ON THE WATER

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 3

ON THE WATER

. ROWING NOTES FROM MANY QUARTERS.

(By

“JASON”).

Three eight-oared crews were out on Saturday afternoon, two from the Canterbury'-Chib and the other from Christ’s College. One 'of the Canterbury crews was a strong combination, and possibly will represent the club in the inter-club race. The committee ippointed by the Canterbury Rowing \ssociation to take charge of the two fights are to be complimented in the splendid condition of the boats. They Wave been completely overhauled, and •arious parts which had been rusted by salt water have been removed and replaced by a non-rust metal. The following crews have been selected to represent the Canterbury Club in the Head-of-the-River pennant competition. the first events in which will be held next Saturday afternoon:— Senior four—D. Gunn (str). C. S. Morris (3), S. P. Godfrey (2), G. W. A. Day (bow). Youths’ four—G. East (str), S. W. Cox (3), W. R. Hampton (2), C D. Smith (bow). Maiden doubles—No. 1 crew: T. 11. M'Combs (str). V. A. Smith (bow). No. 2 crew': C. J. Morris (str), T. O. M’Giffin (bow). Junior doubles—A. Rogers' (str), E. F. L. Hill (bow). Subject to permission being obtained to use the course on the day, the Auckland Rowing Association has fixed March 23 as the best date for the interprovincial eights. Three other entries besides Auckland are wanted before the Auckland Association will commit itself to putting on the race. Otago is regarded as sure to compete, and Wanganui and Wellington are considered to be likely starters. 3 3 3 It is difficult to understand what prompted the selection committee of the Canterbury Club to pick Day as bow in the senior four for next Saturday. Day is a fine, strong oar, adapted to rowing his full weight in No. 3 or No. 2 seat, but he is scarcely suitable for bow seat. The club’s senior four next Saturday should beat Union, but Avon will probaoly be much too good for them. Entries are now being received by the Avon Club for their open fours, the heats of which will be rowed on Wednesday, December 18. The race is open to new members and members who will not be rowing in regatta crews. The date for the New Zealand championships has not yet been fixed, but it is expected to be about the middle of February. 32 32 S 3 Both the Canterbury Club’s maiden and junior doubles should win their races next Saturday. The maiden doubles (M'Combs and Smith) have done their fair share of training and have improved a good deal since opening day. The junior doubles (Rogers and Hill) go fairly well together. Competition in that class is not very strong. 3 :*2 3 The following crews will represent the Avon Club in the Head-of-the-River events next Saturday:— ‘Senior four—C. Stiles (str), G. Stiles (3), J- H. Lane (2), N. Barker (bow). Youths’ four—C. A. Wright (str), A. W. Robinson (3), R. D. Norrish (2), H. Warlow (bow). Junior double sculls—A. K. Woodham (str), A. F. Frame (bow). Maiden double sculls—No 1: F H. Thompson (str), T. C. Adkins (bow). No. 2: C. H. Bishop (str), 11. Lanauze (bow). The Akaroa regatta should be a successful dav for the Canterbury Club, as the selectors have at the present time plenty of good oarsmen to choose from. With anything like good luck the club should win at least four races on the day. The following Avon Club crews have

been selected to go into training for the Akaroa regatta on New Year’s Day:— Senior four—C. A. Stiles (str), H. G. Stiles (3), J. H. W. Lane (2), N. Bar ber (bow). Senior pair—C. A. Stiles (str), H. G. Stiles (bow). Junior pairs—-No. 1: R. F. Batchelor (str), F. H. Thompson (bow). No. 2: G. Rushworth (str), C. IT. Bishop (bow). Maiden pairs—No. 1: W. Harvey (str), A. K. Woodham (bow). No. 2: G Hutcheson (str). L. Patterson (bow). Maiden doubles—No. 1: F. II Thompson (str), T. C. Adkins (bow). No 2: C. 11. Bishop (str), H. Lanauze (bow). Maiden four—W. Harvey (str), A. K. Woodham (3), T. C. Adkins (2), L. Patterson (bow). Youths’ doubles —No. 1 : R. D. Norrish (str), H. Warlow (bow). The composition of the other youths’ crews will be decided next Saturday. The Canterbury Club’s youths' fours and No. 2 maiden doubles crews for next Saturday are, so far, unknown quantities. Not a great deal is expected of them, as both crews are new combinations. They have goochmaterial, and should give results later in the season. The Avon Club’s youths’ four are very inexperienced this 3 ,, ear, only one member of the crew having previously represented the club at regattas. How ever, the crew are fortunate in having the services of Mr 11. Adkins as coach and, although the ex-champion does not expect to have them in racing form for the head-of-the-river contest next Saturday, they are sure to show a great improvement at the Akaroa regatta. The stroke, C. A. Wright, cuts his stroke short at the finish, failing to bring his hands right in to his body before dropping them. A. W. Robinson should reach out further at the commencement of the stroke, and he should also get his hands away quicker before coming forward on the slide. The No. 2, R. D. Norrish, is cocking his blade rather badly. In the bow seat H. Warlow is swinging out of the boat. These members are only in their second season of rowing, so with a few weeks’ coaching a good crew may be developed. Glowing tributes to the memory of the late Mr Maurice Priest, and deep regret at his untimely passing, were expressed at the last meeting of the Otago Rowing Association, of which body Mr Priest was for so long a valued and energetic member. The vice-presi-dent (Mr W. J. Wilson) said that words could not express the deep sense of loss which all members of the association, and, indeed, all rowing men in Otago, felt at Mr Priest’s death, but they all knew his value as a man and as a member of the association. In 1907 he was appointed secretary of the association, and in 1909 became a member of the committee, sitting on the executive until the time of his death, lie was one whom they could ill afford tc lose. During the course of his rowing activities Mr Priest had held the positions of vice-president and president of the New Zealand Amateur Row ing Association. There would be no fear that the name of one who had done so much to further the interests of the sport in Otago would soon be forgotten, for recently, in conjunction with his old rowing companion, Mr J. M’Grath, Mr Priest had presented a cup to be competed for on the harbour, and by this means his memory would be kept fresh in the association as long as that body existed. UNION CLUB. A meeting of the committee of the Union Rowing Club was held last evening. Present: Messrs W. G. Atack (in the chair). D. Lee, A Stubberfield.. R.

Layton, W. Whittington and S. Dunn (hon secretary). Correspondence was received from the Canterbury Rowing Association, stating it had been advised by the Akaroa Regatta Committee that ; t was proposed to row the youths’ single sculls at Akaroa on January 1 in clin ker double-scullers. The chairman said that the proposal was most extraord inary. Several clubs had gone to the expense of procuring .single-scull boats for the express purpose of having their representative in this class oj race suitably boated, and be could see no valid reason for reverting to the double sculling boat, which was a great handicap, as a coxswain had to be carried It was decided that the club was opposed to the proposal, and that a protest should be forwarded to the Canterbury Association. The Avon Club wrote asking for sup port of its proposal that the inter-club eight-oared race should be rowed at Redcliffs. The matter provoked considerable discussion, the general opin ion being that while the Redcliffs course was convenient from the point of nearness to Christchurch* it had certain disabilities. The Kairaki course received a majority support, and it was decided to inform the Avon Club to that effect, to advise the Canterbury Rowing Association of the club’s decision, and to suggest, if the Kairaki course were selected, that the associa tion should arrange a small programme of events to be rowed between the heats of the eight-oared race. It was decided that challenges for T ,he Akaroa regatta should close on Saturday, and be rowed off on December 18