EIGHT-OAR ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21919, 3 April 1933, Page 8

EIGHT-OAR ROWING

INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP OTAGO'S EASY VICTORY MAGNIFICENT COMBINATION (From Our Special Reporter.) WELLINGTON, April 1. By winning the Intel-provincial Eightoar Race rowed on the Petone course under almost perfect conditions this afternoon the Otago crew put up a magnificent performance which justified its claim to be the champion all-round crew of the Dominion. The race was one of the most spectacular and interesting of the series rowed for the Hallyburton Johnstone Cup, which was won by Otago at Lyttelton in 1929 and again in the four subsequent races. The Otago crew rowed in to-day's race with great style and combination and led from start to finish to win by two lengths from Auckland and four lengths from Canterbury. It was predicted before the race that Otago would win, but rowing men were of the opinion that Auckland and Canterbury would be Otago's hardest opponents. This proved to be correct as these two crews were the only ones which gave the Otago stroke any concern throughout the race. The Canterbury crew, being the heaviest, rowed well for the first mile, when Auckland went into second position and challenged Otago. Clark, however, was not greatly concerned, although Auckland reduced Otago's lead slightly at times. Rowing a beautiful stroke of about 30 to the minute Clark was never bustled and the champion crew finished very fresh, which was a great tribute to the men's stamina and condition. The Auckland crew, on the other hand, showed unmistakable signs of distress after passing the winning post. There was a great struggle between Auckland and Canterbury for second place. Wanganui, Marlborough and Wellington were never in the picture. The Wanganui crew drew the shore positiou, with Canterbury, Auckland, Marlborough, Otago and Wellington in second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively. The Wellington crew was unfortunate as the No. 7 man caught a "crab" after covering half the distance and the crew stopped rowing until stroke was regained. Marlborough passed Wellington and had the advantage of a length or two in fifth position when the Wellington crew commenced rowing again. The weather was smooth, with only a slight ripple where the light breeze struck the surface at certain parts of the course. The breeze was from the north-west, and did not affect the oarsmen. The race attracted thousands to the course. The Railways Department ran a special train, which carried more than 1300 people. The train travelled at a speed to synchronise

with the race, and every person had an excellent view. Several thousand people watched the race from the railway embankment along the foreshore from Ngahauranga to Petone. Otago's win was very popular, and the crew received a great ovation after crossing the line. The Auckland crew were also cheered for its plucky fight to overtake the champions. Messrs W. J. Wilson and T. F. Mackie, of the Otago Rowing Association, were present, and naturally were greatly elated at the success of the crew Mr Wilson, who was manager of the crew, stated on Friday night that the Otago men were in great form, and he predicted that they would win easily.

The six crews were sent away to a splendid start at 3.35 p.m., the start being delayed five minutes to enable the train carrying a crowd of spectators to take its position directly in line with the boats. When the gun was fired the Otago crew jumped into the lead, but there was little between the crews for the first few hundred yards. At the half mile Otago had drawn well clear, and had fully a length lead from Canterbury, the latter being just ahead of Auckland. Wanganui, Wellington, and Marlborough were some distance behind. The Auckland men were rowing steadily, stylishly, and with perfect combination. Otago had a clear lead of a length from Canterbury after covering the first mile. At this stage Auckland and Canterbury were rowing a great race for second place, with Auckland rowing the better of the two. Wellington had now stopped rowing, and Marlborough went into fifth position. Maintaining a beautiful swing and stroke the Otago crew drew further away, increasing its lead to two lengths. The Auckland oarsmen had now quickened their stroke and held a slight advantage from Canterbury. It was still a great race between Auckland and Canterbury. Over the next quarter of a mile Clark still held his men with a comfortable stroke. Auckland again quickened, drawing further away from Canterbury and reducing Otago's lead to about half a length. At this stage there were fully 12 lengths between the first and last boats. With about a mile to go Wanganui, Marlborough ilnd Wellington were hopelessly out of it. Still rowing a perfect stroke about 30 to the minute Otago stalled off Auckland's challenge, Clark again increasing his lead to two lengths,

Auckland having a length lead from Canterbury. The Auckland crew, rowing a splendid race, again reduced Otago's lead to one and a-half lengths. Wanganui fell away badly at this stage, being several lengths behind Canterbury, while Marlborough wa9 just in front of Wellington. Over the next quarter of a mile Auckland was still rowing beautifully and drew farther away from Canterbury and gained another halflength on Otago. Clark was content to hold his length advantage for several hundred yards, but over the last quarter of a mile the Otago stroke quickened, and with a magnificent swing by the whole crew the champions quickly regained their original lead of two lengths from Auckland. Clark had the race well in hand practically all the way, and was called upon to quicken his pace only when the Auckland crew reduced his lead by less than a length after the first mile was clocked. Rowing steadily and stylishly and not being called upon to make one last desperate effort, Clark and his men sent their boat over the line to win by two clear lengths from Auckland and four lengths from Canterbury. Wanganui, Marlborough and Wellington finished in that order well back. At the conclusion of the race experienced oarsmen expressed the opinion that the Otago crew was the finest combination seen in New Zealand waters for many years, and that the crew must be classed as one of the best combinations in the southern hemisphere. Rowing men from all parts of the Dominion were greatly impressed with Clark as stroke, and the opinion was freely expressed that Clark, who is stroke of the Queens Drive senior four crew, is the equal of Brough, who stroked the Otago crew in its four previous successes in interprovincial eight-oar races. Clark certainly gave a polished exhibition of stroke rowing in to-day's race.