KEEN ROWING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 561, 14 January 1929, Page 7

KEEN ROWING

TWO CLUBS STAGE TRIALS MISHAPS DELAY RACING A scries of minor catastrophies delayed the rowing of the trial fours, staged by the Auckland Rowing Club and Waitemata Boating Club on Saturday afternoon. Broken oars, loose stretchers, stubborn runners, broken puppet strings—all gave trouble, but the sensation of the day was when an Auckland crew went ashore on a sunken rock when in an excellent position. The races were rowed on a long course from Orakei to the tidal deilcctor, and water conditions were only fair. Six crews entered from Waitemata, and five from Auckland, Mr. T. Marshall judging for the former club and Mr. T. Wigley for the latter. Waitemata rowed for the Hugh Wright trophies, and Auckland for the Kohn medals. The racing was of an unusually fine standard in both sets of trials, the Waitemata final being particularly interesting. The results were as follow: Waitemata crews were: A. Mackay (str), IT. Lawrence, IT. Kenrick, J. Hunn (bow); C. Fearon (sir.). W. Shore, T Wilson, T. Conway (bow); L. E. Brooker (str.), C. T. Keegan, J. O’Hanlon, A. Young (bow): W. Lowe (str.), 11. Smith, IT. Hunt, E. Horning (bow); J. Stevenson (str.), H. Cullen. E. Gladding, F. Simmons (bow): R. Barker (str.), E. IT. Bishop, C- Cairns, W. Jones (bow). First Heat.—Brooker led from an even start and the crews raced on fairly level terms for the first halfmile. Brooker then dropped back and Fearon * took the lead, heading the corner round the point. A length or two from the finish Conway, Fearon’s bow man, broke a poppet, losing his oar. Mackay paddled over the line, Brooker half a dozen lengths back, second. Second Heat.—Barker bad the best of a fair start, leading Lowe across the bay by a narrow margin, with Stevenson two or three lengths back. In a great battle up the straight Lowe caught Barker, to win by a length. Final—Fearon went away well at the start and soon gained a length lead from Mackay, with Lowe a little further back. Mackay challenged and caught Fearon. Lowe also made an effort and the three crews rounded the point with little between them. Lowe then seemed to go to pieces, his No. 2 man having difficulty with his oar. and Mackay and Fearon were left to fight hard all the way up the straight. Mackay was a foot or two ahead, when only a length from the finish, but Fearon called on his men and crossed the line a foot to the good, after the finest race of the day. STACEY WINS MEDALS Auckland crews were: J. Bygate j (str.), M. Barrett, A. Doull, H. Battley (bow); R. Stacey (str.). A. Andrews,; A. Hirtzell, E. Horsfall (bow): G. Jenson (str.), A. Mahon, S. Scott. G. Hirtzell (bow): A. Ross (str.), G. T. Thorburn, R. Wood. A. Simm (bow); W Eaddy (str.), G. Cleal, A. Coutts, R. Guy (bow). First heat: Stroking on level termacross the bay and rounding the poi% with little between them. Stacey and Bygate were neck and neck all the way up the straight. Bygate swung out of his course to avoid a mark buoy, and Stacey, quickening up to a splendid finish, gained the verdict by a length. Second heat: From an even start there was nothing to choose between the three crews for about 100yds. Eaddy and Ross then went ahead, leaving Jonson two or three lengths back. Rounding the point Cleal. Baddy’s three man, broke his stretcher, and Guy. bow in the same crew, came off his seat. The boat stopped, but noticing that Ross had run ashore off the point. Eaddy started again at a great and finished a length ahead of Jonson, Ross made a great effort to catch the two leaders when he succeeded in getting off the reef, but had lost too much ground. Final —After a fairly even go across the Bay Stacey led into the straight by a narrow margin, but, in the ensuing battle over the last quarter-mile managed to increase over Eaddy to a Cull length.