ROWING EVENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23302, 22 March 1939, Page 22

ROWING EVENTS

NGAEUAWAHIA BEGATTA LAST OF THE SEASON THREE OUTSTANDING CREWS The regatta season as far as rowing is concerned in the Auckland Province, was concluded last Saturday, with the Ngaruawahia event. Several clubs still have programmes uncompleted, however, and there are two inter-club events, that for the Sonierville Shield eights, and the Goodwill Eight, which are contested between the Auckland and West End Clubs.

The events at the Ngaruawahia regatta were keenly contested and several crews that won at Mercer were defeated. Three crews fulfilled their early promise and completed the season's racing undefeated. The three crews, Auckland's light maidens, Ngaruawahia's juniors, and St. George's youths, deserve much credit for their accomplishments. Under the able coaching of Mr. G. Barrett, Auckland's light maiden crew has had a particularly strenuous season, training j in the early mornings, while long rows over the week-ends have been a feature of this crew's activities. Starting in six regattas the crew won each ot its events in convincing stvle. St. George's was unfortunate in losing Coote, a winning stroke in the youth s four, half-way through the season, but R. Speer carried 011 to complete an undefeated record. Ngaruawahia's junior crew is a very rugged combination, which rowed together three years ago as heavy maidens. This crew never looked like being beaten in any of their races. The prize-money was again well divided. Ngaruawahia headed the list of placings with two firsts and one third. St. George's was unforunate in i tliat it had two very close seconds, : being beaten for first "in one race by half a canvas. Clifton again had a very easy race in the senior fours. A feature of the regatta was the tact that the races were started punctually. | The starter, Mr. Buchanan, made it i clear that crews would be left if not j on the line in time.

SUCCESS OF ST. GEORGE'S

MAIDEN CREWS' PERFORMANCES

A summary of the regatta winnings in the Auckland province this season will give some indication of the relative racing standard of the various clubs. St. George's heads the list with £9(5 while Auckland won £6B, Ngaruawaiiia £6l, Waitemata £6O, Tauranga £55, Clifton £4O, Hamilton £'2o. West End £l6, Mercer £5, and Whakatane £4. St. George's gained all of its winnings with maiden oarsmen only, and its performances are the result of keenness and steady training. Auckland and Waitemata are both well up in regatta performances. Auckland and Tauranga have had wins outside the province, at Wellington, and at the New Zealand Championships, and both can claim to have had a successful season.

THE SOMERVILLE SHIELD AUCKLAND AND WEST END The race for the Somerville Shield will be rowed along the Tamaki Drive course next Saturday, between Auckland and West End. in eights, over a two-mile course. starting at the Tamaki Yacht Club's boathouse and finishing at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club's shed. The personnel of the crews will be: —West End: E. Raper, B. Tupp, L. Langham, J. Donovan, J. Rasmussen. B. Alexander, S. Bigelow, ,T Barton, G. Conwav (cox). Auckland: J. Dickson, W. McGregor, C. Chamberlain, H. Jellie, D. Simmonds, G. Oxspring, T. Murfit, H. Walker, J. W T hite (cox 1 ). The Goodwill Eights, between Auckland and West End. rowed over a mile, will start at Orakei and finish at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. West End's crew will be the same as that for the Somerville Shield, with one or two changes, while, the Auckland crew will comprise:—O Cossey, G. Hewlett. C. Kidd, W. Baverstock, S. Goodwin. C. Brierlev, E. Field, R. Shearer, J. W 7 hite( cox). _ The Somerville Shield race will start at 2.15 p.in. and the Goodwill Eights at 3.15 p.m. In addition, the Auckland Club will hold races for the N. C. Pierce Cup, for first-vear oarsmen. Three crews have been picked and are now training with their coaches. Good racing should result. „ ' St George's, next Saturday -will row trial fours for the Dingley Memorial Cup and miniature, while University also will row a set of trial fours.