ROWING EVENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 21

ROWING EVENTS

FORMATION OF. CREWS CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTAS CLUB RACES ON SATURDAY It was unfortunate that circumstances compelled the holding of the Auckland Rowing Association's annual meeting on the Saturday prior to Labour Day, when so many of the club's dolegates were out of town. However, in the circumstances, there was a sufficient muster to give the clubs fair representation.

A .remit to the effect that future representative crews in the Auckland Province be composite was carried when the motion was amended to read "preferably"; it being held that it allowed the Auckland Rowing Association no discretion when circumstances warranted such. The question of composite or club crews will ever be a hone of contention. The Wanganui Association passed a remit to the New Zealand Association that club crews he favoured, but it does allow that interprovincial crews, even although composite, may hp more desirable. The writer believes that crews, club or composite, have little chance of success until placed under the definite control of a manager or selector and that club crew training must not he allowed to interfere with the training of a crew as an interprovincial unit. A second remit was that future Auckland Rowing Association regattas should he held on a river course, preferably Mercer. Although it seemed that there would be fair support for this remit it was defeated. Several of the delegates spoke strongly against it on the grounds that it was most unusual for an Auckland championship regatta to be postponed, as river courses were not always rowable, as witness Mercer and also Wanganui last season. Mercer was postponed one week and the conditions at Wanganui for the New Zealand championships were simply atrocious.

In addition, it was held that Auckland provided over 50 per cent of the active members and that Auckland needed the stimulus of a championship regatta. There was also an objection to taking the championships out of the city and control of the Auckland Association. It must he admitted that it is not easy to find a course handy to the city in sheltered water at which a gate could be obtained. A proposal that the Auckland Rowing Association's levy he reduced was defeated. The controlling body has difficulty in financing its activities now. it was agreed that the personnel of the provincial eight should be announced at least one month before the date of the interprovincial eight-oar race. In the event of the provincial eight being successful it was decided that members of the crew should be reimbursed out of the prize money for their travelling expenses. The delegates passed a recommendation that, wherever possible, the association should contribute to the expenses. The Auckland Association has a big programme ahead of it, as the coming season will see the bulk of the preparations needed to make a success of Auckland's part in the Centennial Games the following year. It therefore behoves the new committee .Jo rally round its chairman whoever he may be and make rowing one of the leading sports in the celebrations

The West Ktid Ohih will row the finals for Cooper Caps in pair oars on, Saturday next. The heats are heinflj rowed during this week. This marks also the competition for the points cup, a handsome trophy presented by Mr. ]{. A. Laidlaw.

Auckland Club members will row for the pewter mug on Saturday. This trophy his quite a history, having been first rowed for in November, 1882. It was the prizo for a race won by the following crew—G. Allen. Out. 211).. how; \V. Stafford, lOst. Sib., No. 2; R. G. Hogg. list. 71b , No. 3; K. Jackson, lOst. 101b., stroke; W. M. Hlark, cox.

From then until some time in 192(5 its wanderings will probably always he a mystery, for in that year it was discovered in a second-hand shop, cleaned up by a supporter, mounted on a pedestal and presented to the club for yearly competition ever since. Owing to the majority of its members studying lor examinations in November, the University Club will not start until later. This club, having purchased two more practice fours, making five in all. will be better able to boat an increased membership.

WAITEMATA CLUB DEATH OF COMMODORE FINE RECORD IN SPORT TRIAL RACES NEXT SATURDAY The death of the Waitemata Boating Club's commodore and patron, Mr. C. J. Ellcrbeck, has dampened to a considerable measure the pleasure of members in the new season's initiation. Mr. Ellerbeck had been commodore for the last five years after Ix'ing vice-commo-dore from 1923 to 1933. His record of faithful service to the (dub and to the sport of rowing in general js a splendid one.

The club has always been fortunate in its old members, and going back in some to its foundation, Waitcmata's annual reports contain, amonn others, such names as W. Denison, H. Schmidt and W. G. Lowe, who have given tangible evidence of their suitport. Other great l>onefactors an<l officers whose services date back to the first year of existence of the club, wore the late Sir Fx!win Miteholson, commodore from 1883 to 1889, the late Mr. Louis Ehrenfried. commodore from IKSH) to 1895, to be followed in turn by the late Sir Arthur Myers from 1896 to 1922, and the late Sir George Fowlds, from 1923 to 1933. The second trial races of the season will be held next Saturday over the Tamaki Drive Course. Competition is tor Mr. Hugh Wright's trophies. Oarsmen are expected to appear in full force upon this occasion, as the various regatta crews will probably be chosen on Sunday. In the maiden class the range is completely new and fairly extensive, and there may be surprises in the selection of the light-weight and open crews. There is a large number of skilled maiden oarsmen in the junior class. The selection in this class should cause considerable difficulty, although it is proposed to boat two junior crews. Prospects for a successful season in the senior classes are considered excellent by the selectors. O. \\ . Denison. former club captain and New Zealand representative, lias retired from active rowing, and it appears that T. C. Conway. who stroked the senior crew to victory at Mercer last summer will again fill th'p stroke seat. G. Brown and F. Weaver are still available, and there are also several promising junior oarsmen whose promotion should strengthen the senior crew.