ROWING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 290, 11 December 1935, Page 4

ROWING NOTES

(By

"TANIWHA.")

j ill a I’urinighL from to-morrow the Wanganui Regatta will be the centre of attraction, and the present indications are that, given fine weather, there will be a large crowd at Bandy Hook on Boxing IDay. It must be a matter of great satisfaction for the regatta committee to find that support will be accorded the regatta by Mr. T. Katana, M.P., and the Ratana natives. The Maori section of the Boxing Day regatta should be a splendid attraction. As the three Wanganui clubs will be supporting the New Plymouth regatta on New Year’s Day it is anticipated tha. representation of the two Taranaki clubs here on Boxing Day will be on a scale equally generous. Other visiting crews arc expected from AVeilington and Hawke’s Bay. Without going for the spectacular effort of a “ Lcarn-to-Row ” Week, successfully carried out in other centres, the Wanganui clubs have done well in the direction of securing new members and in encouraging them to carry out regular training. Already the beneficial effects are being shown. The Collegiate School c'rew will be leaving for Christchurch on Saturday for the purpose of rowing the annual race with the Christ ’s College crew on the Avon. By defeating the Wanganui Technical College crew rather decisively the Collegiate four have indicated that they are in good form for their annual engagement, and it would be a fitting reward for the coach, Major Marks, if they were to succeed in carrying off the honours of the inter-suhool race. Wanganui Rowing Club. With the Boxing Day regatta only a fortnight off, the Wanganui Club crews in training for the various events arc brightening up their rowing, showing better combination and a quicker rate of stroke. The seniors have been indulging in long rows. Being honest in their training, they are showing the result in a nice and apparently effortless swing, which will probably develop into a quick hard drive within .the next fortnight. They still have many faults but the perfect crew has yet to be seen. The junior welters arc at last showing signs of improvement and are displaying more combination*. They should put much more work on the blades. The maiden crew are somewhat handicapped, having to combine their training with the youths’ crew, but they have plenty of pace and should give a good account of themselves. The lightweights-are now boated as selected and in spite of their many minor faults they appear to be a tough little crew. Will they produce tne goods the day of the race? excellent game with plenty of hard driving and smashing. Ou Sunday afternoon I spent a very enjoyable time at Eastern Club where I gave players a short talk and. demonstration of strokes, etc. Here again 1 was greatly impressed with I,lie standard of play, especially Ambrose, Gould, Bishop and Dennison. For such a small club these players showed decided promise and I should like to see them get more and varied practice ag'ainset better players. 1 believe some of them will enter for the tourney at Christmas. I was disappointed at not seeing Jliss L. Bishop in action as I believe her backhand is a lovely stroke and ; very fast. Unfortunately Miss Bishop I hurt her knee in the morning and will have to rest for a time. j These visits to the clubs of the .Minor Association and also small country clubs are most enjoyable, and while 1 endeavour to give instructive talks and. demonstrations of strokes, 1 play with club members as much as possible. It is good practice for them, and if I hit too bard for them at times, especially the ladies, it is better for their tennis than to receive “lolly-pop” services. Will secretaries of clubs desiring a visit from me please let me know. M. L. Lampe is playing belter again and on Bunday was hitting beautiful cross-court forehand drives. He was playing them flat ; without spiiq and they were coming off the court with plenty of sting. His overhead work carried pace and was very accurate. H. Cox will pair with Miss Thelma Greaves this year in the tournament. For the- next round of ladder matches for the W’.L.T.A., ladder No. 1 has a rest and the odd numbers play the even numbers immediately above, c.g. 3 plays 2, 5 plays 4. This round is to be finished by December 22. The matches a:o. as follow: —Barkman v. Udy, Earle v. Hay Campbell, McFarlane v. T. Latham, V. Latham v. O’Toole, Marshall v. Carver, Perkins v. Cavaye, Russell v. Broad, Miss Mary Purcell v. Miss 1. Duncan, Mi-. Earle v. Miss Greaves; Mrs. Richardson v. Miss Cox, Miss Margaret Purcell v. Miss Jack, Miss Mitcalfe v. Mrs. Evans, Miss Rawson v. Miss Pownall. St. John’s defeated Wanganui in the A grade final, these two teams being the only entrants. Miss Duncan defeated Mrs. Smith iu the top single and that was the only match won by Wanganui. It was pleasing to see the recently promoted Miss Beth Pownall playing so well, and she did not lose either her single or double easily. She can improve a lot yet and her vc-llying, if it were steadier, would gain her many points. It is very refreshing, however, to sec her go for her shots and not being content to keep the ball in play as so many of our Ic-cal ladies do. Miss T. Cox played very well against Thelma Greaves to defeat her for a ladder position at St. John’s during the week-end. Miss Cox has become a little more aggressive this season and her game has steadied a great deal. Leo. Udy is a patient in bed, suffering from laryngitis. It is to be hoped that he will recover soo# to get into practice for the Christmas tourney, I have had occasion recently to notice that too many players when playing a forehand or backhand stroke throw their weight around instead of forward, the result being a dragged oi badly hit shot. For the forehand, turn sideways to the net and swing from the shoulder and do not tu r n at the hips, but force the left shoulder round 1 by the weight of the right shoulder whon th»> is- playe-L-

With the scullers the juniors are not pushing themselves hard enough, although they are much improved from their previous report. The senior entry is training consistently and with a decent handicap should set- a nice pace for the scratch men. Given a. fine day there is every indication that the regatta at Bandy Hook will prove a huge success for the cream of North Island oarsmen, combined with many thrilling motor-boat races, will undoubtedly provide the public with a most interesting day. i'urthermore the ladies’ championship fours will be an added attraction. “ Oarswomen ” arc expected from Auckland and Wairoa and the opportunity of seeing these crews in action against the local girls should not be missed. The event which created much interest last year for members not rowing iu the regatta is to be rowed again. This .is the club doubles, iu which an old and a new member are drawn together. This facilitates the easy learning of the art of sculling by the new members and stimulates the interest in the shed, which has waned noticeably with the early staging of the Wanganui regatta and the disorganising of the club’s programme of racing. The following crews are selected, the race to be rowed after the holidays and further members wishing to enter arc requested to notify the selectors: —G. Bourne and Cox? Cass and Green; Webster and Merewether; V. Clapham and L. Norihover; Paul and Campion; L. Ulapham and Goldsbury; Hanton and .McCrorie; Brookie and Btroud; E. Campbell and Bourne; Brodie and MorAramc.llo Boating Club. Non-regatta members at Aramoho are busy occupied in training for the Gedye Double Bculls. Racing for this popular trophy will take place next week and some keen contests should be seen. The weather has been ideal for rowing and all members are taking advantage of this. Two new sets of sculls have been purchased ’from Messrs. Webb and Green, ami these sculls will be used by the club’s entrants in the Double Bculling events at the Wanganui regatta. Criticism of the various crews will be given iu these columns next week. As far as is known at the present Aramoho will not be represented at the Hamilton Regatta. With the Wanganui, New Plymouth, Wellington-Cham-pionships and. W aitara regattas coming within the next month or two most members find it difficult to get the extra lime off. A list has been posted up in the club house calling for noininations for the New Plymouth Regatta. Members who wish to row at this regatta are requested to write their names down immediately. Next Monday night will be the last of the flag “aU'J” evenings until after the Christinas holidays. ihese functions have been a great success and have been much enjoyed by club members and supporters. Credit must be given to that able body of helpers who run them, but like many other things the task of assisting has been left to a willing few, and many members of the committee have been conspicuous by their absence. Union Boat Club. A tribute to the memory of one of the Union Boat Club’s stalwarts was paid at a meeting of the executive committee on Monday night, when reference was made to the passing of Mr. James Cottcrill, father of two pi eminent wearers of Lie light blue singlet and himself a member always prepared io pull his weight for this old-estap-lislicd club. One son, James Cottcrill jun., stroked the first New Zealand crew to score a success overseas, that being the Union Boat Club crew which won the Australian Champion Fours at Hobart in 191 J. Jt is interesting to note that the members of the party that year were J. Cottcrill, E. Ryland, W. Dustin, D. Corby, H. Henley (cox) and W. Bharpe (coach). Jim Cotterill also stroked the Union four on several occasions in New Zealand championship events. Mr. J. Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui, who is another son, was a prominent oarsman and secured several regatta successes during his rowing career. As a mark of respect to the memory of tiie late Mr. Cotterill, members at Monday's meeting stood in silence. The Union crews engaged at the Wanganui regatta are all shaping very pleasingly, and if conscientious training is adhered to and some minor faults are corrected, they should give a good account of themselves on Boxing IDay. ihe light blue colours will be carried by representatives in every rowing event with the exception of the welterweight junior fours. Ju some events i there will be two, and even three, Union crews. Strong representation of the Union Club at the New Plymouth regatta ou New Year’s Day appears to be assured. In the past this regatta has been well patronised by the light blues, who generally return with a fair share of the donation money. At the Hamilton Regatta on the Aucklaad province s Anniversary Day, January 2b, Ihe Union Club will also have representative crews. This regatta is u> mid-week affair, but crews can get away by the late express on the previous night and may return the morning following' the regatta, t'hus, those participating will require to obtain leave for one day only. The abolition of the Inter-island Eight-oar Race was advocated by the Canterbury Association at the last auiirnd meeting of the New Zealand Rowing Association. The association, how-uw-r, was not supported in its effort. It is understood that the Wanganui Association, which will control the interprovincial race on East Baturday next, has a suggestion iu view which should meet with the approval of delegates and visitors, At the first annual meeting of the Dunedin Regatta Club it was decided to hold the second fixture on the Upper Harbour on Baturday, February 1. Ihe president (Mr. B. G. Btyche) said that the club had a fine membership, and that despite the loss of revenue on the first regatta, due to adverse weather the financial position, after the payment of all preliminary expenses in connection with the formation of the club, was very creditable. The members might, anticipate an even more satisfactory state oi affairs at the end of the season. Mr. G. Hogan contended . L it must have been a record performance to form a club and hold a regatta just two mouths later. comu tne president and' commitI tee on their successful work, and urged members to make every effort to increase the membership.