WINTER SCULLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23340, 8 May 1939, Page 16

WINTER SCULLING

PROGRAMME ON SATURDAY SMITH WINS SINGLES EVENT The newly-formed Winter Sculling Club opened its programme on Saturday with sincrle srullinpr handicap races and double sculling race? off scratch. A course of just over half a mile was used in Hobson Bay, starting on the Auckland side of Hobson Point and finishing at Point Resolution. The water was calm and, with a light easterly wind, conditions for sculling could not have been better. Somo very close finishes were witnessed and wore a reflection of the splendid handicapping of Mr. Darey Had* fild. the club captain. ThP finish of the single «cull races was particularly exciting. R. B. Smith, New Zealand champion, beating C. Chamberlain by one foot in the last few strokes. The competitors in this event were: —R. B. Smith, scr; C. Chamberlain, 6s; H. Jcllie, Us; C. Oxsprlng, 16s: H. Spoon, 18s: E. Plggin, 1»s. Mr. D. Hadfield was starter and the field was strung out before Smith wns sent away. FT Jellie soon passed the limit men and at the quarter distance was in the lead. Chamberlain was then lying second, with Smith coming throush fast. Chamberlain took iho lead at halfway, Smith passing Jcllto and closing up on Chamberlain. The latter was pculling well and raced stroke for stroke with Smith over the last 100 yards. Smith's superior sprinting powers won him the race, the judge's decision beins one fool, with twn lengths between Chamberlain and Jellie. The starters in the first heat of the double sculls were; —11. Spoon and G. Hewlett, C. Chumherlajn and C. Brierley, Ft Jellio and W. McGregor. Chamberlain look the lend at the start, but was passed by Spoon. Chamberlain again went to the front to win by V/„ lengths, while Jellie passed Spoon on the run to the judge. Spoon wns half a length back. . The second heat produced .T. Sweeney and T, Gallagher and W. Hnrper and G. Oxspring. The crews were together to halfway, when Sweeney took the lead. Harper pulled up and nnssed Sweeney, to get the dcision by one foot TC, Plggin and R. Monds and R. B, Smith and Beart contested the third heat. Smith got a back start nnd Plggin established a useful lead. Smith closed up, but had to be content with second place. Chamberlain, Plggin nnd Hnrper met in the finnl, Piggin and Chamberlain getting away together. The former wont to the front and won by two lensrths, with Chamberlain second, three lengths ah'ad of Harper. Mr. E. Bell, club president, judged all tho races. AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION A meeting of the executive of the Auckland. Rowing Association was held to receive the chairman's report of .his visit to Wanganui and to the Wh.ikatane and Tauranga clubs; to consider what steps could be taken to assist tho Mayor in his appeal for recruits; and to place on record matters in connection with the centennial regatta at Mercer. It was decided to communicate wllli the clubs making an appeal for recruits. Correspondence was dealt with and association certificates for provincial champions were approved,