ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 4

ROWING

By Outrigger

REGATTA DATES December 4. —Oamaru regatta. December 27. —Macandrew Bay regatta. January I.—Bluff regatta. February 12. —Burkes-St. Leonards regatta. NORTH END CLUB The North End Rowing Club held the Vice-presidents’ Fours on Saturday, and some exciting finishes were witnessed. Rough water was experienced at the start, but later on the wind dropped, and the final was rowed on calm water. The crew stroked by F Eggers put up a good performance to win the final after a fine race, Results:— First Heat.—F. Hogg (st), M. Hogg, E. Darby, and J. McFie v. E. Meggitt (st) S. Brown, W. Kirkham, and Baxter. Meggitt’s crew took the lead at the start, and managed to hold the advantage until about 100 yards from the finish, when. Hogg put in a strong challenge and came away to win by a-quarter of a length. Second Heat.—J. Grubb (st), D. Robins, F. Hodge, and J. Canny v. D. Poynter (st), C. Butterfield, R. Little, and A. Rawlings, Grubb’s crew jumped away well at the start, and took a slight lead, which it managed to hold, and won a good race by a length. Third Heat.—F. Eggers (st), Brown, Schelmtz, and A. Birtles v. M. Butterfield (st), D, McCallum, Forrester, and Trainor. Eggers’s crew shot to the front at the start, and, rowing strongly all the way, won by one length and a-quarter Final.—The final produced one of the most exciting races seen this season. All the crews went away to a good start, and for most of the distance no more than half a length separated the three crews. A great finish between Hogg and Eggers resulted in Eggers gaining the verdict by half a canvas, with Grubb half a length away third. QUEEN’S DRIVE CLUB With the Oamaru regatta in view, members of the Queen’s Drive Club have been concentrating on solid training. The crews selected to represent the club are reported to be shaping fairly well, especially when the number of novices included is taken into consideration, and a creditable showing on Saturday is anticipated. During the past few weeks the members, under the leadership of the club captain, have been busy cleaning-off the racing boats before repolishing them in readiness for the coming racing season. OTAGO CLUB Perfect conditions favoured the Ladies’ Challenge Fours, which were held by the Otago Club on Saturday. The event resulted in a win for the following crew:—J. R. S. Petrie, I. W. Love, R. T. Laing, and P. A. Perano. No time was taken. Three crews competed. Perano, who was said, in previous notes, to be an unknown quantity, is E roving to be much better than what is first appearances revealed, and as he has been in two winning crews already this season, he should prove a most valuable man . when the regatta season starts.

Laing, who previously had little success, is this year showing form, and should be heard of more as the season progresses. He is unfortunately not available for the Christmas regattas. At a meeting of the committee on Tuesday the resignation from the committee of Mr C. K. Pritchett was received. During his years on the committee Mr Pritchett has occupied the positions of secretary and of treasurer, and has at all times proved himself a conscientious official. His work as treasurer last year was spoken of very highly at the last annual meeting, and his resignation is to be very much regretted. He* will, however, still continue as an active member of the club. The vacancy on the committee has been filled by the appointment of Mr W. L. Zaffer.

The new “ Miller ” swivel-rigged four is now in the boathouse, and those members who rowed it up from Port, despite the rough water, speak very highly of it. The new sculler will be delivered by December 13. WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE The Canterbury Rowing Association will not contribute towards the cost of sending a rowing team to represent New Zealand at the Empire Games to be held at Sydney next year. In view of the attitude adopted by the Otago Association, this decision will be one of much interest to local oarsmen. The least that it does is to lend added weight to the opinion expressed forcibly by members of the Otago Association. At the meeting of the Canterbury Association when the above decision was made, the president (Mr F. D. Kesteven) said he thought it was beyond reason to consider sending about 20 men to represent New Zealand at rowing.

“Rowing is a sport which depends on the funds the clubs themselves can raise, and it is out of all reason to consider sending a big rowin? team overseas,” said Mr Kesteven. Large teams had been sent overseas before, he said, and neither the men in the teams nor rowing in New Zealand had benefited by the trips. Other members said that the association was not in a position to contribute to the fund. A motion stating that the association could not guarantee any money towards the cost of sending a team away was then passed. TO RACE AT OAMARU The following crews have Deen selected to represent the Timaru Rowing Club against the Oamaru Boating Club in races at the regatta to be held at Oamaru on Saturday:— Youths’ Double Sculls. —S. O’Hara (str), F. Wright. Maiden Fours. —J. W. Lennon (str), W. Halliday, W. Wood, W. Pickard. Junior Double Sculls. —C. deClifford (str), W; C. Davies. Youths’ Fours.—S. O’Hara (str), W. Jack, E. Crisp, F. Wright. Senior Single Sculls. —C. deClifford. Maiden Double Sculls. —H. Tapp (str), R. Bracefield. OAMARU REGATTA Preparations are now nearing completion for Saturday’s regatta at Oamaru. Excellent entries have been received, and approximately 120 oarsmen will take part in the eight races. Close finishes should be witnessed over the short course. Entries have been received for the Senior Fours and Single Sculls, and these should prove interesting races.

Jannet. The next race was sailed over the windward and leeward course from Jerningham to the Shoal buoy When it began at 10.35 a.m. the wind was a gusty southerly, but it steadied later. The leaders practically throughout were Kitty, Vanguard, and Lauchlan’s Jewel, and they finished in that order. Kitty sailed into first place again in the third race, which started at 3.5 p.m. and was held over a course from Jerningham to Fraser Rock to a mark in mid-harbour. The wind was lighter than in the morning. Kitty led all the way and won easily, with Vanguard and Lauchlan’s Jewel again disputing second place.

The Oamaru crews are as follows: Youths’ Fours.—A. Robertson, H. Danieil, R. Hammill, A. Hall. Maiden Fours.—R. Morris, A. Stichman, A. Mclntosh, D. Millar. Junior Fours. —R. Whitaker, A. Stichman, H. Tempero, C. Rennie. Maiden Double Sculls.—R. Morris, B. Patterson. Owing to the big programme, the limited time, and restricted area for launching boats, it is essential for crews to leave the beach before the finish of the, previous race. A full programme of the various events will be available. ROWING SHORTS Mr F. Agassiz has been appointed sole selector and-coach for the Canterbury Rowing Association this season. The appeal of the Otago Association for funds is commended to all oarsmen and club members. The first object of the appeal is to raise £SO, the contribution required towards the expenses of the Empire Games crews, and this should not prove a difficult task, provided, of course, that the right view of the appeal is taken by oarsmen and supporters of the sport. The least that can be said is that every effort should be made to see that the chances of the Otago oarsmen in the Empire Games team of making the trip to Sydney are not prejudiced. In connection with the appeal, oarsmen would do well to give their patronage to the dance which is to be held in the Otago Club’s pavilion on Saturday, December 11. to assist the fund. DUNEDIN REGATTA CLUB The third annual meeting of the Dunedin Regatta Club, which was held on Monday night, is described by officials as the most successful yet held. Points of interest arising out of the meeting can be summarised as follows: There was a record attendance. Fourteen new members were elected, and the roll now stands at 148. The balance sheet produced showed a credit of £23. The sum of £lO was received at the meeting, so that the total credit balance is now £33. Outstanding subscriptions amount to about £2O, A strong committee has been formed, which should function smoothly under the leadership of the re-elected president (Mr S. G. Styche). The large attendance at the meeting was in direct contrast to the state of affairs at the previous annual gathering, when difficulty was experienced in forming a committee. This year a ballot was necessary. What is more, the discussion was lively, showing the keen interest aroused. The date of the-annual regatta will be fixed at a committee meeting shortly. The club is desirous of avoiding a clash with other fixtures. Probably, the date will be early in February. The club is keen to foster eight-oar racing, and events for eights will definitely be included on the regatta programme. It is the intention of the committee to make application to have the Interprovincial Eight-oar Race between Otago and Southland for the Edmonds Shield rowed at the regatta. “FAIR WEATHER ”, OARSMEN Adverse weather conditions (says a Wellington writer)' have' kept the oarsmen at the southern end of the harbour out of their slender craft of late. Whaleboats and tubs have been in fair demand, but not to nearly such a great extent as many of the old, stagers would like to see. . . . This can only lead to the assumption that a class of “fair weather!’ oarsmen is replacing the old diehards. Oarsmen who think that whaleboat and tub work, in so far as the science of rowing is concerned, is of little value should remember mat they can at least attain a high state of physical condition by constant work in those boats.

There has already been a good deal of unfavourable weather this season, and if regatta crews are at all hopeful of giving a good showing in the big events later in the season they should not be above taking their place m the whaleboats in order to keep in condition for those events.