WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 616, 19 March 1929, Page 14

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

A meeting of the Pine Island Eights Committee will be held on Monday week, when details of finance will be available. It is understood that there will be a slight loss, but the committee may comfort itself with the thought that it gave rowing in Auckland the best advertisement it has had for years.

There will be a meeting of the A.R.A. executive committee to-morrow evening. The business to be discussed will probably concern the Whau regatta to a great extent.

Canterbury Rowing Club has gained the coveted title, “Head of the River,” in Christchurch rowing. This is not the championship of the province, which goes to the club gaining the most points in regattas. The head of the river events were organised by the Canterbury Association to stimulate interest, as the clubs of the city have not the large programmes of trial events that keep Auckland clubs ocupied.

TRIUMPHANT OTAGO "With the Queen Drive Senior Four as its basis, the Otago crew romped home in the interprovincial eights held at Lyttelton on Saturday. The home crew, which was a strong favourite, was evidently' bewildered by the water conditions, and, though forging ahead from a good start, was not rowing with the same confidence as in last season’s contest. On that day Canterbury’s style of a long stroke and a steady swing carried the red-and-blacks to victory, but Saturday’s lumpy sea called for a short snappy stroke, with a stab in it, and Canterbury evidently could not produce the goods. Though one must admit that it is desirable for the trophy to circulate among the provinces, it will be remarkable if a big field competes in the race next season. Crews from the North have long journeys to face, and the tendency of late has been to restrict travelling. There is, of course, always the possibility that the race may not be rowed at Dunedin, but the Southerners will hardly give it up without a struggle, and it will be easy to prophesy that the old question of centralisation will be thrashed out once more. NEXT SATURDAY The close of the season’s programme will be a stage nearer next Saturday when all five city clubs will row trials. Following are the events set down for the day: Waitemata.—Fours for Buck Trophies. St. George’s.—Dingley Memorial Fours. Auckland. —Kohn Challenge Fours and semi-finals of Walker and Hall Pairs. North Shore. —Fours for Craig Trophies. West End. —Handicap single sculls for R. A. Laidlaw Cup. All club programmes will run on over

Easter, but Auckland will finish on t first Saturday after the holidays. Wu temata still have the Fearon Pairs a: the Mason Sculls to be decided; :

George’s have also some trials to be rowed though, should interest languish. they will probably be abandoned: West End had two more trophies awaiting disposal and North Shore must carry on for a few weeks longer.

POPULAR WINNERS

“Dogged does it,” and after several attempts, Tlaylock and MacFarlane have succeeded in winning the maiden pairs. Their victory at Ngaruawahia on Saturday was popular, as it was recognised as the reward of perseverance as well as oarsmanship. Three crews represented West End at the regatta, and all won—a record that could hardly be bettered. TURNER FOR AUSTRALIA An effort will be made to send W. Turner, New Zealand sculling champion, to Australia next season, according to Skipper Tonkin, of the Tau-

rang Rowing Club, who eulogised his clubmate’s prowess at a dinner given by the club last Thursday. Dr. MacDirmid, an enthusiastic supporter of rowing in the Bay, presided. Turner expressed his readiness to journey to Australia, and hoped that he would not _ prove unworthy of the honour. The chairman, on behalf of .,. th f club, presented the champion with funds to buy a new boat.

NGARUAWAHIA As “Rigger” anticipated, the Ngaruawahia Regatta provided the usual endof season surprises. The prize money was evenly distributed and the happiest feature of the day’s sport was tho generous slice that was gained by V-est End, a club whose crews have filled many second positions this season, but few firsts. St. George’s and Waitemata were at the bottom of the list, and the successes were divided between the other three city clubs and Hamilton. Hamilton gained £23 of the prize money. Auckland £l6, West End £ls, and Shore £7. Placings were as follow:—Hamilton, three firsts, four seconds, one third, Auckland, two firsts, one second, one third; West End, three firsts; North Shore, one first two seconds, one third; Waitemata, one second; Taurange, two thirds; St. George’s and Mercer, one third each.

The fields were remarkably good for a regatta held so late in the season, though there were many scratchings. Seven started in both the Maiden pairs and the sculls. The programme was run to time and finished only a quarter of an hour late which must be very near a Dominion record for the season. The finishes were usually decisive though in one or two events there were ster nbattles. Apart from a shallow stretch, near the crossing, the course was excellent, and after crews in the first two races had bumped oarsmen were wary of the obstacle. Unless Hamilton adheres to its scheme of putting on a programme at the same time as the eight-oared race on Easter Monday Ngaruawahia concludes a satisfactory lengthy regatta list for the season.