FINE ROWING PROMISED

NZ Truth, Issue 1204, 27 December 1928, Page 12

FINE ROWING PROMISED

Championship.. .Regatta Should Open A New ! Era In The . (Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Sppcial Rowing Correspondent). The New Zealand championship regatta is to be held at Picton this season, and it is probable the rowing will reach a higher standard than for some years past. The Champion Fours, m particular, promises to^be a great racs.

FROM Wangunui comes word that the champion four will be together ••' again,, and ready to .defend theL 1 title. Clai-rie Healey will put his men into training after the holidays, and on the form shown at Henley- on -Yarra. it will take, a strong: combination to beat the light blues. .'.■'• Canterbury will be represented by a crew from the Avon Club from which big- things are expected. Wellington; Dunedin and Auckland clubs also intend sending crews to compete for the championship- . Some high-class rowing should be. witnessed by those fortunate to be m Picton on the day. With every prospect of a big field m the championship, it is to be hoped the starter will be stationed somewhere near the middle boat, and not on pne side of the field. •; Rowing enthusiasts will remember that the last time the championship begatta was held on Picton harbor there was a -strong breeze blowing Svhich carried the report of the starter's gun In the opposite direction from that of the boats on the outsider—furthest from the starter. The result was that the outside crews did not hear the gun, and one or two at least only knew the signal had been given when they saw the other crews rowing. • This could have been avoided had the starter 'been stationed amidships. There is a remarkable revival of interest m rowing m Auckland. All the clubs report increased membership, and the enthusiasm being displayed is good to see. From all 'the boathouses the regatta crews are getting m us 'much Avork as possible, and no doubt there will be some good racing at Tauranga, where the first test will take place.

. The Hamilton Rowing Club has just received a new racing clinker four from Edwards, of Melbourne, and she is a fine craft. The Hamilton Club has turned out some top-notch oarsmen, Hid it is pleasing to know that there "" "V some' very promising talent, among the young members. Blenheim Club will be represented at trie regatta to be held at Picfon on New Year's Day by . ..lie. following senov four: C. J. Adams ( stroke), 'W. Pinkham (3), F. Glee son (2), J. Adams (bow); It is expected that three crews— Waitemata, S t George's and North Shore — will compete, at Tauranga In trie "senior four 3. There were 27 crews, representing 108 oarsmen, racing at Auckland on a recent Satur- ' day.

I Rowing 1 m New Plymouth is going to prove a very popular sport. A number of crews are to be seen out on the Harbor every evening-. The newlyfoihied club has tnrce four-oared clinker boats and members are looking forward to competing' at outside regattas. Efforts are aiso being made to purchase a. iirst-class racing boat. The Marl borough Regatta, to be held on New Year's Day, should provide some good racing. The entries received are satisfactory and include crews from Star and Wellington clubs. The Senior Fours will be contested by Star, Blenheim and Wairau. Though the field will be small, it should be a fine race. Wairau rowed second to Wanganui Union m the Champion Fours last season, and on the form shown then must have a big" chance on New Year's Day, The Star crew is one which is likely worthily to represent the club. The crew comprises G. Cooke (stroke), H. McLean (3), G. Williams, (2) and D. G. Gray (bow). There is material here which under a coach such as Oswin (who was a member of the Star crew that won the Champion Fours m 1904) ■should turn out above the average. The' Blenheim crew is also a strong one, including as it does such experienced oarsmen as C. J. Adams and W. Pinkham. Everything points to the race being a ■ very fine one, and the winning crew' will .probably prove hard to beat at the big regatta m February. Christ's College crew proved too good. for Wanganui Collegiate School m the annual four-oared race, held on the Wanganui River last Tuesday. The race is said to have been a very good one, the form shown by both crews being excellent, though the . Wanganui crew, did "riot put the • "ginger"' into their rowing which' was expected of them. In fact, over, the last quarter of a mile, they cracked up.

Christ College boys rowed well. They jumped away m lively fashion, a fast "dozen" carrying them to the front, and there they stayed. Their blade -work was clean and 1 their catch crisp and very solid, with the weight on throughout a good length stroke. They hit the water at ; 3s -36 for the greater part of the journey, an d finished up well. It was a very pleasing display, reflecting credit on the crew and their coach, W. Dunn. The Aramoho Club (Wanganui) will be represented at the New Plymouth regatta, to be held on New Year's Day. Rowing is coming into its own at New Plymouth, the enthusiasm being shown m the sport auguring wull for the future.