ROWING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 21

ROWING SEASON

YVEST END FUNCTION UNPLEASANT CONDITIONS GOODWILL RACE POSTPONED Although weather conditions at the week-end were again unpleasant for oarsmen, the West End Club held a very successful president's At Home. Tho attendance was well up to that of previous years, and in addition to the usual number of friends and club supporters, representatives from several harbour clubs were present. The function was the last official rowing gathering of the season, and the At Home on Saturday virtually marked the closing of the season in Auckland. It was disappointing to the officials on the day that the annual eight-oar race lor the Goodwill Trophy, presented by Mr. W. J. Hampton-Reynolds, had to be postponed on account of rough water conditions. The Auckland crew which was to have met West End had been training consistently in recent weeks and a very keen contest was anticipated. The race will now be rowed on Saturday week. It is considered likely that an effort will be made to row the race over the waterfront road course. Two other clubs, Auckland and Jubilee, still have trials to bo rowed, but no definite date has yet been assigned for either contest. Three crews of new members are being coached by officials of tho Auckland Club, and a race for club trophies will bo held in a few weeks' time. The Jubilee Club has two contests to bo decided before the season closes, and a meeting of the executive committee is being held this week to fix a suitable date. Tho St. George's Club has completed its trial fours programme, but the final of the Tcwsley fours, which was postponed on account of bad weather some weeks ago, has still to be decided. The Hamilton Rowing Club brought its season to a close on Saturday with a trial fours contest, which was won by J. Stewart's crew. PRESIDENT'S TRIAL FOURS SEVEN CREWS COMPETE Rough water and a cold wind made rowing conditions uncomfortable on the short course from tho Victoria Cruising Club's shed to the boathouse, when seven crews from the West End Club contested the annual trial fours for trophies presented by the president, Mr. A. C. Norden. The first heat resulted in a clear-cut victory for J. Jones' crew, but the second heat produced a keen struggle for second place. L. T. Lambie's four was leading the crews stroked by J. H. Barton and W. C. Parnell by less than a length when the two last-named collided and fell back. Lambie's two lengths win was convincing enough, but in an exciting dash for second place, Barton crossed the lino half a length ahead of Parnell. A closely-fought contest between the crews of R. Allum and M. H. D. Conway marked the third heat, which was one of the best races of the day. Neither crew had any advantage until Conway established a slight lead at the wharf. In a great race for the line he gained the verdict by 3ft. In the final, between the crews of Jones, Lambie and Conway, another interesting race was witnessed. Conwav, who required only one moro win to bring his list of successes to the century mark, was first to establish a lead, but Lambie challenged strongly at the wharf. In a thrilling dash for the line Lambie gained the lead in the last few strokes to win by a canvas. Jones was a similar distance further back in third position. . A race between a crew of married men and four single men resulted in a half-length win for the married men.