ROWING OPENS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 806, 29 October 1929, Page 14

ROWING OPENS

TRIAL FOURS AT WEST END WIN FOR McFARLANE Setting a short, snappy stroke apd rowing well-judged races, V. McFarlane won decisively his heat and the final when fours for the Thomas Peacock Memorial Shield were staged by the West End Rowing Club yesterday. There was a great finish in the final, a light-weight crew stroked by F. Conway, the sculler, pushing McFarlano hard. The short course from the naval shed to the clubhouse was used, and the water was fair, conditions having improved greatly since the morning. Mr. R. Nelson was judge, and the starting was by mutual consent. The five crews were: V. Me Far lane (stroke), G. Harper, A. Boulton, M. McCarthy (bow), K. Conway (cox). W. Bloxham (stroke), R. Woodside, C. Aitken, A. Gow (bow), G. Collins (cox). J. Haylock (stroke), A. Norden, A. Culpan, F. Bryan (bow), Matthews (cox). F. Conway (stroke), F. Baker, M. Conway, N. McDonald (bow), K. Conway (cox). G. Conway (stroke), C. Wright, W. Conway, D. Stotter (bow), G. Collins First Heat. —Haylock wap first away followed closely by Bloxham. It was not long before Bloxham closed on the leading

crew, but McFarlane was coming up fast and the crews were level at the sheds. McFarlane sprinted and was nearly a length ahead when Bloxham and Haylock fouled. All boats stopped and it was decided row ~ the heat again. In the rerow McFarlane was

, , , first away, foll?£' ed by Bloxham and Haylock. Off the benzine wharf Haylock caught Bloxham and passed him. McFarlane had a length and a-half lead from Haylock at the sheds. Two hundred yards from the finish Haylock challenged and closed up slightly. McFarlane won by a length. Bloxham was a length and a-half behind Haylock in third place. Second Heat. —There was a great battle with little between the two crews until off the shed. No. 3 man in G. Conway’s crew broke a stretcher. The crew struggled on in spite of this handicap. but after a few more lengths No. 2 man came off his slide and the boat stopped. F. Conway rowed to the finish and won easily. Final.—Conway led all the way until just past the boathouse, when, in endeavouring to avoid a foul, his bow man stopped rowing. McFarlane shot ahead and in a close finish won by something less than a canvas.