ROWING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20476, 30 November 1934, Page 11

ROWING.

Comment on Head-of-river Contests. COMJNO FIXTURES. December B—lnter-club eight-oar contest at Stewart’s Gully. January I, 1935—Akaroa Regatta. January 26—Second series of Head of . the River contest. February 2—Christchurch Regatta, at Stewart’s Gully. February 16—Wellington Regatta. There is much activity on the Avon clubs, including Sumner-Redcliffs and Cure (Kaiapoi) are training for the inter-club eight-oar contest to be rowed at Stewart’s Gully on Saturday week. M. Wright, stroke of last year’s interprovincial eight, has now changed from the stroke position in Kaiapoi’s eight to the No. 4 seat. This change will no doubt have a very steadying effect on the crew. G. Clarke is now in the major position. Akaroa’s crew in the eights contest will be stroked by D. Reid. The crew is not expected to put in an appearance on the Avon prior to the racing. Review of Last Week’s Form. In the first series of the Head of the River races last Saturday a high standard of sculling was reached. In the light-weight maiden class, W. Cooper and C. Piper (Union) proved superior to the opposition. M. Gray (str.) and R. J. Hampton (bow), Canterbury, secured an unexpected win in the youths’ class by defeating Union No. 1 (C. A. Smith sir. and T. Harris) in the heat, and Union No. 2 in the final. Canterbury secured another win in the maiden class with C. A. Spence (str.) and R. J. Hampton (bow). The first heat in this event was the fastest time of the day, the half-mile being covered in 2min 37 2-ssee. A. E. Rogers and J. O. M’Giffin, of Canterbury, maintained their unbeaten record by finishing a length ahead of Avon, J. FI. Thompson and J. Lane, in the senior event. The points of the clubs at this stage are: Canterbury 6, Union 4, Avon 0. « « Stewart’s Gully Regatta. With six crews, Akaroa, Cure (Kaiapoi), Avon, Sumner-Redcliffs, Canterbury and Union, at present in training for the Stewart’s Gully regatta, the first eight-oared regatta to be held in Canterbury should prove a great sucOn form on the river, the Avon crew —L. Patterson (str.), F. H. Thompson (7), J. Lane (G), R. Thompson .(5), G. Crockett (4), N. Barber (3), J. Rushworth (2) and L. Hampton (bow) appear to have attained the best combination. The Canterbury crew has had several changes in the positions. A. E. Rogers, previously at No. 5, has now been placed at No. 7, and M. Hunter, No. 7, has gone to No. 5. G. East, No. 2, has changed places with M’Cormack in No. 4 seat. It is unfortunate, perhaps, that Avon and Canterbury should have drawn to race together in the first race of the day. The Union crew, the lightest and youngest in the contest, is making satisfactory progress. They should have a comparatively, easy row in their heat against the inexperienced Sumner-Reil-eliffs crew. Incidentally it is possibly an oversight on the part of the Eights Conunittee that a coach has not been arranged for the Sumner-Redcliffs crew, which consists mostly of novices. Life Members’ Cup. The Life Members’ Cup, a Union Club race for new members, was won In grand style by A. Depree (str.) and J,. Jennings. This pair have received the reward for hard and conscientious training. The Akaroa Club is entering two crews in each of the three youths’ class events at its regatta on New' Year's Day. E. W. Kingston and K. A. Rhodes will row in the youths’ singles. With C. A. Cooper, of the Union Club, out of this class, they should be well in the picture.