ROWING.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 13, 29 November 1919, Page 14

ROWING.

North Shore. North Shore hold the first series of Trial Fours next Saturday for trophies presented by Messrs. Gee and Tleck. The members are putting in good work at every opportunity. The" following ' week the club's official opening will take place. Trial Fours for trophies presented by the President Mr. D. W. McLean, will be the prizes. t • * . • The seViera!' jcrews selected for Whangarei "are how" in training. ®r 6F 9 Auckland Club. Auckland Club is. noiv "at work in earnest. The. tryrbut of crews for Whangarei Regfitta has satisfied the selector!,' arid their, final selections will "appear this .week. Unfortunately the old' Club will not be represented in the Senior Fours. +»

the other classes the red and blacks Avill figure, and the crews busy at work are Junior Fours, Maiden Double Sculls, and Junior Pair Oar. * . * * During the week a very useful addition was made to the plant by the purchase from the Otahuhu Rowing Club of a convertible racing double sculler. The boat was built by W. Webb, of Wanganui, the ex-world's sculling champion. a a * New members are steadily enrolling, and the captain and deputycaptain are having a busy time instilling the first principle of inga * * Mr. Geo Hogari, who took over temporarily the duties of secretary of the Auckland Club, has found business ties too great, and resigned. A keen member, in Mr. Dodwell, has been elected to take over the secretarial duties. * * * The Club is fortunate in securing tohe services of Sergeant-Major Shirley as coach. He has just returned from active service after an absence of three years. * * * The next set of Trial Fours will be rowed on Saturday afternoon. Members are requested to hand in their entries to the secretary at once. * • - " Early in December another dance will be held in the Club-house. The situation of the Club will do much to counteract all thoughts of the weather being too warm for dancing. The captain, Mr. W. Fleny'ng. has the tickets for"sale. © ® @> Waitemata Club. The first set of Trial Fours of the Waitemata Boating Club will be held next Saturday. The prizes are trophies presented by Messrs. Bailey and jLowc. The Club's official opening is timed for early in. December. * * * Several crews of the blue and golds are in training in view of the forthcoming regattas. * * * Once more the amateur status is under discussion, and as a result of the New Zealand Rowing Association's last meeting every effort is to lie made to secure a universal ruling. As matters now stand, New Zealanders are debarred from competing in the principal events in the Old World. Once the doubtful points arc cleared our oarsmen will be free, to compete. It is, however, very evident a stricter ruling must he given the definition of the status in the Dominion, which means amateur sport alone. Local oarsmen must cut adrift from Northern League football or any professional running. * * * The Inter-provincial Championship is an even to be looked for and encouraged. No event could bring rowing more tandier the notice of the general public, and no sport reouires more of the public support than rowing. It has been left with the Auckland Centre to draft the rules and organise the first event. The selection of provincial crews is a difficult proposition owing to the many different styles of rowing clubs adopt. Perhaps a series of club races and' the winning crew to claim the right to represent the province will be the easiest way to solve the difficulty. * • '•' Another point to be considered with the event is the course and with this t\ difficulty seems most apparent. Two points arise—an even course for the crews and one where the supporters can get a good view of the race.

West End Club. Last Saturday afternoon the West End Rowing Club's Subscription Trial Fours were decided. It speaks volumes for the enthusiasm of the members that despite the many coun-ter-attractions ten crews competed. « » * The course was from the Reclamation to the Club House, and during the afternoon some very fine contests were witnessed. •* * . Mr. J. Carder acted as starter, and Mr. O'Connor was judge. The smooth running of the-.sport is due to the whole-hearted manner the officials, J. Davies (captain), T. Ryan (deputy-captain), R. Bigelow (secretary), W. C- Swanson (treasurer), J. Bigelow, A. Hunter, E. Williams, D. I. Jones, N. S. Cossey, A. Verran, W. Norden, and W. Beamish enter into their respective duties. • a The first heat drew crews stroked by C. Massey, J. Dawes, and A. Hunter to the starting post. A fine start was effected, and to the halfway post the crews remained even. Massey here gained a slight lead, and looked a likely winner. Hunter, however, came with a well-timed spurt, and gained the judge's eye by a quarter of a length win. a * * Trevarthen, Cole, and Bigelow met in. the second heat, and from a good start got away on even terms. Cole gained a slight lead, but was handicapped by erratic? steering, and Trevarthen, coming hard, won by three-quarters of a length. • * * The third heat provided a good go between Jerrome and Beamish, and resulted in the last-named winning by a length. » * * Cole and Ryan met in the fourth heat, and the former forcing ahead from the start gained an easy win by over a length. a * a The first semi-finals saw the meeting of Hunter and Trevarthen. It was a good race to half-way. Then Hunter went to the front and crossed the line a length and a half to the good. • a a The second semi-final saw Cole early gain an advantage over Beamish, which enabled him to gain a length's win. • a a The final drew crews stroked by Hunter and S. Cole. From the word go a hot pace was set, and the crews hung together. As the finishing post was" being reached it appeared anybody's race. Hunter gained a slight lead, and won by a two-foot margin.