ROWING EVENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 18

ROWING EVENTS

REGATTA AT MERCEE PROVINCIAL TITLES CONTESTS ON SATURDAY WEEK All interest in Auckland rowing circles at present centres on the Mercer regattfci to be held on Saturday week. This year the Auckland championships will be rowed in conjunction with the Mercer event and there will be no Auckland regatta on the harbour as in previous years. As every event is a championship, more than the usual interest is being shown. Oarsmen have had a long spell since the Hamilton regatta on February 4, and, with few exceptions, have made good use of their time. Training has been keen and as the water conditions this month have been generally much improved long distance rowing, which is necessary to gain cohesion, has been indulged in. Some of the changes in crews have been unavoidable, while in some instances the selectors have made alterations where they have considered them advisable. St. George's, which is doing well in the maiden and youths' classes, is compelled to make changes in both of its contenders in these divisions. Since J. Coote is now over age he will be replaced in the stroke seat by R. Speer. K. Gordon, who replaced Speer in the two-seat, has unfortunately burst a blood vessel and it is doubtful whether he will be able to row. St. George's is fortunate that it has a number of young and keen_ members, and there should be no difficulty in putting a crew together. It is unlucky for St. George's that the arrangement of the programme necessitates another change. E. Piggin, who rows bow in the heavy maiden four and strokes the double sculls crew, will not be able to compete in both events as only 20 minutes separates the two events. P. R. McNab will taks Piggin's place in the maiden four. A combination that rowed with success two years ago, winning as a heavy maiden crew at will represent West End in junior fours. The crew comprises W. Parnell (stroke), B. Tupp, E. Langham, and J. Barton. The club will be represented in the junior pairs by L. G. Skinner and J. G. Howe and the maiden pair will be composed of J. Rasmussen and R. Alexander. West End's heavy maiden eight, stroked by G. S. Bigelow, is reported to he performing well. West End will not be represented in the heavy maiden fours and it is doubtful whether the youths will start.

AUCKLAND CLUB'S CREWS PROSPECTS OF WAITEMATA The Auckland Club will be starting crews in all events with tbe exception of the senior fours. Trainingin some of this club's crews has been interfered with by minor injuries and sickness. S. Goodwin, stroke of the heavy maiden four and eight, has had to forgo training owing to an accident. His place in the heavy maiden eight will be taken by E. Field. The junior four will comprise J. B. Dickson, W. McGregor, H. Jellie and J. Walker, and, with the addition of D. Simmonds, T. Murfitt, S. Beart and D. Moir. will row in the junior eights. W. Baverstock and D. Simmonds will compete in the junior pairs, while Baverstock and D. Elwood will represent the club in the maiden double sculls. The light maiden crew is unchanged. North Shore will not be represented at Mercer. The club's officials have decided to concentrate oh coaching the new members so that the club will be well represented in 1940. In view of its successes at the interclub regatta, Waitemata can look forward with confidence to the Mercer contests. The senior four ■ have developed excellent combination, and. unless Clifton competes, appears to have little opposition among the local representatives. This qlub is also strong in the junior class and its heavy maiden crews are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Most of its crews are unchanged. The programme for the Mercer regatta is as follows: —12.30 p.m., light maiden fours; 1 p.m.. junior pairs; 1.20 p.m., single sculls; 1.40 p.m., maiden eights; 2 p.m., junior fours; 2.20 p.m., maiden pairs; 2.40 p.m., youths' fours; 3 p.m., junior eights: *3.20 p.m., maiden double sculls; 3.40 p.m., open maiden fours; 4 p.m., senior lours.

In view of tlie fact that Mercer, which is considered to be the best course in New Zealand, is to be the venue of the Auckland centennial regatta to be held on February 4. the Auckland Rowing Association officials are taking particular interest in tinconduct of tlie meeting. It is intended that the regatta in 1940 should be the biggest yet held in New Zealand, notwithstanding the fact that the New Zealand championships will be held in Wellington a week later. Frequent meetings have been held between th<> Mercer regatta committee and the officials of the Auckland Association.

Competitors are warned that the programme will be run to schedule, and club officials are advised to see that boats and oars are ready, and to eliminate, where possible, waiting for plant used in previous events. This is a matter that will require even more serious thought iu the big regattas of 1940.

EVENTS NEXT SATURDAY COACHING AT NORTH SHORE North Shore, which now has a very useful membership of 27, will not compete in regattas for the balance of the season. Trial races will be held and intensive coaching will be carried out. Next Saturday members will compete for the Challenge Shield, presented by old members and the Schmitt trophies. Auckland will row for the Hogan Memorial Cup. The club is now picking crews for the N. C. Pierce Cup event which will be competed for on March 25. This race is for first-year oarsmen. Waitemata has trial fours for maiden oarsmen only, while St. George's will have an open day, which will be used for regatta training. University, will row subscription trials. West End. which was unable to row its handicap, double sculls last Saturday, will endeavour to get these races' off during the week, and on Saturday will row trial fours for the R. L. Stewart trophies. "