ROWING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 4

ROWING

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

JASON).

COMING EVENTS. January 19 —Hanuan v. M’Devitt, three miles, at Auckland. January 26—Christchurch Regatta, at Luke Forsyth. February 6 Invercargill Regatta. February 19 —New caland Champion* ships, at Pic ton. arch I—Wellingtonl—Wellington Regatta. March 24 —Otugo Association’s Regatta. April 21 —Interprovincial Fours, at Pic ton. The four double sculling events in connection with the Redcliffs Gala were decided on Saturday, under unpleasant conditions from tho competitors* point of view, a strong nor’-eastcr raising a nasty jobble which soaked the competitors and led to a deal of water being shipped. The course, like all those affected by tides, is not one in which all crews have an equal chance. For instance, with the tide making as was the case when the racing commenced, the centre positions are the best; when ebbing these are the worst. as tho strength of the tichTßows down the centre and tho inside water is comparatively alack. On Saturday, however, position did not play any very important part in results, because the races were got off at a period before tidal •ffecta became pronounced. Very pos aibly the outside crews in the last two events did benefit to some extent. The race* were well divided up. Union winning the senior, Sumner the junior. Avon the maiden and Cure the youths.

. Cure’s win came as a surprise, as Avon and Union are pretty warm propositions. They finished first and second respectively at Aknroa, whfcro Cure did not compete. The course was short on Saturday—about half a mile--and over a mile 1 very much doubt if -Cure is capable of defeating them. Cure won by a shade less than e length, with Avon a quarter of a length in front of Union. These three crew-, were the only starters. Avon won the maiden event by superiority of condition. A hundred yferda from homo they did not look equal to getting letter than third position, but by a well-sustained spurt they snatched a win on the post from Canterbury, with Union a few feet away. It was a very fine piece of work by the winners and came about from condition and determination. At Aharon Union won by a few feet from Akaroa, while Avon were fourth, only about a \ length and a quarter behind the winners. Tho jnnjot event was an equally good race. Sumner led all the way, but the battle ibat Avon and Union were contesting promised to eventually land them first and second. Sumner, however, kept their place, eventually winning by about a canvas. Union just getting home by inches from Avon. Union won somewhat easily at Akaroa, but on Saturday the stroke was unable to row. Avon finished se fl'emd and Canterbury third at Akaroa, Sumner not competing. The senior event was tho only one that was a runaway. Union entered two crews and they finished first and second. No. 1 fVelvin and Grenfell) winning with the greatest ease. No. 2 (Whittington and Ellis) having some trouble in shaking off a scratch Avon crew. Canterbury could not pace it ,wi,th the others. The winners sculled Sfitll a lively dash which was in direct (contrast to the form of their club mates, A heavier and stronger pair, who, however, were altogether too laboured m £heir work. At Akaroa Union No. 2 4sre w won rather easily from Avon and c * Unless heavy rain comes between and regatta day Lake Forsyth promises to be considerably lower than Visual. There will, however, be ample ttepth of water for racing, without the Cain the country generally so badly meeds. The Union Club*6 senior double scullers will need to sparkle up a good bit if they are desirous of winning at Christchurch, that is judging by their Exhibition at Redcliffs on Saturday. JThey won at Akaroa without any difficulty, but it has to be admitted that •he opposition was not strong. On Saturday they were completely outpaced by their club mates, and had to ,pow hard to beat what was practically a scratch Avon crew. The members of the crew are big powerful men who 4ieed a lot of hard and fast work to get them into and keep them up to form, and indications on Saturday were that they had been spelling over tho holiday season. The Avon Club has finally fixed tipon last year’s senior lour as its representa lives at the Christchurch Regatta. The • crew have not too much time in which .to get condition, but having rowed so .Jong together there will be no cause £to worry over combination. I am thinking, however, that they will meet (•far more serious opposition than was .opposed to them at last season’s regatta. Canterbury are right after the vrace and will shape considerably bet ter than they did at Akaroa, when tTnion only defeated them by a quarter of a length. Union are one of the most . promising crews the club has turne.l out for many seasons, but on the form * already shown their ability has not t been properly developed. The crew are equal to wiqning tho champion fours if handled along the lines winch >mak for pace. Speaking generally. 1 amongst local crews, far too much cor.■ideration is given to body form at the expense of effective blade work. Body form is desirable to an extent, but it can be overdone. The two events—maiden double ecu 11s and seni<»r fours—which were not rowed at the Port Chalmers re- . gafcta on December 29 owing to the roughness of the water, were decided On Saturday. North End won the ■ maiden event with ease and Queen’ * Drive led all the way in the senior tours, defeating Port Chalmers No. 2 crew by several lengths. The third annual regatta at Tauraxiga (says the Auckland “ vStar ”) provided the first test of skill for the Auckland provincial oarsmen, anil the occasion marked a series of keenly contested races that give promise of a great season’s rowing The racing will live long in the memory of the enthusiasts who were fortunate enough to witness it, for a long time has elapsed since the opening regatta has • been marked with such close finishes * The standard of rowincr among the four senior clubs—Waitemata. St George’s, West End, and Hamilton—was high, but no crew can rest on its Hlaurels. Usually the winning crews at the first regatta account for their class

events throughout the season; but it would be unwise to offer such a forecast after the Tauranga regatta There is still much room for improvement in the form of all crews, particularly for the finishing stages of the race. The first noticeable defects werq tho lightness of the catch and th® weakness of the log drive, hut these are faults that hard, consistent training will eliminate. All crews must recognise that if a successful season is to be experienced they must throw their whole heart and soul' into their training operations. There was very little between the crows, and it will come as a surprise if any of the .successful crews at Tauranga go through the season with an unbeaten record. The donations allotted were well shared by the clubs, and a summary of the results gives Sc George’s three wins, four seconds, one third ; Waitemat, three wins, three seconds; Hamilton, two wins; West End, one win, two thirds; \Vhakatane, one win. In addition, Whakatane also won the Maiden Fours, a special race for the clubs of the district.

An Australian paper recently had some remarks on the length of time an outrigger is serviceable for racing purposes. They are interesting as showing what is possible when a racer i\> well and truly built:—When the Mosmnn (N.S.W.) crew went to Mel bourne to compete at Henley recently, they did not bring their own boat with them, but used the “best” boat, which Mercantile has just stepped out of. to go into their new boat, Mosman were so pleased with this boat that they bought it and took it back to Sydney with them. In the champion eights of New South Wales they made a successful debut in her on the Parra matta. when they won that important race in good style. The boat was built nearly twenty years ago. but despita her ago is still an excellent racing craft, and her success in the N.S.W. championship once again demonstrated the fact that a “ best” eight, properly cared for, has a very long life. It is not always to the advantage of a crew to discard a boat because she is old. The boat in which Melbourne won the double senior eight at Henley and Melbourne is another example of an old boat proving entirely satisfactory (remarks a Melbourne writer). She originally belonged to the University Cluh and in a collision with a motor launch in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley had her bows smashed in. Tlio Civil Service Club bought her for the modest sum of £o, had a new “ bow ” end built on her, and so gained a cheap boat, which has since done yeoman service. She carried the Civil Service crews to victory in the championship eights in 1919 and 1920. and now that that club is amalgamated with Mel bourne she has made a good start un der the new name. Here is a record to be proud of:—■ Skiff champion of Mosman Rowing Club at 141 years of age. selected to stroke an inter-State eight at 16. and coaching at 171 That is the record of Alf Hasemer, and one that probably has not been equalled by anv other oarsman in the world (says the Sydney ” Sunday News ’’). Hasemer has not been beaten since he won the club Bkiff championship three years ago, having withstood numerous challenges. At his first appearance in an inter-club rowing race he stroked a maiden eight to victory. He then occupied the stroke seat in a crew which won a double, maiden and junior fours in the one day and then a senior four. All races were won in hollow fashion. Hasemer had a few mouths’ spell under a doctor’s advice, and was a member of the Mosman crew, which was narrowly beaten at the Melbourne Henley regatta, and subsequently won the championf .eights of N.S.W. by 20 lengths. Although one of the biggest and strongest members of the club, stripping at over 12st. it was wisely decided not to give him too much, and he is now spelling until the interstate eights. In the meanwhile he is coaching a Mosman crew for the next regatta. AVON ROWING CLUB. The crews started their training this week for the Christchurch Regatta. F. Agassiz, W. Sergison, C. Champ and H. Adkins have been finally selected as the club’s senior crew. They have been out a few' times in the outrigger and at once seemed to drop into the combination shown last year. The senior pair (Champ and Sergison) have been doing plenty of rowing but I do not expect them to be at tiieir best for this regatta. The senior sculls (Staples and Adkins) have not been out together. The junior four (E. Barkle, A. Clark, A. Nightingale and W. Scott) are a decided improvement on the crew which rowed at Akaroa. *They have not been out much this week owing to No. 3 and bow being indisposed. The junior double sculls (Clark and Barkle) will need plenty of work. Clark ! was one of the crew which won the maiden sculls at Redcliffs. but at Christchurch this race follows the junior fours. The maiden four (l». Mac Gibbon, G. Stiles, C. Lawrence and L. Keys) are dong plenty of training. The maiden double sculls (Mac Gibbon Stiles) will need plenty of steady work. They have been challenged by C. Hart and L. Keys ,who are showing particularly good form together. The race will be rowed off next week. The maiden light-weight four (R. Taylor, C. Lawrence. E. Weir and PKirton) have the makings of a good The youths’ four (C. Stiles, G. Litter, \V. Palmer and J. Kirton) will need plenty of work together. C. Stiles was unable to do any training this week owing to a slight accident to his foot. The youths, ’double sculls (Stiles and Kirton) shotfd have a spell with the 6-culls. A few sharp rows are all they There are two challenges for the vouth’ double sculls. G. Litton and M. Clark will row E- Weir and W. Palmer on Monday, and the winner will row the selected crew on Thursday. It is exoected that- the crews showmg good form at the Christeh-nreh Regatta will compete at the Wellington Regatta.