ROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 440, 4 December 1930, Page 4

ROWING

THE WANGANUI SHED WRAY EIGHTS COMPETITION CLOSE ELIMINATING ROUND The Wanganui Rowing Club commenced its annual contest for the Wray Eights last evening, two crews competing in an eliminating round. Eight-oar racing is universally popular, both with the oarsman and the onlooker, and each year the Wanganui Club, the fortunate owners of two clinker eights, look forward with keenness to the rowing for the Wray Eights The trophy, a cup, was donated by an old member, Mr C. J. Wray, who now resides in London and it is one of the oldest and most valued trophies possessed by the club.

The two crews competing last evening were stroked by A. Mitchell (de-puty-captain) and R. Linssen (treasurer) respectively, and added interest was given to the race as the result of the recent announcement of Linssen’s impending departure from Wanganui, which meant that tho popular treasurer was competing in his last club race. On paper the crews appeared equally matched, and on the water that assumption proved correc*’. The conditions were ideal as the crews lined up opposite, the Duchess Theatre, and for the first time this season in club racing the current was running upstream. An even start saw Mitchell gain a slight advantage but this, however, he failed to maintain for long and the crews drew level. Linssen steered for the Anzac Parade side of the river and commenced to hug the bank with the intention of cutting off the big bend above the Dublin Street Bridge, while the opposing crow was a chain nearer the centre of the river. The crews, having raced half a mile, were still level and wore now settling down to*a ding-dong battle with never more than a canvac separating them at any stage. At the Dublin Street Bridge Linssen had a slight advantage but at the groyne the crews were level again. Linssen crept ahead and led by throe feet opposite Guyton Street, and at the Municipal Baths the crews were once more on even terms. In a final effort both crows sprinted to the post and Linssen’s crew shot past the finishing point the bare width of a canvas in front of their opponents, winning the most spectacular and most strenuous race held by the club for some time.

Mr H. W. Cooper started the crews and Mr T. Aitchison (club captain) acted as judge. The following wore the crews:— R. Linssen (str.) Cleland (7), Crichton (6), S. Reid (5), Forlong (4), Campbell (3), Maeiccr (2), Stokes (bow). A. Mitchell (str.), G. Powell (7), M. Clay (6), H. Grover (5), Willis (4), MacKinnon (3), L. Roij (2), Corfo (bow). Durie rows Collegiate A to-night at 5.30 and Linssen will meet Collegiate B to-morrow. The final takes places on Saturday.

THE BRIDSON CUP

JUNIOR CHALLENGE SCULLS WANGANUI’S UNIQUE RECORD Wanganui oarsmen have a unique record in connection with the Bridson Cup, which was presented in 1920 to the Welington Rowing Association

< - as a challenge ctip for the junior sculls and is competed for annually at the Wellington regatta. Mr W. J. Bridson, the donor of the trophy, was himself a very fine oarsman and sculler. Between 1888 and 1891 ho won seven championships and is the only oarsman in the history of rowing in New Zealand to figure as a winner in tho four New Zealand championships—the fours, pairs, double sculls and single sculls. Tho remarkable feature of the records for the Bridson Cup is that Wanganui oarsmen appear to have a mortgage on tho trophy, for e- cry time it has been competed for Wanganui men have won it.

The winners of the cup in the respective years are as follows: 1921 N. W. Smith (Union). 1922 N. W. Smith (Union). 1923 E. O. Trail (Uni- ). 1924 E. O. Trail (Union). 1925 H. Dyke (Wang 'ui Rowing Club). 1926 C. Campbell (Aramoho). 1927 D. Mill (Aramoho). 1928 A. K. G. Jackson (Union). 1929 — W. Kennedy (Pctonc). 1930 W. Kennedy (Pctonc).

Kennedy it may beinentioned, is a Wanganui boy who rowed for the Aramoho Club before he was transferred to Wellington. He is a son of Mr W. Kennedy, who is the Wanganui Rowing Association’s honorary starter.