ROWING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22685, 24 March 1937, Page 21

ROWING NOTES

NGAIiUAWAIITA HEGATTA

AUCKLAND CLUB'S SUCCESS

COMPETITIONS AT EASTER

The Ngarunwahia regatta—the last nf the provincial regattas this season —was held on Saturday in ideal conditions for both oarsmen and spectators, and the crowd of more than 20,000 people was a record /or tbo event. The Auckland Club displayed marked superiority in gaining £oo. more than half the winning donations. The club's total for the season is now £239. Waitemnta is a consistent club, with a creditable record, and succeeded in winning £l7, while West End was successful in the maiden pair-oar for the Auckland provincial championship.

At one time Hamilton was a club to be reckoned with, but its performances this season have been steadily on the down grade. Two seconds, in the junior fours and senior fours, brought £4, but in the other events in which the club competed its crews usuallv tailed the field.

A pleasing feature of the single sculls was tho appearance of W. C. Willetts, of North Shore, who did very well in gaining third place. North Shore is another club which has not been very successful. A return to the place of honour it held some time ago should not bo far off and, with the talent that is known to be available, next season should see a vast improvement.

'l'he most thrilling finish of tho day was seen in the single sculls, when A. Morov, on a handicap of 10s, kept ahead df R. li. Smith by about two lengths all tho way. In the last 100 yds Smith, who is the New Zealand champion sculler, made his well-known final spurt, but Morey was not to be beaten easily and rowed with eflect. Smith, however, was gaining fast when .Morey succeeded in crossing a baro canvas ahead. INTER-PROVINCIAL EIGHTS EVENT FOR NFXT SATURDAY All provinces, with the exception of Marlborough, will he represented at the inter-provincial eights contest, which will be rowed at Wellington next Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. In addition, there will be held an interisland race, North v. South, which is to be rowed at 11.30 a.m. Representation for this event will be decided by the selection committee, which is to choose the Empire Games crew. The Petone course will be used for both races and visiting boats will be housed in the Petone shed.

Auckland will be represented by the Waitcmata Club's senior eight, comprising 0. W. Denison (stroke), G. M. Brown, L. N. Boss, V. Hay ward, C. IrJ. Cairns, T. C. Bellringer, A. Harper and F. Weaver (bow). Mr. R. G. Barker will act as manager. It is a very strong combination, with success in every race it has contested this season, and should give a good account of itself. On no fewer than six occasions has Otago won the coveted title, and it has every prospect of retaining the honours. On the three occasions on which it has been beaten, by Wanganui twice and Canterbury once. Otago has been runner-up. The initial contest in 1928 was held on the Korakora course, Wellington, over two and a-half miles. Canterbury won, with Otago second and .Marlborough third. Auckland also started and Wellington had its craft damaged before the race. The following year, at Corsair Bay, Lyttelton, Otago reversed its position with Canterbury, and Wellington gained third place, Marlborough swamping. The race has been staged in Auckland on I v once, in 1930, when a course of three'miles and 500 yds in the "Whan ostuarv was used. Otago scored its second victory from Marlboiougli, Auckland and Wellington. For the next three years, at Dunedin, Picton and Wellington. Otago maintained its winning record. Two years ago at Wellington? however. Wanganui rose to great heights and, ip a thrilling finish, defeated the champions by Oft. At Dunedin in 1935 Wanganui retained the title, with Otago second and Auckland, represented by the Ta lira nga crew, third. The race was notable for "the number oT swampings, both Canterburv and Wellington meeting this fate."Nevertheless, Wanganui deserved its victory. The nearest an Auckland crew has finished is second, which it filled in 1933. Auckland finished third in 1931 and 1935. UNIVERSITY CONTEST RACE IN CHRISTCHURCH Slice its inception in 1928, the interuniv*rsity rowing event contested by the four New Zealand universities has become very popular, although there are not the crowds that attend similar events in England and Australia. University rowing in New Zealand had its genesis in 1927. and to a few Auckland enthusiasts must bo given the credit for the present inter-college race. The event was first rowed in clinker fours, but in the following year it was' contested in eights, and has been ever since. This year's race will be rowed next Saturday in the Waimakariri River, ChristcJiureh. The Auckland college will be represented by G. C. J. Da I ton (stroke), P. D. Conncry, J. P. Hooper, F. R. Wright, D. Algie, S. C. B. Gascoigne, D. j\l. Kerriek and J. Edwards (bow). Victoria College (Wellington) won the initial contest in 1928, which was rowed on what is now Hie waterfront road course. Auckland was the only other starter, and comprised W. J. Lowe, Ij. E. Brooker, C. T. Keegan and C. H. Hunt, while,in the Victoria crew were Mnllins, the well-known Wellington champion oarsman, and Platts Mills, who subsequently was selected to represent Oxford in 1931, but unfortunately was prevented by illness from rowing. Victoria won in a rerow after Auckland had swamped the first time. The outcome of this contest in fours was tho formation of rowing clubs at the two colleges, and in an eight-oar contest between them in the following year at Wellington, Victoria repeated its success. In the same season the New Zealand University was the recipient of a handsome carved shield from Misses Heberley, of Victoria University College, for annual competition among eight-oar crews from the four universities. Since its victories in the first two contests, Victoria has won only once, in 1931. Canterbury has won four times, including last year, and Auckland had two successive wins, in 1931 and 1935.