ROWING.

Observer, Volume XXXVII, Issue 15, 16 December 1916, Page 10

ROWING.

Seldom has greater interest been shown in local amateur rowing circles than was manifested at the gala held on Saturday last under the auspices of the Auckland Rowing Association. Many clubs, started the year under the most forlorn conditions, and several, until Saturday, had not had a crew out on anything like serious business.

The fact that the gala was the complete success it turned out to be i<? due largely to the manner in which many old oarsmen have come out to do battle for their clubs. The crews consisted mainly of old men and boys, so generously have the rowers contributed to the call of war.

All the clubs were well represented, each one utilising every available member, St. George's sending along four crews, North Shore four, Auckland four, Waitemata three, West End eight.

The programme for the clay was made up of trials between the different crews, representing the individual clubs, and the winning crew of each club competing in the grand final for the set of gold medals presented by the president of the Auckland Rowing Association (Mr J. Clark) on behalf of the Misses Clark.

Great interest was taken in the final, each and every crew having its own coterie of supporters, with Waitemata, West End and North Shore slightly the favourites, their crews bein<r perhaps a little more mature than either St. George's or Auckland.

The form shown by the different crews was, considering the material, of a very high order. This years inembers',of whom most of the crews were composed, must be congratulated on their day's showing, and at is interesting to note in this connection that Pickering's crew, who won the grand final, are, excepting the stroke and two, all youths, besides being this year's men, the three and bow being' only 17 years of age. They won their final after a tussle they'll never forget, in which the five competing boats raced level down the entire course, a test which proved them of the best.

AVith the freshening breeze and cross seas, the dispatching of the twenty-three cre_ws which competed was not an easy job. Mr W. Or. Mason, to whom this duty was allotted, got through his work with flying colours. Delays at the post were both unfortunate and unavoidable, but the clean starts he effected are proof of his firmness and ability.

Close finishes being frequent, it was well that the judging was in such capable hands as those ot Messrs J. Clark, A. P. Farmer and G. H. Reston. These gentlemen well merited the hearty cheers tendered them by the crews immediately after the finish of the grand final.

The results are as follows:—

First Heat, West End R.O.— Crews stroked by Culpan, Weston, and B. J. Keane set off in good order, the boats keeping within easy distance of one another. Keane established a lead which held past the post by three-quarters of a lejiigt.li,

Second Heat, Auckland R.C—R. Murray and crew went out against W. Fleming and crew. Halfway down the course, Murray drew ahead and finished with an easy two lengths to the good.

Third Heat, St. George's R.C— C. E. Stone's crew not putting in'an appearance, Linton's crew rowed over the course under the time allowance.

Fourth Heat, North Shore R.C— F. Bennett and W. S. Mcllwraith competed, Bennett's crew making no race of it and winning comfortably by 2 clear lengths. Fifth Heat, Waitemata B.C.—A good go resulted between crews stroked by Magee and Wolf gram, with the latter leading slightly most of the distance. A great spurt by Magee brought him the victory by a short canvae. Sixth Heat, West End R.C— Stewart and Hunter went out in a freshening breeze which did not suit the latter's crew, Stewart, winning with a length to spare. Seventh Heat, Auckland R.C.— The Carder Bros, and their crews went otit to do battle for the honour oft competing in the Club final. Both boats jumped away from the starter, R. Carder with his quicker stroke establishing a lead. Misfortune overtook him, however, and J. Carder finished the course alone. : Eighth Heat, St. George's R.C— I E. Pickering, with hie crew of lads, : ouickly established a lead over A. ; B. Roscoe's crew who were not row- ; ing 6o well as usual, and was never \ troubled, winning comfortably. ! Ninth Heat, North Shore R.C— .; A great race won by inches by Rut- ' lodge, with Barrett, giving tongue all the way. The veteran had hard luck in not pulling the race off. Tenth Heat, West End R.C— Con way's crew won from Jerrom and Stewart with Jerrom challenging all the way. Eleventh Heat, Waitemata B.C. —Good'acres crew drew a bye, and rowed over the course in the required time. Club Finals. North Shore R.C—F. Bennett (stroke), J. Paul, J. Kirk, J. Faulknor versus S. Rutledge (stroke), C Chapman, L. Fraser, G: Bartley. Bonnett won by a length. Auckland R.C. —R.. Murray ("stroke), G. Shirley, R. Stevenson, L. Kirk beat J. Carder (stroke), D. Cook, C Basham, Pearson by half a length. West End R.C—W. N: Conway (stroke), Bigelow, A. Pooley, C Oourtenay beat their opponents by a length. St. George's R.C. — Pickering (stroke), L. Moresby, L. "Uphill and Bews won over Linton's crew by a bare length. Waitemata B.C.—Magee (stroke), H. White. G. Taylor, McCullough defeated Goodacre's crew by one. and a-half lengths. Grand Final. St. George's (Pickering's crew) ... 1 North Shore (Bennett's crew) ... 2 West End (Conway's crew) ; 3 Waitemata (Magee's crew) 4 Auckland (Murray's crew) 5 The greatest go for years. From a splendid start, (for which Mr Mason may be congratulated) the boats raced away together with no one leading. At the half-way, North Shore took the lead, but was chal--lenged by every one, which drew a.ll orews together again. One hundred yards from the post, Pickering quickened up, and got the verdct ' by two feet, with all the other boats ! ; hugging him to the death. The ; finish the finest spectacle, with all crews well tried out. On Saturday next the Auckland -' Rowing Club's Invitation Pair-oar Race for maiden and junior oarsmen will be rowed on the harbour front, and, judging by the, entries ( coming: in, a good day's sport ghould be had,