BOWING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 15

BOWING SEASON.

EIGHT-OAR crew selected.

/ CHALLENGERS' FOR SHIELD. RACE FOR THE BRETT CUP. The selection of the eight-oar crew to Represent Auckland at the forthcoming jnt6rptt>vmcial race at"' Picton has created considerable interest, and it is agreed that the selectors have chosen a first-class crew from the material offering. Naturally the - cro w would have been greatly strengthened- by t ' ,f - inclusion of the Hamilton senior four, but as it was stated the men could not travel, the selectors were handicapped. The opinion has been expressed that ilie crew, being a volunteer one. is not ftillv representative,,'of Hie province, and 6 ho«*ild not be sent. This aspect was considered bv the Auckland Association, and it was decided that in tlie interests of the gport it was best/that an eight should travel. Until it is possible for sufficient funds to be raised to enable members from the scattered clubs to train ns a crew, the association has no alternative but to assemble a volunteer eight if the province i$ to be represented at all. It is recognised that intensive training will have to be undergone by the crew, and arrangements are being made by the coach to have the ciew out at least four times a week up to the time of the race. The difficulty will be that all the selected men are also in regatta crews, and these arrangements pre liable to be upset. With regard to the individuals in tho eight, tile following / details will be interesting:—A Cotes, North Shore, stroke, aged 22, sft. llin., weight .'LOst. 121b.; F. golomon, St. George's, (7), aged 25, 6ft., weight 13st.; A. Boss, Waitemata, (6), aged 26, 6ft., weight 12st. 71b.; P. Williams, St. Georges, (5), aged 23, 6ft., weight list. 101b.; R. Porter, Auckland, (4), aged 21, sft. llin., weight list. 71b.; L. McCallum, North Shore, (3), aged 22, sft. 9in., weight list. 31b.; C. Chamberlain, Auckland (2), aged 21, sft. llin., weight list. 41b. ~ C. Oliver, North Shore (bow), aged 20, sft. 7in;, weight lOst. 101b. Boats Damaged. The action of several boatowners in anchoring their small craft too close in to the wall off the Tamaki Drive was responsible for serious damage.to two racing boats during the week. K. Smith, the New Zealand champion sculler, while indulging in a practice spin, ran head on into one boat, considerably damaging his ra(er. Although this is now being repaired its structure ha s been weakened, and this will no doubt affect his chances at the forthcoming Mercer regatta. Hie following evening at the finish of a trial row for the provincial eights, another collision occurred at almost the same spot, and about 4ft. of the bow of the association eight was split. Repairs were put in band immediately, and it is hoped it will not be long before the boat is once more in commission 1 The Tauranga Rowing Club has notified the Auckland Association that it is unable to' accepTfhe challenges'for thsSomerville Shield from West End and St. George's, which desired to row _ at the Mercer or Auckland regattas. This is not unexpected, -and as no central place can be finalised this, season it will mean that the trophy will ; be held by Tauranga for the remainder of the year. It should be mentioned that the holders of the trophy are entitled to row on their own course, and Tauranga finds it impossible to send a complete eight-oar crew to the regattas. The race for the Brett Cup on Saturday was marred by iin unfortunate incident toward the end of the race. While Auckland and St. George's were engaged in a hard struggle on the home stretch the boats fouled. Auckland passed the finishing post three-quarters ot a length ahead of St. George's. When appealed to, the umpire awarded the race to St. George s. riving his opinion that the foul occurred through Auckland leaving its proper water. Whangarei's Showing.

Five crews were on the line for the start of the race, and were sent away |°8 et j!«[; bv the starter,, Mr. E. H. Bucklei. the first quarter of a mile there was not much between the crews, Whangarei being well in the running. From then on, wit i St. George's and Auckland, Whangaiei gradually drew • awav from the otheis. North Shore and Waitemata dropping back. Across the bay, St. George s led Auckland and Whangarei, but Auckland came with a spurt off the baths and obtained nearly a length s lead from St. George's. With St. George s challenging Auckland again the foul occurred, and Auckland weifi- on to cross the line fiist. The showing of the Whangarei crew was bv no means disappointing, and it is to be commended on making the journey to compete for the trophy. \\aitemata s form was no doubt affected by the previous exertions of Smith and Becsley in the Mason pairs. The .Mason pairs was rowed in a tut calm, which gave no assistance to the crews. It was a disappointing entry, only two crews facing the starter, Waitemata and St. George's. The former crew jumped away /from the start, and went on to win comfortably by four lengths. Three crews contested the Nixon Cup, which was rowed from Kohitnarama to St. Helicrs, the event being won by the Waitemata heavy maiden crew. Ihe race was rowed in fairly rough water, and trouble was experienced by the boats in th* h'i'g row back to the'sheds