ROWING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23490, 30 October 1939, Page 7

ROWING

MOST CLUBS ACTIVE BOISTEROUS CONDITIONS \ KEEN RACING WITNESSED Tho rowing season is now definitely under way. Although two clubs, West End and Auckland, have still to hold thoir official openings, all clubs with the exception of North Shore were racing on Saturday. North Shore held its official opening, but was prevented by the strong southerly from racing. The clubs on the southern shoro were moro fortunate. Threo clubs wero racing on the Tamaki Drivo, and supporters witnessed somo very close finishes. It was remarkable that tho first heat in each club race was won by such narrow margins. One raco between Field and Siminonds, of tho Auckland Club, was spoiled by tho action of a yachtsman in .bringing his boat to anchor right in tho course of the racing boats. Both crews wero nearing tho line and had little room in which to manoeuvre. , Although tho wind was strong from tho south, the water conditions were quite good and the standard of rowing in some, races was excellent. Most clubs aro only allowing oarsmen with experience to compete. New members will require coaching and practice before competing in trials.

AUCKLAND CLUB'S EVENTS HENDERSON CUP TO COSSEY \ The Auckland Rowing Club boated five j crews. Tho club officials decided not to per-! Mit now members to start in view of \ boisterous conditions. Tho Henderson Cup was tho trophy competed for, and tho mile course in the shelter of Tamaki Drivejtyas used. Tho best race of the scries was in tho first heat. The two crows in the final, with tho exception of one man each, wero regatta crews, and a great race was expected. x The crews in the first heat were:—E. Field, V. Walker, L. Wallace, J. Bell. B. McNamara (cox); J. Dickson, M. Fester, T. Siebert, T. Bailey, L. McNamara (cox); D. r Simmonds,, W. McGregor, E. Goodwin, K. King, T. Richards (cox). Dickson went to the front soon after the start, and at halfway was a length in front, with Simmonds half a length in front of Field. Approaching the reef, Simmonds and Field moved up on Dickson, and on turning the corner the three crews were level. It was a great race down the straight, with Simmonds and Field fighting it out. Simmonds was put off his course by a yacht. Field getting the verdict by three feet. Crews in tho second heat were:—H. Jellie. C. Brierly, 0. Chamberlain, R. Shearer, B.' McNamara (cox); O. Cossey, G. Hewlett, C. Kidd, D. Morin, L. McNamara (cox). Jellie got slightly tho better of the start, the crews maintaining their positions to tho quarter distance. Jcili.o carried away both footstraps and Cossey took the lead,'to cross the finishing line two lengths in front. The final between the crews of Field and Cossey was robbed -of interest by bad coxing. Tho strong side wind took tho outside crew right out. into the harbour, giving Cossey, who enjoyed bettor steering, a big advantage in calm water. Cossey won by threo lengths. WAITEMATA CONTESTS The Waitemata Club rowed trial fours on the Tamaki Drive course for trophies presented by Mr. H. Wright. Five crews took part, and the form was quite good, considering tho strong head wind. Mr. T. Marshall was starter and' Mr. C. C. Cairns judge. The 'first heat provided a great race, tho winners having tlie narrow margin of one foot. The ■ crows were:—R. 'Mikkelson, T. Gallagher,'A. S. Ramsay, M. Alison, I. Hadfield (cox); J. Sweeney, D. Fraser, A. Carbines, J. Murphy, N. Finnegan (cox); CC. Cairns, W. McGcchie, W. Martin, J. Ross, M. Brockliss (cox). From a good start, Mikkelson in sheltered water took tho lead from Cairns and Sweeney.. Cairns, a length behind at the reef, challenged strongly, anddrew level. It was a ""great race - down the straight. Tho judges gave the decision to Cairns by one foot. Sweeney was ; third two lengths back. «■ o Crews in'the second heat wero:—H. Spoon, S Billings, ;N. Donnelly, T. .J. Sharkey; T. Conway, J. Delamare, V. Proud, C. Denison. Spoon led to the Parnell bridge, but Conway, rowing a fast stroke, closed up and passed , tho leaders. Conway won tho raco by one length. ' _ . The final between the crews of Cairns and Conway was a good race to the reef. Conway led to half-way, where Cairns took charge. Cairns, rowing a longer and smoother stroke, kept his crew moving nicely and, in spite of Conway's strong offort at the finish, won b.\ one length. ■; ' ,

ST. GEORGE CLUB The St. Gportrc's Club rowed a set of trial fours for the Tewsley Cup at Tamaki Drive. The starting was by mutual consent,-and tho races were judged by Mr. G. Biss. lhis club also provided an exciting race in the first heat, when tho winners got tie verdict by U Crews'in the first heat were:—J. Biss, E. Pidgin, N. McLaughlin, N. Webb, C., Beckham (cox); ,T. Coote, D. St. Georgc,,H. Lonp, D Hewitt, A. Beckham (cox). Bias soon went to the front, but Gooto caught up at Parnell Point and took tho lead. Biss caught the leaders down tho straight and won by two f ° Crews in tho second heat were:—C. Hilliard. K. Gordon, W. L. Carr. D. Tuck, A. Beckham (cox); R. Speer. Edmonds M Bovd, P. Menzics, C. Beckham (cox). Hilliard led all tho way to win by two lengths. Tho final between Milliard s crew and Biss, was a good race to tho reef, with Hilliat'd leading. Biss, wliose crew was ro ™; J l h bettor combination, caught up and went to tho front, to win by a length. PEACOCK SHIELD RACES The .West End Club's first races wore trial fours Tor the, Thomas Peacock > Shield, four crews competing. The course njSt Mary's Bay was sheltered from the strong southerly. An accident to one boat m the second heat spoiled a good race. No new members competed and the form was quite C ° Crews in the first heat wero:—H. M. MacDonald, T. J. OR. Chester. R. H. Smith. L. Fisher, D. 'Wctherill (cox);_W. C. Pjitnell, R. Alexander, S. G. Bigelow, D. 'O'Sullivan, R. "Wethcrill (cox). Mac Donald led over tho first part of tho course, but Parnell, rowing strongly, drew level. MacDonald responded and drew, away to threequarters of a length lead and steadily increased the advantage to win by a length and n Crews in tho second heat were:—l. MacDonald, J. G.'.Howo, N. J. Conway. E. F. .Tohnson, W. Gibbons (cox); J. G. Cardey, J. R. Leon, D. Wethcrill (cox). Barton was .-in.-tho , lead •at tho quarter distanco, with Mac Donald-clo-sing up. Mac Donald had passed Barton . when 8 swivel broke in Barton's boat, spoiling: what should have been a great race. ■ Tho fnal was fought out between tho MacDonald crews and was tho best race of tho day Half the distanco had been covered before H. M. Mac Donald took tho. lead. I. Mac Donald challenged strongly, _but had to bo content with second place. H.' M. MacDonald won by three-quarters of a length. OPENING AT NORTH SHORE The North Shoro Club ncld its official opening on Saturday at tho clubhouse. There wa< a large attendance of old members and supporters. It was a pity that the strong souiiicily wind prevented tho holding of races for tho president's trophy. These will bo held lutor in the week. t Tho president, Mr. A. T. Haddon, introduced Mr. E W. Alison to tho gathering, tho latter being the oldest living member of the club. Mr. Alison, a foundation member, was able to recall rowing incidents as far back as sixty years ago. Mr. Iv. J. Dellow, headmaster of tho Takapuna Grammar School, whose pupils train from the North Shoro shed, thanked tho club's officials for the facilities granted the pupils. Mr. E. Aldridge, deputising for tho Mayor of Devonport, Mr. H. F. "W. Meikle, declared tho season open. He congratulated tho club on its action in lending the second storey of tho shed to a Red Cross organis* ation for use as a clubroom for soldiers.