ROWING

Southland Times, Issue 22293, 7 April 1934, Page 14

ROWING

(By

“Skiff.”)

The 1934 rowing season went out in brilliant sunshine last Saturday at Queenstown, when one of the most successful fixtures in the history of the lakeside club was staged.

The Railway Club was fully represented, and gained in all a total of 15 placings. Victories were gained by oarsmen of each class except the seniors, who had to yield pride of place to stronger combinations from the Dunedin clubs. The North End Club was outstanding in the senior division, registering wins in both rowing events, and filling second place in the double sculls race, which was won in good style by the Port pair, Neilson and Pritchard. The surprise performance of the day was that of the Railway maiden four, who started in the senior fours event. Over the first mile, the younger oarsmen were satisfied to let their senior crew make the pace for them, but when halfway was reached they went into second place, and sticking sturdily to their task finished the best race of their career only two lengths behind the formidable North End seniors. They were given a great reception by the crowd, and fully deserved it. Otago v.-on the junior fours by a substantial margin, but the finishes in the other two junior races were the closest of the day. In the junior pairs, victory went to Little and Keppel by inches only, and the result of the Double Sculls saw Otago just manage to stave off a challenge from Railway, who finished very strongly. An Aquatic Classic.

Monday’s contest must be regarded as a classic in aquatic sport (remarks the Dominion). It is doubtful if seven eight-oar crews have participated together in one race before in either New Zealand or Australia. The novelty of seeing seven crews so in action captured public imagination, for, although it was not possible to announce the course even the night before, many thousands of persons gathered on the Hutt Road, together with their automobiles, to witness the race. The scene on the highway during the course of the race is better imagined than described. Patrol officers found it impossible to regulate traffic, and the road became a moving mass of motor vehicles, with all rules of the road disregarded; all endeavoured to keep up with the swiftly moving skiffs. The banks opposite the finishing line provided excellent points of vantage for many, and the scene at the finish with people scrambling down the hillside, automobiles pulling up with noise and dust, and hundreds of humble cyclists dismounting, was one not likely to be repeated for a long time on the Hutt Road at least.

It was unfortunate that it was not possible to have dispatched a special train, as was the case last year, to accompany the boats. It provided a novel travelling grandstand, and an acceptable source of revenue to the Regatta Club. The only unfortunate feature of the championship is the considerable loss the Wellington Regatta Club will have to suffer as a result of the postponement on Saturday. Ex-Scutlilander’s Impressions.

Commenting on the performance of the Southland eight, a former Southland oarsman, now domiciled in Wellington, writes:—

“To the ex-Southlanders now resident in Wellington this year’s interprovincial eight-oar championship was of special interest in view of the fact that a Southland crew were competing for the first time, and although the many Southland supporters among the spectators did not have the pleasure of seeing their crew finish first, it was agreed by all rowing enthusiasts that, in the circumstances, the Southland eight put up a very fine performance, notwithstanding the fact that they finished last. The boats were well bunched at the finish of the race, and it is very seldom that the distance between the first and last boats is so short as was the case in this race. “When it is remembered that the young Southland crew were competing against the cream of New Zealand oarsmen, who had had previous experience in eight-oar inter-provincial contests, and that the time for the race was 13min 16 2-ssec, which is a record for the race, it will be seen that in finishing as close up to the winning crew as they did, the Southland eight worthily upheld the province they represented. The experience gained in the race last Monday by each member of the crew will be most helpful next year, and it is confidently expected that with this experience behind them the Southland crew will prove a very for- ! midable combination.” CLUB PERFORMANCES. THE SEASON REVIEWED. A review of the performances of the four Southland clubs this season serves to show what a really brilliant year it has been for the Invercargill Railway Rowing Club. At all three Southland regattas the Red, Green and Whites have bad outstanding successes and their record for the season is one which must be unequalled by any other club in the Dominion. The total prizemoney won by oarsmen of this club during the current season is £ll9 10/-. The Invercargill Rowing Club has had a rather lean year, as its strength lies solely in the senior crews. The Bluff regatta was the most successful outing for the White and Gold oarsmen, and £24 10/- was won in prizemoney, victories in the senior fours and senior pairs events going a long way towards this total. The senior four competed without success at Port Chalmers. The Awarua Boating Club has also had a poor season, the senior fours at Riverton being the best performance. In last week’s notes an injustice was done to the port club. It was stated that owing to lack of keenness no crews would be sent to Queenstown. Actually, the club was well represented, though without anv great success. The Riverton Rowing Club had most success on the home course. At Bluff no wins were recorded by the seaside men, while later in the season crews could not be assembled for the Port Chalmers or Queenstown fixtures. Following is a list of the winning performances of the four clubs:— Riverton Regatta. Railway—Youths’ sculls, pairs and fours; maiden sculls and pairs; junior sculls and fours; senior sculls and pairs; prize-money, £4l 10/-. Riverton.—Maiden fours and junior pairs; prize-money, £l5. Awarua.—Senior fours; prize-money, £l2. Bluff Jubilee Regatta. Railway.—Youth’s sculls, pairs and fours; maiden sculls and fours; junior sculls, pairs and fours; prize-money, £37. Invercargill.—Senior pairs and fours; prize-money, £24 10/-. Awarua. —Maiden pairs; prizemoney, £4. Quenstcwn Regatta. Railway.—Youths’ sculls; maiden fours; junior pairs; prize-money, £l9 10/-. Port Chalmers Regatta. Railway.—Youths’ sculls; maiden fours; junior fours; prize-money, £2l 10/-. (Continued at Foot of Next Page).