ROWING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 15

ROWING SEASON.

REGATTA AT TAURANGA.

FAILURE OF HAMILTON CREWS.

PREPARING FOR WHANCAREI

The Tauranga regalia, held on Boxing Day, proved a decided success, and t]io provincial regatta crews, after the result of tho first tests, will for the most part undergo many changes. Jn many instances this will not come as a surprise, as seats were filled by keen enthusiasts in order that their clubs should lie represented. The' water conditions in the morning left little to he desired, but during the afternoon, over the greater portion of the course, tho rough water upset all calculations. This was most noticeable in the senior fours, and the two placed crews, Tauranga and Waitoniata, can.be regarded ns being very fortunate to remain ailuat to lift the winning donation. The Tauranga crew was a light one, suited to tlio conditions. The unlucky fours in the race were Hamilton and St. George's, both of whom swamped. Waiteinata can bo considered fortunate in not going under, and it made the spectators marvel, even although the boat was nursed.

A striking incident of tho regatta was that the crack Hamilton club failed to gain a winning donation. The winning list was headed by Tauranga, with £sl, Auckland and North Shore were level with £l4 each, Waitcmata £l2, West End £3, and St. George's £2. Tauranga certainly had a big innings, and, while full credit for the day's performances must lio given, some of the successes are not likely to be repeated at future galas.

Three races that can Ijo mentioned are tho junior fours, light maidens and senior fours. Another crew that does not hold bright prospects at future regattas is Auckland's heavy maidon four. The crew which must at an early date score in this class is St. George's. In tho single sculls handicap the New Zealand champion, W. Turner, won in fine style, and any man in Auckland who hopes to defeat Turner off tho same mark has a very stiff proposition before him. Tho champion left nothing to chance and gained a popular win. Tho failure of the Hamilton Club cannot Lie treated lightly, as faults discovered will receive a hard pounding before tho Hamilton regatta on January 29. Tho oarsmen all speak in glowing terms of the splendid treatment accorded them by tho Tauranga Regatta Committee, tho only regret being that the trip was all too short.

The Whangarei regatta takes place at Onerahi on New Year's Day. As train arrangements are unsuitable, Hamilton and Tauranga will not compete. Tho east coast club never makes tho journey north, but tho "VVaikato crews will be missed. If the reports about tho Whangarei crews are correct, tho Auckland crews will meet some hard opposition. At the present time the prospects of the* Waitemata Club's crews are tho brightest. In previous years many surprises have occurred.

Tho Tauranga regatta provided close racing, but some crews created the impression that they wero short of condition for a really severe test over tho full course. It was known beforo the journey was made that rough weather had hampered training, but some men, even allowing for (his, wero not in as good condition as they should havo been.

RIFLE SHOOTING.

NORTH ISLAND .MEETING.

AUCKLANDERS' PERFORMANCES

The North Island riflo championship was decided at Wanganui last week, sovcn Auckland marksmen attending. An entry of 99 constituted a record for tho meeting and tho marksmanship was of a very high standard, duo partly to tho ideal shooting conditions. Standard two coloured N.R.A. targets were used throughout. Tho Aucklanders who competed were E. J. C. Reston, D. Calder, A. W. Powell, K. Davies and A. M. Richardsou, of tho Akarana Club, and H. Simmonds and R. C. Russell, of tho Auckland City Club. H. Boon won the service match by 15 points with 83, the Auckland men who were placed being K. Davies, 61; R. U. Russell, 00; K. J. C. Reston, 49; A. M. Richardson, 45. H. Simmonds used a borrowed rille and could do no good with it.

The first, match at 300 yds. was won with 48, Reston finishing fourth with 47, Russell seventh with 47, and Simmonds 15th with 46. Powell and Calder were counted out with 45 each. Davies headed tho tyro list with 47, a fino shoot for one in his class. There were two 49s at sCoyds., Simmonds being placed sixth with 47, while Powell 47, Reston 46, and Calder 46, were in the prize list. Five competitors with 46 were counted out. The first round at 600 yds, was won by tho Featherstono tyro, J. Bouzaid, with a possible, one of the two recorded at tho meeting. Powell and Russell were second and third respectively, with scores of 47. Simmonds was in ninth place with 46, Reston making the same total. One 45 was counted out. In the tyro 'ist Richardson was third with 44. On the second clay of tho meeting the first match at 300 yds. was won with the best 49. Reston filled eighth position with 47, Calder, 45, being the only other Auckland man on tho prize list. Simmonds and Powell were counted out with scores of 44.

Carrying on at 500 yds. there was n, possible and four 49's at the top, Powell being placed ninth with 48. Russell, 47. and Simmonds, 46, were placed and Roston and Caldcr, 46, counted out. Richardson figured in the tyro list with 45. A glaring light caused elevation trouble in (lie final match at 600 yds., which was won with a 48. Aucklanders in the money were iSiinmouds, 44, and Reston, 43. Tho championship aggregate went to Mcßain with 322, Reston being third with 519, alter a shoot-off, and Simmonds sixth with 317. Powell, Caldcr and Russell wero also placed. The Akarana team finished third in the chainpion teams maich lo the Wanganui A and B teams with aggregates of 466 and 460 respectively. The individual scores were: —Caldcr, 95; Reston, 94; Davies, 93; Powell, 93; Richardson, 83; total, 458. i

Without actually winning a match the Aucklanders mado a very fino showing considering thero were only fivo A grade shots competing, tho consistency of Reston and Simmonds being a feature of the shooting.

REMARKABLE RUNNING.

FRENCH ATHLETE'S RECORD.

The performance of J. Ladoumegue in creating a new world's record for 1500 metres in 3ni 49 l-5s was a truly remarkable one. D. G. A. Lowe, tho wellknown English athlete, has calculated that in comparing tho times for 1500 metres with tlioso over ono mile, which is 120 yards further, you should add 3-40ths of tho time taken over tho shorter distance?. On this basis Ladoumcguo's time is equivalent to 4ni 6s for tho mile. Even when you appreciate that such mathematical comparisons can only be approximations, it is plain that Lndpumeguo can got well inside 4m 10s for the .longer distance.