WITH THE OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 842, 10 December 1929, Page 14

WITH THE OARSMEN

BY

"RIGGER”

SPLASHES Shore is entering a senior four for 1 Xgaruawahia. The crew is not yet announced, but will be stroked by W. Dean. * * * Handicap single sculls for the George Cup will not be concluded by St. George’s until after Christmas. Two heats were decided on Saturday. St. George’s has had another boat damaged, this time through collision with a sunken iron rail on the reef. It is hoped that the boat, which has a big hole stove in it, will be repairable. The committee of the Waitemata Club has to decide whether the final of tho Hugh Wright fours is to be rerowed, or whether the trophy is to be divided. The final on Saturday resulted in a dead heat between the crews of Brooker and Eaddy. * * * Representatives of the five clubs will meet tonight to decide on the rowing of eights for the Stuart Reid Cup this season. The race was rowed oft Pine Island last season, and was won by Waitemata. SHORE NEWS Shore regatta crews are training hard, and the heavy maidens particularly are showing great promise. This crew, which is stroked by Coates, beat the Juniors, Korn stroke, in a sprint race on Saturday. Mr. George Barratt was out with the heavies, and the crew is now complete again, AValsh, the bow, having recovered from his injured foot. T.he juniors are having some difficulty in assembling the crew for training. Tauranga entries will be for junior fours, lights, heavies, and youths. No pair-oar crews are being entered. Dean will not be sculling at Tauranga, but Davies is a probable entrant, though his movements are not certain. Trials will be rowed right up to Christmas. WHAU ACTIVITY Members of the A.R.A. executive had planned to visit the Whau on Saturday to inspect the course and plan alterations for the events to be decided on the course this season. Owing to the absence of means of transport the visit had to be put off and the inspection will probably be/made this Sunday. February 22 is the date set down for the provincial regatta and March 22 for the interprovincial eights. The latter event is being staged with the power-boat regatta. TAURANGA PROSPECTS Prospects are bright for Tauranga on December 27. The city clubs are to be fully represented and, although entries do not close until Friday, it is fairly certain what classes will attract the most interest. Probably the greatest interest will lie with the meeting of W. A Stevenson and W. Turner in the sculls. I. C. Houghton may be prominent in this race also. He will be St. George’s representative and has brought a reputation with him from England. In the senior fours there should be at least three entries. Waitemata may send a crew but is not yet definite. St. George’s crew has been announced. Hamilton will, of course, be there and Tauranga is likely to be represented on home waters. Contests in the other classes will be keen and there are some good crews in the pair-oar racing.

NEXT SATURDAY All clubs will be racing next Saturday as, for all but North Shore, there wiil be no more Saturday trial racing until January 11. The principal event will be West End’s At Home on St. Mary’s Bay. Auckland is rowing fours for caps. Waitemata is racing for trophies presented by Mr. H. Buck and North Shore for the Challenge Cup. St. George’s trials are for trophies presented by Mr. A. S. Bankart, vicepatron. FLYING OARSMEN Should arrangements be as planned, two Auckland oarsmen will liy to the Tauranga regatta thus establishing a New Zealand record for the sport. 1. C. Horton brought his plane with him from England and will fly to the Bay of Plenty lixture. taking Mr. V r . Dunne with him. Mr. Dunne is attending the regatta in a triple capacity. He will be judge of the rowing events; representative of the A.RA., and representative of his club as St. George’s captain.

AUCKLAND CREWS Auckland is unfortunate in losing the services of Mahon for Tauranga. Mahon, who rows at 3 seat in the juniors, is suffering from an injured shoulder. His place has been taken bv Thorburn. I. Hoggard will go to Thorburn’s seat in the heavy maidens. R. R. Collins, 2 in the lights, cannot travel to Tauranga, so the crew may not start. At Whangarei, J. Goodsir will be rowing in the crew. Other crews for Tauranga are: Junior pairs, J. Bygate and E. Thorburn; maiden pairs, R. K. Stacey and J. McComish. * * * NEW BOATS Shore men a.re pleased -with the new boat that arrived from Towns, of Sydney, last week. It is a clinkerfour, made of Australian red cedar, and is a fine light Swivels are fitted instead of the usual poppets. It is unlikely that the new boat will be taken to Tauranga. Waitemata has recently received a clinker racing four from Sims, of Putney, and member's are satisfied with the shell, which is solidly made. At the same time, Stevenson received a best-and-best skiff from G. Towns. The boat has been tried out by the owner, and by D'Arcy Hadfield, who can find no fault with it. Stevenson will probably try it out at Tauranga.