ROWING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23160, 5 October 1938, Page 24

ROWING SEASON

CLUB PREPARATIONS WAITEMATA'B eARLY OPENING D. HADFIELD TO COACH Preparations are well in hand for the opening \of the new rowing season in Auckland. Competition in open • events promises to be more interesting than Chat in previous years, as greater keenness is being shown by b those clubs which have passed through fairly lean times. St. George's last season put up a hard struggle to bring itself in line with its sister clubs, while University is also on a sounder footing. With liberal use of sandpaper and applications of varnish, the work of overhauling- the boats is proceeding apace. Waitemata's policy of starting the season early has again been adopted this year, and the club will hold its official opening ceremony next Saturday at the bojithouse. The function will take the form* of old members' day.

Those responsible for dictating . the style to be used by the Waitertata Club have discussed various methods with a view to re-establish hip; its style with modern variations. Chief among the coaches of the Waitemata Club is Darcy Hadfield, a former world sculling champion, and his work for "both old and young members should help considerably in raising the standard of oarsmanship. • ' The prospect of competing in' the Olympic Games in 1940 is one to stimulate the interest of oarsmen throughout the Dominion, and this' season should be marked by hard training and preparation.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS PROGRESS AT SACRED HEART INTER-HOUSE COMPETITION The sport of. rowing, in secondary schools continues td progress. Sacred Heart- College especially is making great advance?. It is the only college so.far possessing. a boat of its own, an eight, and before the end of thd season it is expected that the school will own a four-oared skiff. An old boy of Sacred Heart College; Dr. F. Foley, 'has donated a cup with miniatures for inter-house competition at the school. Arrangements for the contest are well in hand and the races, in fours,"will be held along Tamaki Drive on November 1. The prospective contenders in the events have already commenced training and an interesting competition is anticipated. The college rowing club has recently acquired a set of eight racing oars. Mount Albert Grammar School has placed an order with Mr. H. ; R. Sharpe, of Wanganui, for a new eightoared skiff. Four schools, Takapuna Grammar, Sacred Heart College, Mount Albert Grammar and Otahuhu Technical College, entered last season for the annual head-of-the-harbour contests, and it is hoped that the schools which have not yet taken wp the sport will do so in the near future. DOMINION SECRETARY MR. A. D. BAYFIELD RESIGNS The secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, Mr. A. D. Bayfield, has resigned. An enthusiastic supporter of amateur rowing in the Dominion • and a conscientious official, Mr. Bayfield will be hard to replace. In his youth Mr. Bayfield was a good oarsman himself. He won the New Zealand champion pairs about 40 years ago, when he was a member of the Knramea (West Coast) Club. For more than 38 years now he has been associated witli the Star Boating Club, Wellington, and during that time he has filled every official position in the club.-; ' ■■ - ' ' Mr. Bayfield, too, has been actively associated with the Olympic movement in New Zealand since its very, early days, and only pressure of business has prevented hia, appointment as manager of an Olympic Games team.