ROWING REGATTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23574, 7 February 1940, Page 7

ROWING REGATTA

EIGHT-OAE CONTEST

UNION CREW'S SUCCESS v . AN EXCITING' STRUGGLE The big event of the Auckland centennial t regatta, the championship eight-oar race, proved to.be the contest of the day, and was easily the;/

most exciting eight-oar race seen. {of Auckland for many years. New South*" Wales was beaten, but very narrowly. Both Wanganui Union and New South Wales are outstanding crews, and the; most pleasing feature of the race was that both crews, even under extreme pressure, kept their respective styles to the last stroke. ." - Wanganui Union, rowing the traditional New Zealand style, was a picture of rbythm, as were the Australians, who rowed a loosi orthodox style. The timing of both crews was perfect and a revelation to local oarsmen of what can be done with good coaching. The biade-work was all that it should be, no looso water, blade well covered, and tho water driven down.

• Union seemed to have a little more length of str'oke at the finish than New South Wales. This was surprising, as the New South Wales crew prides itself on its ability to maintain a good length. If the crew did falter under pressure, it was in this respect only.

The course was perfectly fair to, both crews, as they rowed close together into a head wind. It was in Union's favour that' the wind was ahead, as tho Dominion crew was the bigger and more powerful combination. It must be remembered, too, that tho Union crew had rowed"together and had won for three years. The Australians, drawn. from different clubs, had only rowed as a crew for approximately four weeks. Their system of training must be good to produce such a fine crew in this short time. Both coxswains were irood and had, perfect 'control of their crews. This was-ajv parent when each brought his crew to tho point of making an extra effort to take tliq iead. Each did this in turn," but Wanganui timed its.final sprint very nicely. i The difference in styles was Union's (lefinitd shoulder lift, which the Australians do not use at all, the driving strengtlr of tho stretcher and the Australians' loose bony work'against the orthodox straight swing up and down Ihe boat of Union. Both crewu were so smooth in their work that- the differences in style were not particularly noticeable. • i , - " ' • The championship sculling match was nexr in interest on the dy's programme. It provided a great tussle between the New Zear land champion, R. B. Smith, and G. Clubbe, of Sydney. Clubbe made full use of his length and sent his boat along very fast. Snntli sculled very nicely, however, and, although a few lengths behind, kept Clubbe fully,:"rextended. K. Webb, of Australia, had drop£>e4 back and of Wellington, who*>"w"as fowing his third race, was lying in tlfjbl position, Smith, who was too close inshora, fouled a barge and nearly lost the race, butonce clear, he came from four lengths behind to win by two lengths in the last 200 yards. C. Brierl.v, a maiden sculler from tho Auckland shed, did remarkably well in this race, finishing close to Webb and beating his clubmate, A. Morey. The senior fours event, in which 10 crews started—the biggest field for a. good many years—was disappointing. Union had an easy race, comfortably beating Clifton by two lengths. The Australians are not happy in fours, and it was obvious when they left the shed that the efficiency of the visiting eight was lacking. Auckland did well to run Clifton to half a length, - after being badly left at the start ' It is understood that the Australians will not row in fours again, but will concenfratfe on the eight; nor will Clubbe be permitted to scull;