Hamilton Rowing Club.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3943, 23 November 1908, Page 2

Hamilton Rowing Club.

The opening of the rowing season took place on Saturday, when there was a fair attendance of the public. The Hamilton Town Band played during the afternoon, and the lady supporters of the club provided afternoon tea. The races were most interesting, the final creating a great deal of excitement.

The first contest to come up for decision was between crews stroked by .1. BeUley and B. Rice. This was a good race to the flaxmill, when the former crew, which were in better form than their opponents, drew away and won by a good margin. Qualtrough's crew then disposed of Mears' four by several lengths. The : ext crews to measure blades were stroked by E. Blincoe and 0. Snell. The former crew met with trouble in their boat shortly after starting, and never troubled their opponents, who paddled home. The finish of the first round resulted in Edgecumbe defeating Owen by about a length and a half. In the next heat Snell's crew showed Bettley's the way home and won by about a length. Edgecumbe and Qual trough finished the second round, this being a v.ery good race all the way, the former winning by the narrow margin of half a canvas.' The honours now rested between Snell (stroke) Holloway 3, Manning 2, Tucker bow, and Wilson cox; and Edgecumbe (stroke), Speedy 3, Tonkin 2, Beaven bow, and Bettley cox. Owing to the bow originally selected in the latter crew being unable to row, Edgecumbe was allowed to fill the place from a beaten crew. The two crews jumped away together at the start, shortly after which Snell's four gained slightly on their opponents. This advantage was maintained until within 100 yards of the post, when Edgecumbe's crew responded gamely to the call, and won by about two feet.