DOMINION ROWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21935, 19 October 1934, Page 16

DOMINION ROWERS

DEPARTURE FOR MELBOURNE WANGANUI EIGHT-OAR CREW Selected by the New Zealand Rowing Association as the official eight-oar crew to represent the Dominion in the Grand Challenge Cup at the Melbourne Centenary Regatta at Henley-on-Yarra on November 3, members of the W anganui Union Boat Club's crew passed through Auckland yesterday. Accompanying them as manager is llr. E. J. Crotty, honorary secretary of the club, and Mr. W. G. Coombes, the coach. Mr. Coombes was captain and selector of tho New Zealand Army eight which won the inter-Allied championship at Paris after tho war. Tho stroko of the present crew is C. A. Healey, who was stroke Of the New Zealand crew in all the big cventß on the Thames and Seine in 1918-19. He ia by fir the most experienced stroke the Dominion has had, as, in addition he has made two successful trips to Australia with the Union and All Black crews. He was coach and trainer of the N£w Zealand eight-oar crew at the last Olympic Games at Loa Angeles in 1932. The ci'6\v compiieea a number of experienced oarsmen while a sprinkling of youth is also infused into the combination. Two members, R. Gould (4), who is only 19 years of age, A. V. Shepherd (3), ftnd th« emergency, M. Luxford, are all members of the club's youths' crew. Shepherd haa had only one season at the sport. Other members are the well-known sculling ehampjon, A. K. G. Jackson, who is to row in the 7 seat, and who ia the heaviest and moat powerful oar in the crew, weighing 14at 71b.; S. A. Healey (6). a younger brother of the stroke; A. Tonka (5), originally selected as stroke; A. G. Moss (2), a former New Zealand champion, who has previously competed in Australia, and R. 8. Mowat, bow, who nttained senior status last season. The coxswain, P. Hartshorn, ia experienced at the sport, having steered the Union senior four to victory in the national championships at Mercer prior to the tvar. He weigha Sat 2lb. Two acuilera will also officially represent New Zealand in the sculling events. They are the former champion. R. B. Smith, of the Waitemata Boating Club, and P. Abbott, of the Petotie Rowing Club. Subsequent to competing at Melbourne the oaramen and scullers will proceed t6 Sydney to conteat events at > the New South Wales Rowing Association's championship regat<a on November 10, embarking for New Zealand on November 14 and arriving in Auckland on November 17. Yesterday the Dominion rowers were the gneata of Mr. F. V. Home, of Gleeson's Hotel, at luncheon and dinner, while in the afternoon the Auckland Rowing Association arranged a motor drive. The rowers left last evening for Melbourne by the Monowai and were farewelled by a gathering of rowing officials and oarsmen.