ROWING EVENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23266, 8 February 1939, Page 20

ROWING EVENTS

HAMILTON REGATTA SUPERIORITY OF CLIFTON ST. GEORGE'S GOOD SHOWING Conditions were excellent on Saturday for the Hamilton rowing regatta. On account of the heavy rains during the week, the river was still running faster than usual, but this did not seem to affect the results. Several crews were not at full strength.

With the exception of Waitomata in the senior fours and Tauranga in the maiden eights, crews which won at Tauranga and Cheltenham were again successful. St. George's again headed the prize list with £27 and Clifton was next with £2O. The donations were well divided, only three clubs, Whakatane, Mercer and University not receiving any of the winnings.

Clifton again established its superiority in the senior fours. Auckland s senior class has not been of a high standard during the past few years and the winner was not extended to finish with an advantage of eight lengths. Auckland in the light maiden fours, Ngaruawhaia in the junior fours, and St. George's in the youths' fours, each won by big margins, and, as yet. there seem to be no crews in the province capable of extending them. The heavy maiden race was again won by St. George's, but only by a narrow margin. Hamilton has a good crew in this class. St. George's also found a new winning combination in the maiden double sculls in 11 Piggin and W. L. Carr.

Considerable difficulty was experienced. in sending away eleven crews in the heavy maiden race and at least one four was robbed of a chance by a collision at the start, which broke a poppet string. To have to run an event in heats lengthens the programme but crews would prefer this to a large field being despatched in one start. Comment was made concerning the number of times crews were brought up to the Several crews were beaten for placings through bad steering and stopping before the line was crossed. The standard of coxing is still far from good. In the heavy maiden fours several crews stopped rowing before reaching the line.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS PICTON EVENTS NEXT SATURDAY Interest in the New Zealand rowing championships at Picton next Saturday lias been quickened by the results or the Wellington regatta last Saturday, it was not surprising that the Auckland Club's representatives, R. B. Smith, in the singles sculls, and Smith and A. Money in the double sculls, were beaten as Smith has done very little work in his skiff this season, while Money has had practically no training in the doubles. Since the Wellington and Wanganui representatives have rowed in four regattas in tliG last few weeks they should be at the top of their form. Smith and Money are at present training at Picton, and both will be in better condition for their events on Saturday. The other Auckland representatives, 'C. Chamberlain and D. Simmonds, who will row in the pair-oa-r championship, have left for Picton and will have some useful training before their race. There seems to be little doubt that Clifton will win the senior fours contest. This crew has beaten Wanganui Union three times, twice by comfortable margins. . Wanganui Union again established itself as an outstanding eight-oar crew at Wellington last Saturday, and should not be troubled in the championship. The success of Tauranga at the Wellington regatta was gratifying to Auckland supporters. With Smith and Harvev, Tauranga was second in the senior' pairs, while the Sylvester brothers won the junior pair-oar race. The Tauranga eight finished third in its event.

TRIALS TO RESUME PROGRAMMES FOR WEEK-END Auckland clubs will resume trial racing next Saturday. The Auckland Club will row for the Clarke Shield, and West End will decide the Herdman Caps. The final of West Ends' Bigelow Farrell Cup event, for single sculls, will be rowed during the week, the finalists being R. Alexander and M. H. D. Conway.

St. George's will contest trials for the Oliver Scott Memorial Cup for maiden oarsmen, and the remarkable fact is that only one member, the club captain W.'L. Carr, is not eligible for the event. The University Club is training crews for the University tournament, but will hold trial races on Saturday. Waitemata will also decide a set of trials.