ROWING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16209, 6 December 1926, Page 14

ROWING

G.R.C. SECOND TRIALS. The heats in, tho Gieborno Club's second trial fours for Mr. C- O. Hansen's medals, have been productive of the'most even'series of matches seen on the local water for years, five of the races rowed to date having been won by margins ranging up to half a canvas. The course is three-quarters of a mile, and' in each case the contests have been doggedly fought, the winning crews having to maintain their efforts to the last stroke. On Saturday evening the semi-final of the series was rowed, and again the spectators viewed an excellent match. The contesting fours were: L. Willcox (s.) Williamson, J. Primrose, and H. Stewart, and G.C. Jones (s.), If. Hunter, Rowe, and Colebourne. The start was even, Jones getting tho better of the first dozen strokes, but after the crews had settled down Willcox moved np, and the rowers fought practically stroke for stroke all the way, now one and then the other showing slightly in front. At Derby street, some 300yds. from the finish, there was nothing between the crews, and' with both striking at a high rate, it became a matter of staying power. Jones' four proved the merest degree superior in this respect, and in the last half-dozen strokes they forged ahead and won by half a canvas, the equivalent of 3ft. The final of the series will be rowed this evening, when Jones will meet Dent (s.), J. Stewart, Grant, and Pocock. The race will be against the tide, and there is every prospect of a hard contest.

The nominations for the first open fours, which are to be commenced about the middle of the month, are highly gratifying, and about 10 crews will go into training for the event, for which Mr. Jas. McKce has presented a set of cups. The crews will be selected this evening, probably, and no time should be lost in getting the fours on the river.