ROWING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21144, 30 March 1932, Page 15

ROWING SEASON.

EIGHT-OAR RACE AT PICTON. OTAGO AGAIN SUCCESSFUL. INTER-VARSITY CONTEST. There were large crowds at Picton on Easter Saturday for the annual interprovincial eight-oar championship, which was rowed in heavy southerly squalls sweeping directly down the course. This year the course was shortened to two miles, instead of the usual three, in view of (he approaching lowing races at the Olympic Dames where the distance for the eights is about one mile and a-half. The Olympic clew to represent New Zealand was chosen after crews of possibles and probables had raced off after the inter-provincial race. The Otago eight, stroked by F. Brough, 1930 Empire Games representative in Canada, secured the verdict for the fourth consecutive time from the five other provincial crews, and Canterbury came in second, the same position which the crew gained last year at Dunedin. Marlborough provided a surprise by finishing very strongly into third place, after rowing at the tail ef the race. Auckland came in fourth, having rowed in the heavy water over the whole course. The crews from the North Island crossed on the Tamahine on Thursday evening, and although they all left Wellington in high spirits, the rough crossing experienced soon accounted for the oarsmen who, one by one, gradually succumbed to the effects of seasickness. The following day, which was rather cold and bleak, the Auckland crew had an outing in the eight lent by Marlborough, and accustomed themselves to the new conditions. They had another spin at 3.30 that afternoon, when tho boat ran much better and seemed to have more life in it. Auckland's Start. No work was done on the water oil Saturday, and there was little indication that the boisterous conditions would die down for the race at three o'clock. The southerly wind blew down the course in heavy gusts, and the outgoing tide made the task a heavier one for the six crews. Auckland: was not favoured by a good start, but Otago and Wanganui shot out to the front and soon had almost a length in hand. All the crews with the exception of Auckland and Wanganui fitted splash-boards for the race, and this fact must have been responsible to some extent for keeping water out of the boats. Otago rowed a very high rate of striking from the gun, and soon had an undisputed, lead from all the others. Canterbury, which was a heavy crew, swung out to it more, and was not striking at such a high rate, while still retaining its position. Wanganui had had it's training on calm water for six weeks prior to the race, and the bad conditions must have affected it to a very great extent. Wellington broke a poppet soon after the commencement of the race, and tailed be'fiind. Marlborough was not in the running until it rowed into the lee of the land during the last half-mile, and then it came up very rapidly to gain third position. Following the eights were about a dozen launches and a larger steamer which carried hundreds of people. Over the whole course their cheers and barrackings were to be heard, and owing to the head wind and tide, most of the craft were able to hold their positions with the crews.

The Olympic Crew. About an hour and a-half after the in-ter-provincial race there was a trial of Olympic talent, the possibles (E. Jackson, F. H. Mullins, C. A. Stiles, V. Olsson, A. Rossb, D. Matheson, J. E. Sherbrooke ;ind F. Solomon) defeating the probables (G. C. Cooke, F. H. Thompson, J. McDonald, It. F. Meadows, J. Solomon, S. Cox, C. E. Saunders and 11. Pritehard | by a few feet over a course of 1£ miles in 9m. 455. Later in the evening the selectors chose the following for the Olympic crew, the positions not. being fixed: —B. Sandos, Hamilton; C. A. Stiles, S. Cos, F. H. Thompson, Canterbury; J. McDonald. V. Olsson, L. Jackson, C. E. Saunders, Marlborough; G. C. Cooke, Wellington; J. Solomon, Otago. It is undoubtedly ari unfortunate fact that the town with the largest number of rowing clubs in New Zealand, and good facilities for training, should not be able to provide a single oarsman of sufficiently high standard to represent New Zealand overseas. This gives rise to the question: What is wrong with Auckland rowing? Mailborotigh has managed to secure four places in the crew, and yet it has a smaller aggregate to choose from. -Perhaps there are more who take an interest in the coaching and proper training of the crews in the Southern centres of New Zealand. The inter-university eight oar race was held on the Wellington Harbour last Saturday afternoon. Canterbury was never seriously challenged throughout the contest. and won by a clear three and a-half lengths from Auckland, with Wellington another length further back. Auckland and Wellington set a faster stroke than Canterbury at the start, and in the early stages had a slight advantage, but about half-way Canterbury, swinging longer and steadier than the others, assumed the lead and from then on was never troubled. Interest of Spectators.

The wind was from tlia south, which enabled to be held at the city end of the harbour, a fact which permitted a larger number of people to view the event than if the Koro Koro course had been used. There was a great crowd of spectators on the Tarannki Street Wharf to view the finish, and the Government steamer Janie Seddon, which followed the race, was almost filled to capacity. It was intended originally that the race should be rowed over a three-miles course, hut the choppy seas prevented the boats crossing the mouth of Evans Bay, and consequently the start was made about one and a-quarter miles down the Oriental Bav foreshore, measured from Taranaki Street Wharf." At the start. Auckland was n little over eager, and on two accasions fried to beat the gun. However, all three crews got awav well together, and Auckland and Wellington rowed at 35 while Canterbury kept at about 30. Canterbury had the position near the shore and kent well in. thus getting the advantage of the smoother water there. For a while Auckland and Wellington kept a slight advantage, but Canterbury, with a steadier and more decisive stroke than the others, slowdv but surely crept ahead. At the half-wav mark Ihe Southerners had established a lead and were rowing with nlentv of punch behind their long stroke. Comfortable 'Victory. N earl in p' the finish Auckland and Wellington began to spurt, and their style became more or less ragged. Canterbury had established too great a lead. and went on to win by a comfortable margin. The crew's additional weight undoubtedly told in the strong southerly breeze, but there was no denying the fact, that it was far the better crew. The West End Club rowed off the Bigelow-Farrell Cup, the Ranger trophy for first-year oarsmen, and the H. Schmidt " double-sculling trophies on Easter Monday. These were nil sculling events, and handicaps were given to competitors. J. Craies and J. H. Donovan figured prominently, and the first named secured two trophies, while Donovan was runner-up in the three contests.