SOUTHLAND EIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 22294, 9 April 1934, Page 6

SOUTHLAND EIGHT

GOOD PERFORMANCE. THE WELLINGTON CONTEST. (From Our Correspondent.) The fact that Southland was represented in the big eight-oar event at Wellington recently gives great satisfaction to rowing enthusiasts at Bluff, who also are emphatic that the southern oarsmen gave a remarkably good account of themselves in the race. This view is supported by Messrs V. Metzger (chairman of the Bluff Regatta Committee) and T. Ross, among others. Commenting on the race Mr Metzger stated that the presence of Southland’s representatives would have a big effect on future rowing in this province. “With the natural ambition to figure in an eight-oar boat, our young rowers will now have an incentive to become absolutely fit for regattas,” he said, “and I, with other people, will be disappointed if this does not result in a great impetus to the sport down here. We have the necessary material in our young oarsmen and it would have been a calamity if Southland’s crew had not gone forward to compete. Time will show the wisdom of sending the eight to Wellington, where they certainly put up a creditable showing.” “Many things have to be taken into consideration when appraising the performance of Southland’s representatives,” said Mr Ross (himself a noted oarsman of past seasons) in discussing the eight. “For one thing there is the lack of local tradition in eight-oar rowing. Then, again, there is the handicap of having a crew drawn from different localities, with a consequent difficulty in getting sufficient practice and training together. In big northern centres this drawback does not occur to such an extent as down here and the crews accordingly benefit. It should be remembered that the whole seven crews finished in close order and this fact alone shows that our representatives performed extremely well; for there was noted talent pitted against them and their most sanguine supporters could hardly have expected them to finish so close up. We may be sure that the lessons learned in the contest will not be lost,” Mr Ross continued. “It is certain that the Southland coxswain, Mr Calder, would be carefully watching the various styles and noting any advantages in them; and he will be able to demonstrate these when future eights are being coached down here. Personally, I am more than pleased with our crew’s performance, and I see no reason to doubt that Southland will yet produce a champion eight.” The question of the race at Wellington constituting an Australasian record in number of entrants is being freely discussed, the general opinion being that it must rank as such. For that matter, few courses with the necessary width of water for seven eight-oar boats would be available, in the Dominion, at any rate, where outside of Wellington and Bluff it is doubtful if such a course could be found. It it no wonder the race created intense enthusiasm among spectators; for it must have been an inspiring sight to see 56 trained oarsmen in action (or 60 including the coxswains, who also need to be in good fettle) and battling hard for supremacy in a close contest. One Bluff commentator conjured up an attractive picture when this point was mentioned. “Supposing the race could have clashed with the arrival of the Maoris in their canoes the Hinemoa and Tutanekai,” he remarked. “What thoughts would have been in the minds of our warlike predecessors as they viewed the speeding eights. They would surely have admitted among themselves that the pakehas ‘had it on them’ in the matter of pace!”

Regarding the placings in the big race, it should be mentioned that members of the Southland crew are jjositive at least two others boats crossed the finishing line after them. It was very fitting that Crosbie Hunter (Bluff) should find a seat in the Southland boat. Members of the Hunter family have been prominent in rowing events from the inception of a club in Bluff. Mi- John Hunter (uncle of the present representative) was a member of the port’s first four, a leading oarsman for many years, and now, at 79, still active and healthy, is full of enthusiasm for the sport. Possessing a remarkable memory and owning an almost complete “library” of programmes and newspaper cuttings relating to Bluff (and Southland) meetings generally, he is a mine of information to whom many turn for enlightenment when points about past contests crop up. Crosbie Hunter’s father (the late Roger Hunter) was also a fine oarsman, while another brother, Mr William Hunter, besides figuring in races in Southland, later acted as coach for Wanganui crews and was largely responsible for fostering a love for the sport in that centre.