ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20874, 14 November 1929, Page 5

ROWING.

By OCTRIGGEB.

The semi-finals of the North End Boating Club’s trial fours were contested on Saturday afternoon, the first heat beiug fought out between Livingston (str). Glengarry (3). Smith (2), and L. ’Blagdon (bow), and F, Eggers (str.). Rodgers (3), Butterfield (2), and Hennagan (bow). This was the best race of the series. From a good start both crews quickly got into their stride. Nearing Black Jack’s Point Livingston, who was rowing a slightly faster stroke than Eggers, pained a lead of about a canvas, but Eggers quickened hia stroke and 100 yards from home was on.-even terms with his opponent. In a. fighting finish, Livingston.; foVged; ahead to win. by half a length. In the second heat Mitchell (str), Wilson (3), W. Blagdon (2), and Hogg (bow), rowed against Johnston (str), H. Eggers (3). Davidson (2). and Dalton (bow). The crews got away well, neither gaining much advantage at the start. When Black Jack Point was neared Mitchell gained a lead of half , a length, which he managed to increase to a length a tittle further on. Passing Black Jack Point Johnston quickened his stroke and reduced Mitchell’s lead to half a length again, but from then on Mitchell’s crew was not headed, and went ou to win by a -length and a-balf. The final was rowed on Monday evening between Livingstone, and Duncan, the latter’s place haying been taken by .Mitchell in the semi-final on account of the real stroke’s inability to take part in the race that day. The crews got away together from" a good start, and when Black Jack Point was passed Livingstone had an advantage of about a length. Duncan speeded up his stroke and reduced the gap to half a length, but Livingstone maintained good combination and won comfortably by a length and a-half. The following crOws have been selected to represent the North End Club at the Christmas -regattas:—Senior Fours: F. Eggers (str), J. Mitchell (3). E. Manson (2), A. Deans (bow). Junior Fours: A. O. Johnston (str), E. Wilson (3), W. Titchener (2), L. l Blagdon (bow). Maiden Fours: G. Thompson (str), J. Mayhe (3), P... Verngreen (2). W. Blagdon (bow). Youths’ Fours: C. Barton (str), J. M’Millan (3). W. Walkdr (2). H. Rodgers (bow)., • It is the club’s' intention to initiate a chib race for non-regatta men. And it is hoped that further crews will be -selected from these.

The following crews have been selected to represent tbs Otago Club at the forthcoming . regattas;—Junior Fours; W, GLdwrie (s), S. Anderson (3), W. L. Zaffer (2),.and E. W. Bickford (bow). Second Junior Fours: H. A. Lawless (s), P. Vallis (3), S. Bell (2), and D. M. Patterson (bow). , Maided Fours: C. Brown (s). I, Buchanan (3), J. Turnbull ■(2), and K. Barclay (boV). Youths’ Fours: A. L. M'Bridc (s), A. Youn - : (31, T. Lakemac (2), and W. Davey (bowl. Second Youths’ Fours; N. Eeclea (b), C. D.. Stevens (3). H. M'Alpine (2), E. \eint (bow). Senior Sculls: F. Brough fs) and G. 8.. Johnson. Maiden Sculls: W.i G. Lowrie (s) and S. Anderson. Second Maiden Sculls; H. A. Lawless (s) and E-. W. Pickford. Youths’ Sculls: A. L. M’Bride (s) and T. Lake man. Second Youths’ Sculls: N. Eccles (s) and C. D. Stevens,

The'final of the Otago Club's race for the Walter Fours between W. Wergvs (s), S. AnderSon, S. Bell. L. Simpson, and W, G. Lowrie (s), F, Brough, W. L. Zaffer, and K. Barclay, was rowed off last Saturday. It was unfortunate that substitutes had to be entered in the final, blit A. Waddell was unable to row owing to an injury to his hand, and C. Hinchcliffe and K. Allen were unavoidably abemit. The course was from Waverley to {ha shed. The crews were level until about halfway, when Lowrie’s crew drew away to win by two lengths. Had it not . been for bad steering Wergcs’s crew would probably have finished much closer up. Taking it all. round the steering'in club races so far has been very poor, and there, is room for improvement beiore the Christmas regattas. Regatta crews will be selected almost immediately and should be in training before the end of this week. 1 Large numbers of members are unavailable for Christmas regattas this year, owing to the fact that they will be away from town on holiday. .This is scarcely a sporting spirit, and if a man is .not keen, enough to forego- a holiday at Christmas and represent his club he should not be .considered by the Selection Com: mittee for any regatta after Christmas. Several members have expressed willingness to make the trip to Bluff at New Year, and it is hoped that a strong junior crew will represent the club at this regatta.

and Jack Lakey, his trainer, landed in England on October 1 after his fruitlessjourney to the States in quest of a world’s title bout with A 1 Brown. Seen on the boat just before be left for London, Baldock expressed his natural 'disappointment at *the frustration of his hones of ; meeting Brown, but stated that he was returning ■to the States very shortly for a contest with Kid Chocolate. “I have had a good holiday," added the Poplar boy.and a look round. At the same time. I went out_ to fight and get the championship question settled. There has been too -much talk about it. I think I have more right to the world’s bantam-weight championship than anyone elsj;. and I intend to claim it. A 1 Brown let. me down." I gave way when he asked for a postponement from September 17 to October' 2, but when he Wanted the fight put off again—he said he was suffering from neuritis—that was ■ another matter. Contracts have been signed, and I expect to go across! again in November or early December, and I hope Al. Brown will be fit by then-and ready to meet me for the world’s title.”

The early days of the great Paddy Slavin had much of the romance which characterised the beginnings of the mighty Les Darcy -/says the Sydney Referee). Slavin laid the foundations of the. physique which later led him along the fame-strewn paths of pugilism by swinging , a blacksmith’s hammer. When 20 years of age he got a job as assistant to Harry Tifck.. Maitland smithy. Darcy was destined to swing a hammer in- a forge rtot many, yards distant from- the same spot. Slavin spent his lunch-hour every day starring with anybody willing to take a wallop from the business end of hia big, strong arms. Most willing of all these young scrappers was the evergenial Jim Ban-on, who. at the age of 67, is still in the full splendour of active manhood, and one of Sydney’s beet-loved sports. As Slavin’s sparring’ partner, Barron forged the first links of a friendship which endured through the years that name after. Jim subsequently became the best welter in Australia, and his record of touring America, where he cleaned up the best of a big-bunch of his weight without suffering one genuine defeat, still stands as one of the finest achievements of a splendid career. Said Barron to the Referee: “ Slavin was unquestionably the beat fighter in the world, but as a boxer he was not in the class of many others of those times. If Jackson had been solely a fighter, Paddy would have beaten him.”