ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 4

ROWING.

By Outrigger. FIXTURES. February 27.—New Zealand Professional Sculling Championship, on the Hokianga River, Auckland. ' March 22.—New Zeaalnd Interporvinciai Bight-oar Championships, at Auckland. April s.—Otago Rowing Association Regatta. Easter Saturday.—Queenstown Regatta Excellent rowing conditions favoured the Upper Harbour versus Lower Harbour Eight-oared Race, which was held on the Upper Harbour on Tuesday evening, the boats having both wind and sea with them during the trip from Waverley to the steamer basin. From the start Lower Harbour, who had the inside course, jumped ahead, and thereafter steadily increased the lead.- The Upper Harbour rowers did not exhibit the same good combination as that possessed by the 1 wer Harbour men, who put up a very fine performance to win by two lengths, the course, about two miles, being covered in lOmin 13sec. Owing to counter attractions, the Port Chalmers Club has so far been unable to row off its race for the President’s Fours, but there is every possibility that this event will be decided in the near future. The crews have been working fairly steadily in preparation for the Otago Association’s regatta, and it is expected that they will be well in the running in the contests provided at that fixture. There is little doubt that if last year’syouths’ crew, which numbered Parsons, Hill, and M’Connell in its strength, were again to take the water the club would oe enabled to give a particularly good account of itself in the coming contests.

The Woolston Fours, a sealed handicap race for regatta crews in the Otago Club, is to he rowed off on March 8 between the seniors, juniors, maidens, and youths. The seniora and juniors will row in the two practice boats, whilst the maidens and the youths will use. the two racers. The Howlison Cup, for single sculls, will be. decided as soon as the weather permits. The draw is as follows:—F. Brough v. G. B. Johnson, J. P. Vallis v. K. Barclay, E, W. Pickford a bye. CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA. Commenting on the New Zealand Championship Regatta held at Picton on February 15, “ Stroke ” writes in the Evening Post:—The championship regatta of the 1929-30 season will he remembered as one of the most successful championship meetings. True, the weather was not all that could he desired from the spectators’ point of view ; but in other respects the meteorological conditions could hardly have been improved upon. The night before the fixture a high wind appeared unfavourable, but this dropped during the night, and when the fours, the first race of the day, was started the water was in a good condition. It was a little choppy at the two-mile post, tint for all that it was favourable from an oarsman’s point of view. During the day the wind dropped, and as the racing progressed the water became better, till towards the end of the programme the Sound was like the proverbial sheet of glass. The most important event of the day was, of course, the fours. Apart from the fact that- it was the most important race, it was one of the best races, and, that gives it added interest when one comes to review the regatta. After the Picton crew's showing in the fours at the previous championship meeting, there were some who were disposed to think that Picton might just beat Hamilton. But there was a larger number of people who were satisfied that Hamilton would be able to stave off any challenge. There is no. doubt that the form shown by the Hamilton four at the Wellington regatta the week prior to the championships was most impressive, and the general opinion was that Hamilton would carry off the principal honours. After the race, Row ever, there was a different tale, to tell. In point of entries, the championship fours was disappointing, the total entries for the race being only three—Hamilton, Picton, and Wairau. In spite of the poor entry the race must be remembered as a classic, and ae one of the best races seen at a championship meeting for a long fioib. Over practically the greater part of the distance the two boats (Wiarau had dropped back early) raced side fay side, and the difference between them was too small to be' observed from the umpire’s launch. Then in the last quartermile Picton, who had stuck to their task with great doggedness, gradually drew ahead, and went on to finish by a comfortable margin. Prom the point of view of style the race was an eye-opener—the polished work of the, Hamilton four contrasting with the less finished but more effective effort ■on the part of Picton. Stamina, not style, was in the Picton boat that day, and stamina won. The Picton Club first won the championship fours in the 1897-93 season, and held it for three years (till 1899-90) when Canterbury took the title. They won it again in the 1911-12 season, but did not hold it for more than one season. The title has gone back to the club now, and it should give rowing a new lease of life in Marlborough— not that it needs it badly.

The other championship race that promised to be well worth while watching but which was a disappointment, was the championship sculls. At the previous championship regatta, Turner, the Tauranga sculler, beat Jackson by a margin of n few inches, and the week prior to the championships Jackson beat Turner a r Wellington. It. was anticipated that the race would be a classic, but the unfortunate incident of the scullers’ blades touching spoilt the finish., Tarrant, of Picton, also started, and gave a very good account of himself, though he was never ln a „P os ’f’ on to threaten either Jackson °5 Turner, Haua, Turner’s clubmate, started, but was left behind before the leading boats had : gone very far, and so, as' was the case in the fours, this race canrn to a neck-and-neck struggle between two boats When the scullers were enterIDR1 DR P n , tbe last quarter-mile their blades touched, and Jackson stopped rowing He went on after an interval and claimed a tpul, which was disallowed. At the time, iu l?. er “ a( * £ v ?. ry s.lißbt advantage, his paddle was dipping simultaneously, but a little ahead of Jackson’s, but it is extremely doubtful whether the incident affected the race in any way. Turner kept on rowing, and he finished easily the sculling was very pretty to watch, Turners especially. -He put more “life” into his work than his opponent, and rowed as though he was out to win from start to finish. Haua also made a creditable display

As Wellington rowing held the pairs title, more than the usual interest attached to this race. ■ It provided the closest finish of the day. the winning Hamilton crew crossing the line a bare six inches ahead of Star, the holders of the title last year. All agree that Hamilton thoroughly deserved their win especially in view of the fact that they had had one hard race that day. Cooke' and Mill lins. the Star pair, rowed a very fine race. Mullins, who was new to Cham pionship rowing, acquitted himself well and showed That he is a fitting partner tor Cooke. The pair hope to have manv more seasons together yet. .and should give a good _ account of themselves it future eh amm on shin meetirnrs