wellington). VISITORS ENTERTAINED. PRESENTATION OF CUP. The \ visiting oarsmen were entertained by the Auckland Rowing Association at a smoke concert in the Waiternata Club's boathouse on Saturday evening. Mr. W. G. Mason, president of the Auckland Rowing Association, presided over a large attendance.

During the evening Mr. Ilallybitrton Johnstone presented the championship cup to Otago and congratulated the crew upon its fine performance in winning the race two years in succession. Mr. llallyburton Johnstone also presented another cup to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association to bo allocated to the senior fours championship. A musical programme was rendered by Messrs. J- Meldrum, J. Lonagan, J. McMinn, L. Bickerton, F. Cooper, R. Reynolds and A. Bailey. In responding to the toast of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association Mr. A. D. Bayfield, secretary, stated that 5000 dollars had been given by Canada to New Zealand for representation at the Empire Games. The other sports body had unanimously decided to hand it over to the oarsmen and give them a chance. It was a golden opportunity for the oarsmen, and to show their appreciation of the action rowing enthusiasts throughout the Dominion should accept the chance and raise the balance of £750 necessary to despatch the drew. Mr. A. M. Hale stated that no doubt 3 should exist as to a New Zealand crew worthily upholding the prestige of the country at the Empire Games. The performances of the New Zealand expeditionary force crew in England and France, the eight-oar crew in Australia in 1925, followed by the Otago and Waiternata crews' successes at the Henley-on-Yarra j regatta were sufficient indication of the high standard the Dominion crews could attain.