ROWING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21423, 22 February 1933, Page 15

ROWING SEASON

CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA RECORD OF AUCKLAND FOUR HAMILTON STROKE'S INJURY This season's provincial championship regatta of the Auckland Rowing Association on Saturday was one of surprises, all of which helped to keep a record attendance of spectators keenly interested in the sport. The executive had striven to make tho regatta a memorable ono, and the weather combined to assist the endeavour. Tho Tamaki Drive at tho finishing post was decorated with bunting and a judges' box erected on the rocks fronting tho Drive proved a very essential innovation. All the officials, ashoro and afloat, worked with a will, and sent the programme along smoothly. Tho association owes much to Mr. R. L. Stewart, who had his launch Duchess busy all afternoon. Credit is due to Captain H. 11. Sergeant for his assistance in compiling tho diagram of the course printed in the programme. Its clarity greatly aided the competitors and officials. The donations to winning clubs were:— Auckland, £l9, Sealo Cup and Hallyburton Johnstone Cup; Hamilton, £l4, Nash Cup, Dewar Shield; St. George's, £ll, Clark Shield, Marshall Cup, Dr. Stewart Reid Cup; West End, £4; North Shore, £2. Mercer and Waitemata did not gain any prize-money. Grew for Wanganui Tho first race, the light maiden fours, saw L. W. D. Ball's St. George's crew again pass the post ahead of tho field. The four will now go to Wanganui for the Dominion championships. These very keen men will carry tho best wishes of Aucklanders in their attempt. Auckland, which gave St. George's a hard race for the Maurice Caro Cup recently, was a length away. The Auckland four stroked by S. Scott won its last race as a junior crew, when it defeated a bright four from North Shore. Auckland went off like a shot at the start, and led the field home. North Shore should win the junior race at Ngaruawahia. In the single sculls handicap event, I. C. Horton, St. George's entry at Wanganui, went through the field to win by a length from scratch. D. Hare, Hamilton, 6s. sculled well into second place. The final of the provincial eight-oar championship has raised much controversy in Auckland. Some considered that Hamilton, which retired through the danger of swamping after a mile had been covered, could have continued. From the starter's launch it appeared that the water was actually very close beneath the runners. There was some confusion at the post when a flying start was attempted. The gun went late and Hamilton seemed to have the worst of it. J. R. H. Biss whipped up the pace and Hamilton, noticeably down on the stroke side, dropped out after a challenge. Keen Combination Hamilton No. 1 again won the youths' fours, and, as predicted, St. George's surprised by rowing a fine race for second. Coached by Mr. F. E. Alpe, an old St. George's rower, this crew is a keen combination, and will give Hamilton a great race at Ngaruawahia. The heavy maiden fours brought about West End's first defeat this season. It had been reported that Hamilton No. 2—next to West End—had beaten both the No. 1 crew and the club juniors in a trial spin on the river, so the stroke kept his eyes on that crew. However, West End was not aware until too late that the No. 1 four had raced away right on the inside and the race was lost. West End will not now go to Wanganui. An unfortunate incident was the collapse of Noel Pope, Hamilton Eenior four and Olympic stroke, in tho senior race. Hamilton was about a length behind Auckland and had just passed the steamers in the stream when the crew stopped. Mr. S. H.~ Buchanan took the stroke seat and rowed the four home. Breakdown Under Strain Pope stated that he had trouble with the muscles of his back in December, and was to have been operated upon. However, he continued to train for the Wanganui championships, but apparently could not stand the strain. It is doubtful what Hamilton crews will go away to the championships now. Congratulations are due to S. Scott, C. Chamberlain, J. McComish, R. Porter, Auckland's splendid" junior four, now, after winning the senior event, a senior crew. The men were in great form and, in winning both the junior and senior provincial titles, in the same afternoon, must do credit to their club when they contest the champion fours at Wanganui. West End, second, rowed well, and Waitemata did not let its supporters down, while St. George's rowed the race without a fin to stabilise the boat and finished last. SPORT OF CYCLING BYRNES' SPLENDID RIDING THREE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES Remarkable consistency over a number of seasons has characterised the racing of M. P. Byrnes, who won all three grass track championship titles at the Domain last Saturday when the annual athletic championship meeting was held. Byrnes proved himself outstanding by" tho convincing style in which he won each title, the half-mile, one mile and five miles. He was the only athlete on the day to win three titles and netted 18 points for tho Manukau Amateur Cycling Club. The latter club gained 26 of the possible points in the cycling events. The progressive Papatoetoe Club gained tho remaining four points, scored by H. V. Gordon, who finished second in the halfmile, and I. C. Bellini, who was third in the five miles. Byrnes' riding was faultless and his combination of speed and judgment was a feature of tho events. In each final he so manouevred as to be either first or second entering the finishing straight. Thus, without undue exertion, he was able to utilise his powerful sprint to the best purpose on the heavy track. The times throughout the cycle events were not fast, the riders contenting themselves wih a steady pace until the last lap, when determined riding commenced. Adverse comments were mado in connection with the one mile times. The final was won by Ponies in 2m 425. Last year Byrnes won the same title in 2m 25 4-5s and, as this time appeared at tho head of the event listed in the programme, comparisons were mado. Most critics forgot tho fact that last season tho mile was a paced race, which would account for the difference in time. Byrnes first came into prominence in championship races in 1926, whon ho won all four titles. The two miles was included in 1926. He first raced in November, 1924, at the Auckland Grammar School's sports at the Domain, when he won the two miles race for the Norman Carter Cup. H. R. Dwight, who was expected to run Byrnes very close for the titles on Saturday, gave a most disappointing display and, although he started in every event and was a finalist in each, ho failed to secure a single placing. Next, to Byrnes, L. H. Dwight was the most successful competitor, with a second in the five miles and a third in the halt mile. Dwight did really well, considering that his suspension for competing in the "round the gorges" race at Christchurch last road season was only lifted a few days prior to Saturday's sports and that he rode his first track race this season three days before. H. V. Gordon, now of the Papatoetoe Club, is a steadily improving rider. Last year he was third in the half-mile and mile, while on Saturday he was second to Byrnes in ths half-mile^