ROWING.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 17, 27 December 1919, Page 14

ROWING.

' Interest on Saturday was centred in the Mcllwraith Cup and the large crowd of spectators that assembled on Cheltenham Beach, witnessed one of the finest races seen in Auckland for many years.

Owing to the rough water in the harbour, caused by th© sou-westerly wind, the No. 2 course from NarrowNeck to the North Head was used. Mr. F. Burke was judge, and Mr. Mason, president of the Auckland Rowing Association, starter.

Auckland and Waitemata failed to put in an appearance, and thus left four crews to face the starter.

The strong wind caused a lot of trouble at the starting post, but at the third time of asking Mr. Mason sent the crews off in splendid line. North Shore No 1, and West End jumped to the front, the royal blues holding a sl|ight advantage. Half-way across Cheltenham Beach the leading crews were level. Then North Shore spurted and opened to half a length. West End responded and closed the distance but in the final stages another spurt by North Shore enabled them to cross the line winners by half a length, with West End second, ami St. George's two lengths away, third. The winning crew was Bennett, Stevenson, Rutledge, Mcllwraith.

Iα addition to th» McHwraith Cup the winning crew received the set of gold medals presented by Mr. G. Barrett. The race was a ding dong straggle all the way between North Shore and West End. It is a great pity the Waitemata crew did. not start then a line could have been drawn of the prospects of the senior fours at the Whangarei Regatta. The race served as a good pipe opener for thie senior fours, (and should enable the various coaches to rectify the many faults. By the time the senior fours meet at Hamilton they should be in capital form, and a great race result. The members of the Whangarei Olub are sparing no efforts to be in the best of form on January 1. The following are the regatta crew:—. Maiden Double Sculls:—H. Bradley, W, Woolhonse. Senior Double Sculls: — J. Mason, N. Munro. Maiden Pair Oar:— J. Gough, A. Jack. > Junior Pair Oar:—W. Brydon, L. Beehre. Youths' Fours:— J. Birch, W. Woolhouse, H. Bradley, C. Lambly. Maiden Foul's (under 10 stone): — A. Birch, F. Coster, B. Cutforth, A. Steadman. Maiden Fours (open:-r- No. I.— J. Birch, W. Woolhouse, H. Bradley. J. Lambly. No. 2.—Gough, A. Jack G. Hall, E. Fendall. Junior Fours (open):—W. Brydon, J. Mason, N. Munro, L. Beehre. Single Sculls Handicap:— J. Mason * * * Auckland Club. The Auckland Club held trial fours last Saturday for the Walter Clark Memorial Shield. A splendid race resulted in a win by a narrow margin for W. Fleming (stroke), O. Hanlon (3), Andrewes (2), Ohlson (1), Fleming (coxswain). Club racing in all clubs is now in abeyance, all attention being centred in the work of the various regatta crews that will compete at the Whangarei Eegatta on New Year's Day.