ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 5

ROWING

By Odtbiooeb. FIXTURES. December 26.—Macandrew Bay regatta. January I.—Bluff jubilee regatta. February 17. —Ravensbourne regatta. LOWER HARBOUR CREWS Sunday was an ideal day from the rowers’ point of view, and it was not surprising to see a large muster of members present at the Port Chalmers Club’s shed. Two scratch crews took the water. The first consisted of N. Rae (str); G. Thorn, B. Anderson, and A. Anderson. This crew put up a good performance, considering that it was the first row of the season for B. Anderson, and N. Rae. The maiden scullers (A. Anderson and, N. Rae) have started training. These two boys have a good physique, and with consistent training should be hard to beat in their event at the Macandrew Bay regatta on Boxing Day. It was very encouraging to members to see the selectors (Messrs T. F. Mackie, J. Colthorpe, and R. Thomson) present last Sunday. Following the opening of the season last Saturday afternoon, there Has been much activity at the Queen’s Drive Club’s shed. Owing to the rough weather, ,howevery, very little has been clone in the way of coaching new members, but this will be carried out when the conditions are favourable. There is every prospect of the club being well represented in all the forthcoming fixtures. OTAGO ROWING CLUB The following crews have been selected to row in the Trial Four Race to be rowed off shortly:—J. Petrie (str), Williamson, Davidson, Henry; W. Zaffcr (str), Fraser, Fairbairn, Braithwaite; J. Turnbull (str), Goodwin, Simpson, B. Burns; W. Binnie (str), Macdonald, Gillan, Caradus. K. Barclay (str), Reeves, Hamili, Salt; L. M'Bride (str), Anderson, Jackson, Brown; H. Lawles (str), L. J. Davidson, Sainsbury, Couchman; Clouston (str), Raymond, Fahey, Cruickshanks; T. Finnie (str), Johnson, Burns, Foster; H. Greig (str), Poulter, White, Skene. The first week-end saw many of these crews on the water training and with a continuance of fine weather many of them should be in a condition to provide some close races in the heats. The next races to be decided will be the Matheson Fours (for novices) and the Walter Fours (for the older members). It is expected that the personnel of the crews for these contests will be announced shortly.

| bUUi wjr* i INTERPROVINCIAL EIGHTS t At a recent meeting of the Wellington ' Rowing Association a letter was received from Mr Halliburton-Johnston stating 1 that he considered it would be a good : idea to centralise the Interprovincial Eight-oar Race in Wellington, provided • the Wellington Association provided the i travelling crews with their expenses. He also considered that it would be a good idea to increase the prize money to £3O, making the first prize £ls, the second , £lO, and the third £5. If no increase was granted he thought the £25 should be i divided, making the first prize £ls and the second £lO. It was decided to forward Dave Pickard is one of the keenest j officials the club possesses, and as assistant secretary has done very good work this year. Dave still carves out a useful length, but he is one of those swimmers who prefer to assist the promising swimmers of the club rather than to put in time improving his own swimming. M. Taylor has resumed serious training, and the club captain will be kept busy during the next few weeks sorting out the material for the club’s three water polo teams. On November 23 the club is entertaining members of the Star Office and Police Force at a carnival at which one of the attractions will be the Star-Police water polo match, and demonstrations of swimming and diving will also be arranged. " Hnia ” is an Otago butter, and is the finest flavoured in New Zealand. —Advt.

the letter to' the New Zealand Council in support of the Wellington Association’s move to have the Interprovincial Eights centralised in Wellington. BEST ROWING EXHIBITIONS When speaking at the official opening of. the Queen’s Drive Boating Club’s season last Saturday afternoon Mr W. J. Wilson said the rowing on Otago Harbour liast season was the ;best exhibition seen for years. To top this off there was the crowning victory of the Otago eight-oar in the Interprovincial Championship Race at Wellington this year. The winning crew was one of the finest combinations which had ever left the harbour, and one of the best crews ever seen in action in New Zealand. , It was a champion crew, steered in . the great race by a'champion coxswain. In regard to the location of the next Eightoar Championship event, Mr Wilson said any of the rowing associations were entitled to it, but the Otago Association's claim for the Eights to be rowed on this harbour should receive every consideration. ' The North Island oarsmen were keen to have the race rowed at Easter, but this date would hot suit Otago, and it was hoped the oarsmen of Otago would advise the association whether they were prepared to support the Queenstown gatta at Easter or the interprovincial Eight-oar Race, as it would not do to send a second-rate crew north if the champion event wag held at Wellington or any other centre. Wellington was the most central place, but if the race were centralised there interest would wane. The president of the Queen's ; Drive Club (Mr N. Dodds), in the course of his remarks, said that Otago having five successive wins in the Interprovincial Eight-oar Race was entitled to be allotted the race for next year. Mr T. P. Mackie said the Champion Race rowed at Wellington this year was the best of the series, and the Otago crew was the , finest combination that had ever represented the province. It was a champion crew—a crew that would make a name for itself anywhere. Those who had the privilege of seeing the race were convinced that the Otaao coxswain was the best in the field. . The boy was , up against at least-one experienced coxswain, but he had come out with flying colours. In regard to the Otago Association’s claim for the next Eight-oar Race to be rowed on this harbour, Mr Mackie said local oarsmen would be asked whether they wished to support the claim or the Queenstown regatta. If the race was held in Otago, then oarsmen would probably have to sacrifice the Queenstown regatta’ provided the Championship event was rowed at Easter.

GENERAL NOTES i The Petone Club's plant is being added I to by the purchase of a clinker racing [ four from Webb and Green, Wanganui. I The boat is being .built to suit mainly I light-weight crews, and should be on the I water for the Norton Cup regatta. With : the addition of the Norton Cup inters club regatta to the Mothes Shield re--1 ! gatta more opportunity will be given the , j medium oarsmen in the club to show i their form. Among the new members ; joined up this year is C. H. Bishop, a i senior oarsman from Avon Rowing Club, Christchurch. Advices to hand . from Christchurch state that had he been available he would most certainly have filled a place in the, Canterbury eight-oared crew last year., The Wellington Rowing Club anticipates a good season for 1933-34. So far more than a dozen new members have been elected, and those are now being coached in preparation for the club races. Every boat has been placed in first-class condition, and a new supply of oars has been ordered, and the club has made delivery of a new clinker facing four, built by Messrs Webb and Green, of Wanganui. The shed now houses three racing clinker fours and five practice clinker fours, thus providing sufficient plant, for an. increasing membership. Important alterations to the premises are about to be made. The cost is estimated at £250, which amount has been raised by the issue of debentures to members and old members. When these alterations are. completed it is considered that the club will be the most compact and the best equipped in New Zealand.