ROWING

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 14

ROWING

(By

“Skiff.”)

If keenness counts for anything this season should be a successful one for Southland oarsmen; the two city clubs, Awarua and Riverton, are all showing much early enthusiasm and members of all four have been on the water at every opportunity during the past week. Oarsmen and supporters of the sport will be pleased to know that W. Little, the Railway Club senior stroke, has made splendid progress after a serious operation. Railway’s Regatta Crews. The crews to represent the Invercargill Railway Rowing Club at Riverton Regatta on Boxing Day have been selected as follows:— Youths’ Fours (three crews). —Robert Sutton (s), C. Munro, H. Pickford, N. Marshall (b); W. Eunson (s), A. Roberston, A. McCulloch, W. Farquharson (b); A. McLaughlan (s); J. Winter, C. Stirling, J. Drummond (b). Maiden Fours (two crews). —D. Gorham (s); J. Picldcrd, T. Bain, J. Gill (b); J. Matheson (s); J. McKenzie, O. Marshall, W. Wohlers (b). Junior Fours.—A. Sanders (s); A. Wilson, A. Reid, H. Bailey (b). Senior Fours. —Roy Sutton (s), E. Scammell, J. Hogan, A. Imbs (b). The club’s trial fours were held last week, eight crews taking part. In the final the finishing order was as follows: Roy Sutton (s), C. Munro, W. Eunson, A. McCulloch (b) 1 Robert Sutton (s), A. Wilson, W. Pickford, N. Marshall (b) 2 Two Big Events. The principal fixture on the rowing calendar, the New Zealand Championship Regatta, will be held at Wellington on Saturday, February 22. The decision to hold the regatta at Wellington was made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association on October 22. An application to hold the regatta at Picton was made by the Marlborough Rowing Association, but this met with little support. The interprovincial championship eights, which has been the highlight of rowing for years, will be rowed at Wanganui on Easter Saturday (April 11). The 1934-35 Season. The report submitted to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, held at Wellington on October 22, stated that, notwithstanding a slight decrease in the number of registered oarsmen during the depression years, the sport of rowing had been maintained in a sound financial position. Steady improvement in the general standard of oarsmanship, together with the introduction of eightoar racing, had resulted in greater public interest in the sport. This was manifest last season in the record attendances at many of the regattas. Prospects for the coming season were consequently bright. Interest in the interprovincial eights was being well sustained, and the suggestion that an eight-oared club championship should be instituted was further evidence of the growing popularity of this class of rowing. In moving the adopton of the report and balance sheet at the annual meeting, the chairman (Mr G. Lauchlan) said that the championship regatta at Auckland had been quite successful. The interprovincial eights had again occupied a prominent position amongst the association’s fixtures, but, unfortunately they had been the cause of quite a lot of controversy. Mr Lauchlan said it was not his intention to deal with that matter beyond Saying that whatever the shortcomings might have been, he hoped that as a result of the exchange of views that had taken place the difficulties would not arise again.

Mr Lauchlan referred to the visit of the New Zealand rowers to Australia, and said his only regret was that the association was not able to send more crews further afield. The finances of the association, continued Mr Lauchlan, were very satisfactory indeed. During the year there had been a considerable expenditure of a non-recurring nature. This included the expenditure on an eight-oar boat for the East Coast Association, and a contribution towards the expenses of the Wanganui crew which competed in Melbourne during the centenary celebrations.