WITH THE OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 836, 3 December 1929, Page 14

WITH THE OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

SPLASHES Entries for Tauranga close on Friday week. City crews are training hard, and the regatta should maintain its reputation as one of the best in the Dominion. * * * A. M. Mackay. who was skipper of Waitemata last season, was a member of the crew that won the Schmidt Club trophies in trials on Saturday. This is the fourth time he has been a member of a winning crew in this set of trials. It was unselfish of R. Stacey, Auckland’s captain, to give up his racing on Saturday so that he could better control the preliminary rowing for the trophy. Stacey is one of the keenest and most efficient club officers in Auckland. * * * Water was too bad through the week-end for regatta crews to do much training. Waitemata men were out on the stretch of water in front of the sheds practising starts and sprints. Bridgart and Martin, of Auckland, are sculling together quite frequently, and may start in the maiden sculls at Tauranga. Bridgart is a senior Australian oar who gained his experience on the Swan River, at Perth. ST. GEORGE’S SENIORS A senior crew for St. George’s is announced as follows: —W. Bright (str.), F. Solomon. V. Hangreaves, A. C. Houghton (bow). The quality of this combination is practically unknown, though it looks well on paper. Bright is known as a sytroke of more than average ability. Solomon is one of two best three men in Auckland. Hargreaves is a good oar, with plenty of determination. He has been rowing particularly well this season. Houghton came to Auckland from England, where he attained some prominence as a sculler. H?e is enthusiastic, and a lively oar. possessing those qualities most desirable in a bow man. Three more regatta crews are also announced by Waitemata: Junior pairs, W. Eaddy and G. Barker: maiden pairs, R. Smith and N. Hunt: maiden double sculls* J. Beasley and C. Belton. SHQ*?E AGAIN Two inter-club events —two wins for Shore. The record so far could not be bettered, and both wins have been decisive. In Saturday’s final the Shore men raced away after the first 100 yards, and kept ahead for the rest of the distance. It is true that Shore’s crews are now better boated than those of any other club on the harbour, but that is not the main reason for their success. W. Dean rowed welljudged races, and deserves full credit flor his win. The Shore regatta crews are a likely looking lot, and the club across the harbour should enjoy a successful season. There is no lack of enthusiasm, as was shown when, the water being too rough for rowing across the harbour, the club members carried their boats to the vehicular ferry, and then from Mechanics’ Bay to the Akarana sheds. The members of Dean’s crew are understood to believe that the trip was well worth while.

NEXT SATURDAY The chief event for next Saturday will be the revival of the inter-house race. Crews from Milne and Choyce, Sargood Son and Ewen, Macky Logan, and the Farmers’ Trading Company, have entered, and the race is timed to start from Orakei across Hobson Bay at 2 p.m. The race is under the control of the A.R.A.. and will probably be judged by Mr. A. M. Wilson. Club events for Saturday are as follow:—Xorth Shore, club fours; Waitemata, Hugh Wright’s fours; Auckland, Kohn Challenge fours; St. George’s, first round of handicap single sculls for the St. George’s Cup; West End, Cooper pair-oar trials. ROUGH WEATHER RACING It was in a way fortunate for the success of Saturday’s inter-club racing that the day was so squally. This seemingly paradoxial statement is easily explained. Driven off the course from Orakei by the evil weather, the officials in charge of the racing decided to use a short course along the tidal deflector to the Akarana shed. Races were decided in quick succession along this sprint piece of water, but it was after 5.30 before Shore had crossed the line in the final. With 16 races to be rowed, the long course would have meant a very late finish. Five o’clock should see crews in the final lining up in any club or interclub events. Another advantage of the short course used was that the spectators Aver able to see all the finishes in comfort. The distance was gruelling for the men, but the racing was keen, and Auckland must be congratulated on its organisation. Mr. R. K. Stacey, club captain, controlled the racing, and kept things running smoothly in spite of the unfortunate circumstances. * * * SCULLING ITEMS It seems likely that a professional sculling match between Darcy Hadfield and Mason, the Whangarei man, may be arranged for the New Year. If the race is decided upon, it should be held at Whangarei. From Sydney comes the news of Pearce’s world’s record in the 2,000 metres race. Says the Sydney “Morning Herald”;—“The Olympic champion H. R. (Bob) Pearce, in winning from J. R. Scott, broke his own world’s record time put up at the last Olympic Games by 21 4-ss, covering the distance of 2,000 metres in 6m 40s. Pearce was assisted by a strong flood tide and a following breeze, whereas his world’s record time of 7m 1 4-5 s was established on slack water in the Sloten Canal. Pearce sculled like a machine, and so smoothly did his craft run that he appeared to be rowing well within himself, but as the time proved he was hard pressed by the young and promising Haberfield sculler, J. R. Scott, who also put up a remarkable performance over the distance. Seeing that he only finished four lengths behind Pearce, he certainly broke the previous world’s best time.” WHANGAREI REGATTA The Whangarei Regatta Association has extended invitations to oarsmen as far away as Picton and Blenheim; the Gisborne Club has indicated the possibility of its being represented. The live Auckland clubs are entering strong crews, and Hamilton men will also, be on the water.

LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY THREE ONE-ACT PLAYS The many Auckland theatre-goers who enjoy a good one-act play will be delighted with the Little Theatre Society’s final production for this year. Three one-act plays will be presented by three separate casts. The plays are: “God and Mrs. Henderson,” by Harold Chapin; “The Monkey’s Paw,” by W. W. Jacobs; and ‘The Twelve Pound Look,” by Sir James Barrie. These will be presented by the society in the Concert Chamber tomorrow evening and the three following evenings. Booking arrangements are advertised. PRINCE EDWARD Another interesting talkie programme will be presented at the Prince Edward Theatre this evening, headed by “Conquest.” This is an all-talking drama of an airplane expedition to the South Polar wastes, starring Monte Blue and H. B. Warner. There are many thrilling scenes, and in addition a fine romantic theme. The supporting programme at the Prince Edward includes a number of all-singing and talking featurettes. STUDENTS- RECITAL Prior to Mr. Walter Impett’s departure on an extended world tour, his pupils will present a grand song and pianoforte recital in the Lewis Eady Hall on Wednesday, December 11. Booking arrangements are advertised.

—————| “DADDY LONG-LEGS”

BY ST. CUTHBERrS OLD GIRLS The St. Cuthbert’s Old Girls Assoc ation liae arranged for the presentation of the delightful four-act comedy ‘ Daddy Long-Legs” (by Jean Webster . in the Concert Chamber on Friday and Saturday of next week. The proceeds will be devoted to th: Free Kindergartens of Auckland. Booking arrangements are advertised. TWO FINE FILMS AT EPSOM The double feature film programme to be presented this evening at the Regent Theatre, Epsom, ncludes “Strong Boy,” Victor clever and amusing story of a oaggage porter on a big railway station. Leatrice Joy has the role of the girl who spurs the husky porter into something like ambition. The second feature, “The One Woman Idea,” stars Rod La Rocque as a, Persian prince who has not a little trouble with his harem. ROYAL, KINGSLAND “Masks of the Devil,” the chief picture at the popular Theatre Royal. Kingsland, is a strong and powerful drama of Viennese life, starring John Gilbert and Alma Reubens. “Modern Love,” the second feature stars Jean Hersholt, Kathryn Crawford and Charles Chase in an uproarious comedy of marriage on the fiftyfifty basis.