ROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 197, 23 August 1935, Page 5

ROWING

SUCCESSFUL SWISS SUPERB FORM AT HENLEY CHALLENGE CUP AND DIAMOND SCULLS LONDON', July 13. r One of the outstanding features of the Henley regatta was the superb record of the Swiss crew, who capturea the Stewards’ Challenge Cup and the Diamond Sculls, and just missed taking the Grand. Only once before hag the Stewards’ Cup been won by a crew from abroad. The holders now are Zurich Rowing Club, a new club, who have founded their style on Air. Fairbairn’s teaching, and they have added a quick entry into the water, thus using every inch of their reach to propel the boat.

The Zurich Rowing Club were opposed by the London Rowing Club (A crew), and they won by three lengths iu the record time of 7min Usee. Their beginning was as quick as lightning. Theih’ boat travelled so smoothly and so fast that they actually reached Fawley faster than the frames Cup heats. Till now England had retained her supremacy in fouroared rowing, Lut this was in quite a different class from any other four that has ever rowed. H. Hornberger, at No. 2 learned his rowing with Thames and rowed in a Thames Grand crew. Perhaps their speed was slightly increased by their very stiff, yet light, boat with aluminium riggers. The Diamond Challenge Sculls was won by E. Rulii (Zurich Rowing Club) from J. Zavrel (Verslarsky Club, Czechoslovakia) by three lengthsand a-half; time, Bmin lusec. Zavrel started at 10. 18. 31; Rulli at 10, 20, 36. Zavrel got in front half way up the island and led by half a length at the First Signal and three-quarters of a length at the Second Signal. He reached the Barrier in 2min 25scc and Fawley in 4min 2scc. Sculling 27, he seemed comfortable, but he could not get away, and by degrees liufli began to pdll him back without quickening. At the three-quarter mile Rufli was only half

a length down, and then he spurted. At the mile he was level. Zavrel made one more effort after that and regained a lead of a foot or two, but Rudi’s inoxoraKe strength over the last 500yds was too much for him. Rulli sculled right away at 28 to win very comfortably hy three lengths and a-half in •Smin losec, a time that, has only twice been beaten. Rufli is a very fine, smooth sculler with a superb finish, and he gave his- boat every chance to run. Splendid Effort by Jesus la the case of the Grand Challenge Cup Zurich suffered defeat by only three feet in a heat by Jesu s College, t.'ambridge, whose persistency in sustained spurts along the enclosure was one of the finest efforts ever seen at Henley. Zurich raced well, but ’ \v had not the determination of Jesus in the last, few hundred yards, in which also their coxswain swerved towards Jesus and back. The race was a line one throughout. Both started at 39, but Zurich took a half-length lead along lhe island; Zurich gained a trifle more, but Jesus spurted and slowlv brought thorn back. Jesus got up level at half way (time 3min 27sec), and the eights were again level al the mile; then Jesus made th«'ir wonderful effort and on in 7min Usee. In the linal this event was won by Pembroke, Cambridge, from Leander, *’y a length and a-half in (imin 52sec. Other Points •I. D. Helmore (Christehurch) was in the Trinity Hal) boat, which won the Ladies ’ Challenge Plate from Eton College by a length; time, 7min 7sec. Air. G. C. Drinkwater (Daily Tele graph rowing expert) remarks regarding the splendid form of the Swiss crow:— “Another point in which the Swiss have given us a lesson, which I hope will bo digested, is in the art of boatbuilding. 1 have never seen crafl so