ROWING EVENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 16

ROWING EVENTS

CLOSING FUNCTION HELD

WEST END CLUB'S AT HOME

PRESIDENT'S TRIALS DECIDED

In spite of a stiff easterly breeze and threatening weather conditions, a large number of visitors and friends attended the president's At Home of the West End Rowing Club on Saturday afternoon. Being the last official function of its kind to be held this season, the At Home virtually marked the closing of the rowing season in Auckland, and, in addition to the club's supporters and old' members, representatives of the Auckland Rowing Club, Waitemata Boating Club and Jubilee Club were in attendance. It haji been proposed to row the annual eight-oar contest between the Auckland and West End Clubs for the Hampton-Reynolds Goodwill Trophy, but, owing to the rough water conditions, the race had to be abandoned. Trial fours for the president's trophies, which were rowed over the short course', however, drew an entry of seven crews, and the visitors were treated to some thrilling racing. A race between two fouroar crews of married and single men was also roWed.

Careful attention had been paid to the decoration of the clubhouse with the club colours and bunting. The guests were received by the president, Mr. A. C. Norden, and Mrs. Nordern. and later in the day afternoon tea was dispensed by a ladies' committee convened by Mrs. A. Wardell. Musical items were rendered by Miss A. Clarke.

in welcoming the visitors the president referred to the history of the annual competitipn for the goodwill eights. He said he was particularly pjeased to see among the visitors Mr. W. J. Hampton-Reynolds, donor of the handsome trophy at present held by the' West End Club. Mr. Norden mentioned that, when, the West End Club's shed and equipment was destroyed in the disastrous cyclonic storm of 1918, the Auckland. Club had .generously come to its assistance, and hnd placed its plant and shed at the disposal of members of the West End Club. Later, when the clubhouse ' was rebuilt, the Auckland Club donated a clinker four. As an expression of the club's appreciation of this sporting gesture, and to engender the feeling of mutual goodwill, Mr. John- Clark, who is now .a life member, donated a set of gold medals - for an annual race between the two clubs. In recent years, Mr. W. J. Hamptonrßeynolds had continued the good work by presenting the liandsome goodwill trophy.

Mr. Norden also referred to the beautiful walnut trophy case which had been presented by another life member, Mr. C. G. Herdman, and which was unveiled during the afternoon. On behalf of the club, Mr. Norden expressed tho members' sincere appreciation of Mr. Herdman's generous action. WON BY A CANVAS THRILLING RACE IN FINAL Water conditions- were unpleasant when the annual trial fours for the president's trophies were rowed over the short course from the Victoria Cruising Club's shed to the clubhouse. Sevijn crews took part, and, after a thrilling race in the final. L. T. Lamjbie's crew gained the decision by a canvas. Mr. J. H. Bigelow on the launch Princess, which was loaned by Mr. John Clark, a life member of the club, was starter, and the races were judged by Alessrs. A. C. Ncrden, president, and A. M. Wilson, life rr.ember. The crews in tho first heat were: —E. A. Craies (stroke), E. J. G. Hotham, R. W. Rowe, J. D. Toye; J. L. Jones (stroke), L. T. Langham, R. Gray, R. Wiles. Jones gained the lead shortly after the start, and maintained it to win comfortably by two lengths. In the second heat the crews were:— J. H. Barton (stroke), J. A. Parsons, R. Bigelow, I. Ryland; W. C. Parnell (stroke). E. Raper, J. Kennedy. F. Jennings; L. T. Lambie (stroke), N. Bellamy, S. Bigelow, A. Carson. All three crews left the mark to a splendid start with Lambie first to show any advantage. When half the course had been covered, Lambie was leading Barton and Parnell by nearly a length. The two last-named crews collided a few seconds later. Lambie drawing away to win by two lengths from Barton, who was half a length ahead of Parnell. The third heat crews were:—M. H. D. Conway (stroke), B. G. Tupp. M. G. McJ. Dobby: R. Allum. J. Howe, H. Zukerman, J. Buihanan. There was little between the crews over the first half of the course, but at the wharf Conway had established a slight advantage. Allum challenged strongly, and in a thrilling race for the line Conway obtained the decision by three feet. The crews of Jones, Lambie and Conway met in the final. Leaving the mark to a splendid start, all three crewa sprinted for the lead, but they were still on even terms at the half-way mark. Conway then established a slight advantage over Lambie, Jones being about, half a length further backv At tho wharf. Lambie caught Conway and a stirring race for the line resulted. Neither crew had any advantage until the No. 3 man in Conway's crew lost his seat about five yards from the finish and Lambie won by a canvas. A similar distance separated the next two crews. A race between two fonr-oar crews of married and single men resulted in a win for the married men by half a length. The/crews were:—Married men: G. Conway, E_. Such, J. D. Craies, N. W. Jerrome. Single men: W. Parnell, E. J. G. Hotham. E. Craies, J. Barton.