Easter Fixtures Marked End Of Rowing Season

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 15

Easter Fixtures Marked End Of Rowing Season

By

CLINKER

There is no doubt that last Saturday’s rowing events both at Dunedin and at Queenstown were a fitting climax to a most successful and interesting 1 season. The standard of rowing and the close finish in the eight-oar race at Dunedin may be considered a successful preliminary to more eight-oar rowing in this southern part of the Dominion. An event like that under such ideal conditions must lead to increased popularity with the public. With /he exception of the disturbance caused by motor-launches passing up the course it can be said that there was hardly enough ripple on the water to toss a cork about. At Queenstown similar conditions prevailed and some very fast times were registered, considering the handicap of the dead water. A feature of this fixture was that for the first time for 10 years the Awarua Club won the senior fours. Although previously mentioned in this column as the veteran crew, it would appear that there is a possibility of those concerned attaining Healey’s record yet. Although so far there have not been any favourable reports published on the standard of rowing displayed by the Southland crew at Dunedin, it does not mean that the exhibition by this crew was hopeless; rather, credit is due for the way it improved with so few trials and considering the bad luck during the later training period in which the boat was holed thus preventing the crew from having a row together during the last week before the race.

However, ap.. t from such disadvantages and handicaps it is doubtful if the local crew would have put up such a good performance as Wanganui and Otago did. The success of the Wanganui representatives was the result of perfect combination. Although a heavy crew the fitness of each member was marked not only by being able to finish the race stroking 37 over the last mile of a three-mile course, but by the very effective way in which they sat up in the boat after the gun had. decided? the finish. To the casual spectator the alert attitude of the crew would have given an indication that it was just about to start the race, not that it had just finished. Although beaten by only approximately eight feet the Otago crew did not appear to have that little extra finish and its combination was failing in the latter stages. After having had a lead of two lengths at the be'ginning of the last mile Otago was unlucky not to have won. With so many experienced oarsmen in the Wellington crew it was expected that it would have been pressing harder than it did. However, quite a good exhibition was given and if this crew remains together it should have a successful future.

Although previously mentioned as being a young crew it is doubtful if

the Canterbury representatives were as youthful as those who represented Southland. However, although the Canterbury oarsmen were perhaps not as experienced as their more successful opponents their style of eight-oar rowing was of a very high standard, and should they continue to improve, Wanganui and Otago will have a much more difficult task next season. When it is remembered that the training of the Wanganui crew began before Christmas and that it brought successful ' results, its method of training should be tried by the Southland Association next year, so that it can at least say that its crew is fit. Apart from this successful method of training the writer suggests that the Southland officials get busy during the off season and make, plans for next season by selecting a crew to begin training in the eight at the start of the season so that by the time that race is to be rowed and not forgetting the centennial regatta at Wellington, the crew should have a more promising combination than in the past.

AT QUEENSTOWN

By winning five of the seven races in which they started at Queenstown the Bluff crews again prove'd their superiority for this season. The senior crew in particular rowed a remarkable race, because conditions for training were not as good as they could have been during the week before Easter so that little training was done by any crew from this club.

Although a very fit combination the Invercargill seniors appeared to be lacking over the last mile. The Awarua maidens were again successful both in the fours and pairs. With a little more coaching in the way of developing a more suitable style this crew should have no little success in the future. As was expected the lack of training was the cause of the failure of the youth crew. The Riverton juniors must be congratulated on their fine win in the fours. In the junior pairs it seemed as if they had taken their task too easily. Although the Invercargill Club did not do as well as was expected there is no doubt that the experience gained by its new members will give them a good start ••for next season. Again both the A and B maiden scullers from the Railway Club were successful. The competition in this race did not prove as hard as was expected. It is apparent that the youths of both the Railway and Invercargill clubs are all new members so that it is hoped that they will take every opportunity during the off season to attend to their plant, and by so doing have their boats ready and in good order for a successful season for 1939-40.