EIGHT-OARED CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21765, 3 April 1934, Page 11

EIGHT-OARED CONTESTS

INTER-PROVINCIAL RACE WON BY WANGANUI SOUTH BEATS NORTH ISLAND [BY TELEGUAITT —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Monday Giving a peerless exhibition of oarsmanship from the start to the finish, Wanganui, by dint of a magnificent effort in the closing stages, took the New Zealand inter-provincial eightoared rowing title from Otago in a spectacular race, rowed over the Korokoro course on Wellington Harbour to-day. The race was not decided until the final 200 yards was reached, when Wanganui increased their stroke for a last-minute spurt, crossing the line a bare canvas ahead of Otago. The race was one of the most spectacular sporting events seen at Wellington. It was fully representative, seven crews, Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland competing. Owing to the rough water, the race was postponed from Saturday afternoon, and this morning the conditions were superb. The whole harbour was a sheet of glass, there not being sufficient wind to raise even a ripple. Wanganui's win was of particular interest, in as much as they defeated the crack Otago crew, which has been victorious for the past five years. Wanganui owed their win to sheer endurance. They set the pace at the start and never over the long course gave a suspicion of slackening. For the first half-mile the seven boats seemed to keep remarkably close together. Southland appeared to be the first to fall back, and Wellington took the lead. After three-quarters of a mile, however, Otago began to move up to first position, and at halt-way was sharing first place with Wanganui. Won by a Canvas At the two miles the positions of the leaders were unchanged and Marlborough came up well to third place. With slightly less than a mile to go, it was impossible to pick the winner out of the six crews. All except Southland were well in the running. As the crews approached the winning post, Marlborough fell back, and Otago, preserving a constant stroke, went to the front, and 220 yards from home were clearly in the lead. They were at the opposite side of the field to W anganui, and possibly did not realise the danger of taking things too easily. Be that as it may, Wanganui increased their stroke, and, with a wonderful effort, they pulled across the line with a lead of a canvas over Otago, thus securing the championship for the North Island for the first time since the inauguration of the contest. Canterbury rowed into third place a length and'a-half behijul Otago, and Marlborough, Wellington, Auckland and Southland followed in that order. An hour prior to the commencement of the big race two crews, taken from the North and South Island representatives respectively, participated in an inter-island race over a course of a mile and a-half. Halfway over the course the South Island crew established a slight lead. They pulled away strongly and crossed the line with a length to spare. Details of the two races are as follows: — The Winning Crews New Zealand Inter-provincial eightoared Championship, about three miles. —Wanganui, T. Ditclifield (stroke), C. A. Ilea ley, S. A. Healey, A. K. Jackson, It. Gould, It. Coxon, D. Holmes, P. Stowcrs (bow) and C. D. Weller (cox), 1; Otago, J. P. Vallis (stroke), G. H. Stiles, L. E. Pithie, J. D. Solomon, C. Crammond, C. C. Couchman, F. W. loggers, G. It. Thorn (bow), It. Mathewson (cox), 2; Canterbury, D. M. Wright (stroke), F. H. Thompson, C. A. Stiles, K. Brown, C. S. Sutherland, W. C. Harper, L. Patterson, C. A. Cooper (bow), L. Hampton (cox), 3. Won by a canvas, one length and a-half separating the second and third boats. Time (unofficial), 13m 16 2-ss. Inter-island Eight-oared Race. — South Island, I: North Island, 2.