ON THE WATER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18958, 2 January 1930, Page 4

ON THE WATER.

ROWING NOTES FROM MANY QUARTERS. (By “JASON”) The first of the season’s regattas, held at Akaroa yesterday in fine weather, was a success in every way. Particularly gratifying was the size of the crowd. The ferry steamer Maori 1 brought about 1200 people, and while it could not be said that they all made the trip for the sake of seeing the rowing. there is no doubt that the sport will be encouraged, and possibly strengthened, as a result. The weather was kind, and the harbour did not ex- . perience the heavy rain whihh fell during the afternoon on the other side of the hills. In view’ of last year’s postponement owing to rough weather, it would have been disheartening indeed if the elements had once again played a grim joke on those rowing enthusiasts who, at fair expense, had gone to the trouble of transporting the boats over the hills. Though the Avon Club gained the most points towards the D.C.L. Cup, held by that club from last season, the margin was a narrow one. The points were fairly evenly distributed, more evenly than usual. Avon secured 21, Canterbury 20, Union 16, Akaroa 14, Sumner-Redcliffs 11, and Lyttelton 7. Avon gained two firsts, one second, and three thirds: Canterbury three firsts, one second, and two thirds; Union three firsts and one third; Akaroa four seconds and two thirds; Sum-ner-Redcliffs one first and two seconds; and Lyttelton two seconds and one third. The Union Club did very w’dl in winning the senior four, the youths’ double sculls, and the youths’ singles. The club had a lean time of it towards the end of last season, and lost several of its more successful oarsmen. The result of the Akaroa Regatta should hearten rowers and supporters of the club, and particularly the senior oarsmen. In F. Rogers, the club have a good stroke and a keen worker. Rogers, who stroked Union to victory, has stuck to the club through its ups and downs, and, with the rest of the crew, is to be congratulated upon winning one of the most important races of the day, and what proved to be the most thrilling. The crew were: F. Rogers (stroke), K. Brown (3), W. Whittington (2), and W. Greenway (bow).

The junior doubles and maiden doubles gave F. H. Thompson, of the

Avon Club, another chance to prove his worth. Thompson has been sculling exceptionally well this season and last, and should go a long way in this department. In the junior doubles he was stroke and R. F. Batchelor was Bow. Thompson rowed a long and powerful stroke. . and, taking the lead early in the race.

maintained his advantage to the end. In the maiden doubles he was associated with T. C. Adkins, and again he rowed a sterling race, to win by a good length from Sumner-Redcliffs. The Sumner-Redcliffs Club did very well, all things considered. They won the junior pair-oar event in fine style, came second in the maiden doubles and the maiden four, fourth in the maiden pairs, and rowed also in the youths’ four. M. Ilullett and R. C. Neville rowed particularly well to win the junior pairs. The club appear to be in need of a coach, and if a local enthusiast could be persuaded to take on this work much good would result. The club have a good stock of racing boats, and possess great keenness. Under a coach’s direction many of the rowers should go a long way in the sport. Training tells. The Union Club have no one more consistent in his training than G. Toner, who only a couple of

seasons ago w r as a coxswain. Toner won the youths’ single sculls easily by up to ten lengths from W. W. Reid (Akaroa), thereby annexing the Thacker Challenge Shield for the next twelve months. He w’as almost as fit after the race as before it, and his stroke over the course of 70 chains was easy and pow-

erful. Toner was also bow in the youths’ double sculls, which Union won. R. Layton was stroke of that crew. The senior pair-oar event went to the Stiles brothers, who rowed their usual good race, refusing to be bustled. The Akaroa No. 2 crew (D. Reid and E. May) put up a great performance in pressing Avon hard most of the way. Akaroa came in only half a length behind the New Zealand pair-oar champions of 1927-28.