WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 226, 13 December 1927, Page 14

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

"RIGGER”

IT’S AN ILL WIND A stiff nor’-easter was the only factor that, from the oarsman’s point of view, marred a glorious week-end, and for a change North Shore had the best of the conditions. All clubs were busy on Saturday and Sunday. SCULLER’S BAD LUCK Dean (North Shore) ran on to a rock and damaged his skiff while out sculling a week ago. The boat has been successfully repaired by Mr. P. R. Grahame. ST. GEORGE’S AT TAURANGA The youths’ crew to represent the St. George’s Club at Tauranga will be as follows: V. Hargreaves (str.), L. Simons (3), I. Duncan (2), S. Hislop (bow). # BOOKING FOR TAURANGA Auckland oarsmen have booked heavily on the Matangi, which is going to Tauranga for the regatta. All local crews will be strongly represented, and many who are not rowing will be travelling for the outing. SHORE ARRANGEMENTS Mr. P. R. Grahame has been appointed manager of the boats for the North Shore Club at the Tauranga Regatta, and Mr. N. G. Cameron will take charge of the crews for the trip. SOMERVILLE SHIELD An eight-oar race for the Somerville Shield is in the wind for next Saturday, when West End may meet Waitemata, the holders of the trophy. A course over one and a-half miles in length is specified, and if the match comes off the distance will probably be more like three miles. VETERAN SCULLER , P. R. Grahame, last yedr’s club captain for North Shore, has built himself a single scull for rough water. The veteran has shortened the boat and boxed in lyider the slide, and at a trial practice on Saturday afternoon he demonstrated that he can negotiate comfortably in bad conditions. As a sculler, despite his years, he has lost little of his power and skill. USEFUL COACHING BOAT Auckland has taken delivery of the coaching pair-oar presented by Mr. Mephan, and should find the new “tub” a very useful craft. Fitted with outriggers and sliding seats, the ship has room for a coach at bow and stern, and under these conditions the tyro will hear about every fault, which will be for the good of his soul, though he may not imagine so at the time. ST. GEORGE’S EIGHT Though St. George’s had intended sending its eight to Waitemata, the boat is still at Judge’s Bay, Waitemata having written to ask that the transfer be deferred. Though St. George’s would naturally prefer to retain the ship, the club is distinctly short of room now that its new Sims four is on hand, and under the present arrangement, all racks being full, a practice boat has to go on the floor. . * * * UNDULY ELATED Shore supporters were elated when the Mcllwraith Cup crews were nearing the finish, by the announcement that their crew was leading. This good news came from a veteran watching the race through glasses, and was naturally greeted with enthusiasm in the Shore stronghold. The error was excusable, as there was a strong light against the onlookers, and colours were difficult to distinguish. Great was the disappointment when it was seen that the leaders were in red, not blue. * * * INTER-PROVINCIAL PROSPECTS The inter-provincial race, to be rowed in eights, will next year have an importance it has not previously enjoyed, and there

onjoyeu, etna mere should be keen ! competition for places in the crew. Much will depend on the composition of the Hamilton crew—as Sandos, if he turns out, will be sure of a place—and on the showing of St. George’s. Solomon is a likely candidate, and he and Skinner, West F.nrl will . linft lrn

oMnnc. End, will. line up alongside Johnson and Brooker among the “probables.” A CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE A substantial contribution toward the establishment of a championship course on the Waitemata was made on Sunday, when members of the A.R.A. were shown the upper reaches of the harbour on Mr. G. H. Reston’s trim steam-launch Matarere. It is 40 years since a regatta was staged on the Whau, but Sunday’s inspection re-

vealed no reason why, provided tides are studied and organisation is thorough, a successful fixture should not be staged there to-day. On the flowing tide that distant corner of the harbour is a delightful spot, and for at least five hours there should be sufficient water to permit the dispatch of a full championship programme under conditions not to be excelled elsewhere. ANOTHER BROKEN OAR Laurence, who broke his oar during Waitemata trials on Saturday, is having a run of bad luck. The previous Saturday, rowing in Mackay’s crew, he caught a crab. The series of minor mishaps which has marred the club trials should by this time be causing the Waitemata authorities some concern. Beautiful week-end weather saw a lot of Waitemata crews out. Several seniors were down, though T. Johnson, stroke of the crack four, was not among them. PROFICIENT OARSMEN Of the five crews that finished in the Mcllwraith Cup race, St. George’s was the one which rowed with least flurry, and the steady stroke set by Symons was much of the secret of its success. Another factor was the strength lent by Solomon at three. The powerful St. George’s man has a skill and neatness rarely found, to such a degree, in so strong an oar, and the finish of his stroke is a model of swing and cleanness. A. Ross, the Auckland stroke, set his men a long stroke, which shook oft West End when the latter challenged, but could not offset the sprint which North Shore instituted at the end. McILWRAITH CUP The most obvious lesson from the Mcllwraith Cup race is that the trial courses over which most of the clubs are now rowing are too short. St. Georges’ has been having long spins along the railway wall, and the result was reflected in the capital showing of Symons and his crew. North Shore, the crew that finished next best, has also conducted its trials over relatively long courses. The Shore men had just sufficient punch, at the finish, to let them cut Auckland out of second place. Both West End and Waitemata finished poorly, the latter crew being especially disappointing. West End has had only spasmodic training, as Bright has not been able to turn out regularly.

NORTH SHORE SELECTIONS The following crews will represent the North Shore Rowing Club at the Tauranga Regatta: Junior Fours: W. Dean (str), D. Townsend (3), E. Korns (2), B. McCallum (bow). Youths’ Fours: E. Korns (str), D. Townsend (3), W. Seagai- (2), B. McCallum (bow). Light-weight Fours: F. Morris (str), S. Challinor (3), J. Stead (2), H. Oliver (bow). Heavy Maiden Pairs: S. Gardner (str), T. Harvey (bow). Heavy Maiden Fours: S. Gardner (str), T. Harvey t 3), W. Hutton (2), E. Hathway (bow). Single Sculls: ID. Davies and W. Dean. ST. GEORGE SENIORS St. George senior four will not get down to serious training until midJanuary, and for various reasons its strength may not be fully tested until February. K. D. Page, stroke of the crew, leaves to-morrow for Gisborne, and will not return until January 5. Woolhouse has been away, so not until after the holidays will the crew get together again. Further interruption will occur toward the end of January, when V. Hargreaves goes into camp at Ngaruawahia. As a result the crew will be unable to row together immediately before the senior race at Hamilton, but intends to compete in the champion fours at Wanganui, though there is a possibility that Hargreaves who is in a bank, will not be able to get away.