ON THE WATER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 14

ON THE WATER.

ROWING NOTES FROM ALL QUARTERS.

(By "JASON”) FIXTURES. December 21—Canterbury Club's new members’ trial fours. January 1. 1929—Akaroa Regatta. January 26, 1929 —Christchurch Regatta, near Kairaki. The Canterbury Club’s trial fours for new members will be rowed on Friday. The club have many new members this year, with a fair amount of promising material. Three crews took part in the Union Club’s new members’ double sculls race, which was won by G. A. Matson and A. Leggett. The events were as follow: —First heat: K. A. Matson and A. Leggett beat Bennett and Bennett. C. Edwards and E. R. Saxby a bye. Final: Matson and Leggett beat Edwards and Saxby. No senior four or senior doubles will be representing the Canterbtiry Club at Akaroa. Crews entered are as follow : Senior pairs—C. S. Morris, H. L. Stephenson. Junior four —E. F. Hill, A. Rogers, G. Day, E. L. Young.

Junior doubles —A. Rogers, F. C. Godfrey. Junior pairs—E. F. Hill, E. L. \ oung. Maiden doubles —C. S. Morris, H. L. Stephenson. Maiden pairs—C. 11. Morrish, A. Biunden. Maiden four—F. C. Godfrey C. 11. Morrish, M. P. Eales, A. Biunden. The first series of head-of-the-river events on Saturday passed off fairly successfully. Only one incident tended to mar the and that was the unsatisfactory ending to the final cf the youths’ double sculls. Two .Avon Club crews were in the final, so that, whoever won. the club would gain two points. It was a surprise, therefore, that half-way through the race a foul was claimed by A. Frame, stroke of one of the crews. Frame and C. Bishop put in a great spurt at the start and went ahead by over half a length. The bend at Swann's Road bridge, however, favoured 11. Lanauze and T. Adkins, who drew level. Frame had the inside running at Cowlishaw’s Corner, where Lanauze's crew bore in on him somewhat. One of the sculls touched Frame's, though not sufficient to put him back at all. Frame immediately put up his hand as a sign of protest, and the hand remained aloft until Lanauze was a couple of lengths ahead. Lanauze kept ahead and passed the winning post, while Frame’s crew pulled leisurely sculls as far as the club’s staging.

The best race in the head-of-the-river competition on Saturday was the final of the junior fours, in which Canterbury (F. C. Godfrey, A. Rogers. G. Douglas and E. L. Young) gained the verdict over Avon (R. Batchelor, A. Mac Duff, F. Thompson and R. Lyons) by a canvas. Canterbury were behind

up to Cowlishaw’s Corner, where the bend favoured them. The maiden four who will represent the Canterbury Club at the Akaroa Regatta have been challenged by a crew comprising T. 11. M’Combs (stroke), 11. C. Holland, V. A. Smith, and G. H. Prater (bow’). The crew as selected for the regatta were F. C. Godfrey (stroke), C. 11. Morrish, M. P. Eales, and A. Biunden (bow). The challenge race will be rowed on Thursday evening. The Union Club’s crews for the Akaroa Regatta are as follow: Senior double sculls—No. 1: W. Whittington, W. Greenway. No. 2: G. Duggan, F. Duggan. Senior four—G. Duggan (stroke), W. Whittington, F. Rogers, W. Greenway (bow). Senior pair-oar—G. Duggan, F. Duggan. Maiden four—G. Greenway, R. H. Layton, S. Sinclair, O. Anderson. Maiden pair-oar—G. Greenway, R. 11. Layton. Maiden double sculls—O. Anderson, S. Sinclair.

Youths’ four—l. Thompson (stroke), J. Litten, K. Brown, G. Toner (bow). Youths’ double sculls —I. Thompson, R. 11. Lajdon. Speaking of boats, the following reference to them from the “ Otago Daily Times” is of interest:—The rowing community very much appreciates the fact that excellent boats can be made in this town. The practice boats turned out for the North-End Club by s. local builder are of such a quality that one wonders why that experienced builder doss not concentrate on racing craft. For many years clubs in New Zealand, and in Dunedin particularly, have had the greatest difficulty in obtaining racing shells up to contract time, and if a suitable boat could be turned out locally there is no doubt that great support would be forthcoming from all parts of the Dominion. Apart from the point of view of the convenience to clubs, the making of racing boats would be a valuable acquisition to the industries of New Zealand. With the exception of the few boats turned out by a Wellington builder, the whole of the plant of the rowing clubs has to be imported from Australia. It has been proved conclusively that excellent boats can be produced locally, and if the industry were developed employment would be given to the highest skilled woodworkers and a most lucrative industry established.