ROWING REGATTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22946, 26 January 1938, Page 19

ROWING REGATTA

MEETING AT HAMILTON RECORD ENTRIES RECEIVED JELLIE REPLACES SMITH Particularly good entries have been received for the Hamilton regatta to be held next Saturday on the Waikato River. Sixty-five crews in all will be competing, compared with 51 last year and enthusiasts are promised an exceptional day's rowing. The absence of li. B. Smith, New Zealand sculling champion, who is in Australia to compete at the Empire Games, will rob two entries of chief interest. H. Jellie will stroke the Auckland Club's senior four while Smith is away. Prize-money totals £94, while trophies to the value of £lO have been donated for the open eight-oar event.

The programme is as follows: —11.4.5 a.m., maiden double sculls, £5, £l, one mile; 12 15 p.m., light maiden fours, £B, £2, one mile; 12.40 p.m., junior fours, £lO, £2, one mile and a-half; 2.15 p.m., maiden eights, £lO, £2, one mile; 2.30 p.m., senior fours, £2O, £3, two miles; 3.30 p.m., open maiden fours, £lO, £2 one mile; 3.50 p.m., single sculls handicap, £5, £3, £l, one mile; 4.15 p.m., non-class eights, trophies to the value of £8 and £2, one mile; 4.45 p.m., youths' fours, £B, £2, one mile.

The officials will be:—Judges, Messrs. C. C. Cairns, C. G. Herdman; Auckland Rowing Association representative, Mr. C. C. Cairns; umpire and starter, Mr. I. W. St. Clair; assistant umpire, Mr. S. H. T. Buchanan; clerk of scales, Mr. C. Aitkcn.

With 14 boats in the open maiden event and the present low state of the river, it is unlikely that all crews can be accommodated in the one start and the event may have to be contested in two heats, as was the case when one race drew 16 entries a few years ago.

The Silvester Brothers, who were successful in the maiden double sculls at Tauranga, are again competing. It will not be surprising to see them win again, in spite of the stern opposition likely to be met from J. Duncan and J. Clough, Hamilton, and C. McFarlane and P. D. Connerv, Waitemata.

Evidence that interest in the sport is definitely not waning among the youth of the Auckland Province, is provided by the fact that eight crews will contest the youths' fours. It is also a pleasing feature that the eight-oared events are well supported. There are five entries for the maiden eights, while four contenders have come forward for the non-class event. The University Club was considering not entering regattas this season, in order to let the novices settle down into solid work, but a strong urge to give as many members as possible the benefit of regatta experience the club to start against the province's best oarsmen. This was a wise policy in the club's interests.

AUCKLAND REGATTA FIXED FOR APRIL 2 PROGRAMME NOT FINALISED Dqubt existed until a few days ago as to "whether the Auckland Rowing Association would hold the Auckland regatta this year. It was felt that with the finances in their present state it would be unwise to risk putting the association in a more embarrassing position. A decision was made at the last meeting of the association, however, which fixed the date for the regatta at April 2. The question of raising the money necessary to provide prizes was thoroughly discussed, and it was resolved to run a moonlight excursion. The Whau Estuary has been inspected and considered unsuitable for the regatta. The waterfront road course will in all probability be used. As yet no decision has been made regarding the events to be included on the programme. Whether a full class for eights will be contested is still a matter for consideration. WHANGAREI FIXTURE CANCELLATION OF MEETING Although arrangements had been made bv the Auckland Association to include 'February 26 on its season's pro- ' gramme for the Whangarei regatta, advice received from Whangarei is to the effect that the meeting has definitely been cancelled. The regatta last year was the first to have been held there composed entirely of rowing races. The course at Kioreroa was recognised as one of the best in New Zealand and. in spite of the fact that last season the regatta did not receive the support other provincial meetings obtained. oarsmen in Auckland were looking forward to competing on the course once again.