ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23082, 7 January 1937, Page 4

ROWING

By Outrigger

FIXTURES January 23.—Dunedin Regatta. February 13.—South Island Championship Regatta at Port Chalmers. February 27.—New Zealand Rowing Championship Regatta at Akaroa. Easter Saturday, March ,27.—Interprovincial Championship Eights, Wellington; Queenstown Regatta. BLUFF REGATTA At the annual regatta at Bluff on New Year's Day there was a representative attendance of rowers from all the Southland clubs and the Otago Club was also represented. The honours of the day were shared by the Awarua and Railway Clubs. The Riverton crews did moderately well and Otago occasionally won a third place, but the Invercargill Club had a lean day. About 3.30 in the afternoon, on account of the choppy nature of the sea, it was found necessary to postpone the remaining five rowing events. It was hoped to complete the races in the evening, but the sea was still too rough and the tide unsuitable. The events were held on Saturday morning. Although not getting “ into the money ” in other events the Otago crew gained a popular victory in the chief event of the regatta—the Senior Fours. Railway took first place for the amount of prize-money won, with Awarua a close second. The placings were as follows: _ £ s. d. Railway 31 0 0 Awarua 29 0 0 Otago 20 0 0 Riverton 13 10 0 Total 93 10 0 Of the 12 races on the programme the Otago Club entered for nine, and, as the distribution of the prize money shows, gained a fair measure of success. In the. final event of the regatta, the boats moved off to a perfect start. Unfortunately, a second cartridge was accidentally discharged (not by the starter) and Invercargill and Otago ceased rowing, thinking it meant a recall. The crews were immediately waved on, and all took part in the race. A protest would have been in order: but the crews affected took the incident in a sporting spirit and waived their right to an objection, an attitude which was appreciated * by both rowing men and officials. PICTON REGATTA At the Picton regatta held on New Year’s Day. the Picton Club, which “ scooped the pool ” last year, was again to the fore, despite spirited competition from Blenheim and Star (Wellington). The two Wellington clubs, Star and Wellington, figured in nearly all the finishes' in the events they contested, but it was regretted that the Petone crews were absent. Picton, with three firsts, two seconds, and three thirds, secured £26 in prizemoney, Blenheim being second with £2l (two firsts, three seconds, and one third), and Star third with £l6 (two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds). Wellington’s two firsts netted it £B, and two seconds and two thirds to Wairau were worth £3. Arapawa, which started in only one race, did not succeed in obtaining any of the prizemoney. »t 1 One of the best finishes of the day occurred in the Senior Fours, which was won by Blenheim, who came from third position to win by one length and a-half in the last 200 yards. Picton retained the Ted Horgan Memorial Cup for the Junior Fours, winning comfortably in a triangular contest with Blenheim and Star. WANGANUI RIVER The Wanganui River was envied by most of the rowers who visited thecity for the Christmas week-end for the annual Boxing Day regatta at Sandy Hook. “We’d give anything to have this river in front of our boat shed. Your rowers here do not realise how fortunate they are,” declared a New Plymouth oarsman in conversation with a Wanganui Chronicle reporter, “At any state of the tide your oarsmen have not far to carry their boats. At low tide we may have to carry our boats anything up to 300 yards before we can launch them on the sea. Another thing, the river in its roughest condition, is far better for rowing than the sea.” i NEW SOUTH WALES HAPPENINGS The first, half of the New South Wales rowing season has now been completed, and though entries at the beginning were below standard, there was a gradual improvement, until at the Penrith Club’s regatta the number exceeded the previous year’s record. Only one title event has so far been held, the most important races being reserved for the latter half of the season. These include the light and heavy-weight championship eights, champion sculls, King’s Cup at Manham (South Australia) on April 24, Head of the River on May 1 and Interuniversity Oxford and Cambridge Cup. The first regatta of the New Year will be held on Anniversary Day. February 1. Races for all classes of professional and amateur oarsmen will be provided, and as the Rowing ciation’s regatta will be held on the following Saturday, light and heavyweight maiden fours will have another opportunity of winning a double with the same crew. The other events at the regatta will be champion eights, light-weight champion fours, and light and heavy-weight champion sculls.

There should be some interesting racing in the eights and sculls. North Shore crew will be meeting with possibly stronger opposition in the eights, as the New South Wales Police crew will include at least five of the Olympic representatives. If they can reproduce their last year’s form they should take some beating; at any rate rowing enthusiasts will be looking forward to a keen contest. Mosman and Sydney will also be starters, but both crews have undergone considerable changes since their last appearance, and are unknown quantities. If Bradley, Turner and Pearce could only be got together in the sculls the race would be worth going a long way to see, and it would be difficult to forecast the winner. Bradley and Pearce will be competitors, but Turner is a doubtful starter.

The most outstanding feature of the first half season’s rowing has been the excellent performance of the North Shore crew in winning all the senior eight contests held in New South Wales, together with the grand challenge at Henley. The club, with 112 points, is leading in the premiership, closely followed by Mosman, which has annexed all the senior four events, together with a number of junior races which have helped to swell its total. The points are:— Senior: North Shore 112. Mosman 100, Sydney 41. Haberfield 32, Leichhardt 22. New South Wales Police 12, Pittwater 8.

Junior: Sydney 37, Mosman 36, Haberfield 32, Leichhardt 22, New South Wales Police 12. North Shore 8. Pittwater 8.