ROWING EVENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23840, 16 December 1940, Page 4

ROWING EVENTS

I INTER-SERYICES RACE THOMPSON MEMORIAL CUP SUCCESS OF BATTERY CREW Eight crews, comprised of men from tlic. Air Force, i'jipakura camp, Garrison Artillery ami 2nd Auckland Battalion, competed for the John Thorn p- ! son Memorial Cup and miniatures oil I Saturday afternoon. The crews exhibited a high standard of oarsmanship, and the j contest resulted in a win by the crew from the 10th Battery. The trophy was donated by Mrs. EsteUe Thompson to the St. George's Rowing Club about foilr years ago in memory of her husband, who had been a very keen member of that club. The St. George's club decided to offer the trophy for inter-business house competition. hut at the outbreak of the war if was decided that for the duration of hostilities it should tie awarded for an inter-services race. Saturday's series of races were the second held under the amended rules. Water conditions were ideal and it was therefore possible to use the course from outside the wave-break along the Tamaki Drive, finishing by the Akarana Yacht Club's pavilion. There was quite a la rye attendance of men in uniform ami other spectators. The results were:— First Heat. R.X.Z.A.F. No. 1 crew (PilotOfficer Harris. L. A. C. Harris, Aircraftsman Xorthover, Aircraftsman Brown), 1; R.X.Z.A.F. No. 2 crew (L. A. C. de Lacy, Aircraftsman f'fewson, Corporal Pickford, Aircraftsman Green). 2. Also started: R.X.Z.A.F. Xo. crew and IKb Battery. The Air Force Xo. 2 crew held the lead right down the straight until within 20 yards of the finishing post, when it stopped rowing. Air Force Xo. 2 came up Quickly and was able jo cross the line a canvas ahead, but the Xo. 1 crew had still sufficient speed up to take it over (he line half a length ahead of the Xo. 3 crew. Second Heat.— loth Battery (Gunner Taylor, Lance-Bombardier Dnsten, Gunner Thompson. Gunner Rasmussen), 1 ; 'Jml Auckland Battalion (Lance-Corporal Mikkelson, Private Brierle.v, Private McCarthy, Private Fitzgerald). 2. Also started: Papakura Camp and Air Force No. I. Auckland Battalion challenged strongly down the straight, and managed to gain a slight advantage. In the last .">n yards loth Battery made a wonderful spurt to cross the line one foot ahead of Auckland Battalion, with Papakura one length further hack Final. -Mr Force Xo. 1 and No. 2 crews and lolli Battery and '2nd Auckland Battalion started in the final. The Kith Battery was one length ahead at Point Resolution with the 2nd Auckland Battalion almost level with Air Force Xo. 1. Down the straight 2nd Auckland Battalion passed Air Force, but was unable to overtake the 10th Battery, which won by half a length. The judge's placings were:—lDlli Battery. 1; 2nd Auckland Battalion, 2: Air Force No. I, !i. Auckland Club.—Members rowed trial fours for the Mappin Caps. Four crews entered, the races being started by Mr. Geo. Barrett and judged by Mr. T. Brierle.v. Results were:—First, heat: S. Anderson, M. Holland, L. MeXamara. C. Monetir, 1; O. Cosse.v, G. Hewlett, C. Chamberlain. ,T. Guiniven. 2. Won by one foot. Second heat: E. Richardson, W. Baverstock, R. Mills, K. Rickard, I; L. Wallace, H. Jellie, R. Kenny, R. Thomson, 2. Won by two lengths. Final: Anderson and Richardson met in the final. The crews were very evenly matched and the race was a strenuous one from the start, Richardson made a final spurt which gave him the judge's verdict by a canvas. Waitemnta Club,—The Waitemata club rowed trial fours for (lie Schmidt trophies. There were four crews and the results were:— First heat: C. Cairns, W, McGregor, R. Hughes, B. Schmidt, I; D. Eraser. A. Couchman. J. Ross, D. Mitchell, 2. Won by a length and a-qnarfer. Second heat: R.' G. Barker. M. Alison, R. Steele, X. Mitchell 1 • H. Spoor. M. Fitzgerald, R. Miller, D. Menkes, 2. Won by two lengths. Final: Barker and Cairns met in the final, which provided one of the best races of the dav. The crew were level for about half flip distance when Cairns took the lead. Within 10 yards of the finish Barker came with great pace to snatch tho decision by six inches.