WITH THE OARSMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 84, 8 April 1936, Page 4

WITH THE OARSMEN

By

“ TANIWHA.”

The leading crews of the Dominion will line up on the Wanganui River uu Saturday to decide the interprovincial championship, which carries with it poMe?<ion of the Hally burton-John-alone Cup, the most costlv trophy for amateur sport in New Zealand. Present indications are that the race will attract more attention than any aim 'ar event over a period of many yens. Already evidence of this interact has been provided in the crowd of spectators following the deciding race last week end. The eliminating race, which decided the j»ersonnel of the crew io represent Wanganui in the interpretincial event, was followed with keen interest. In spite of the fact that the time for the ••trv-out” had not been decided on in the morning. the public turned out in large numbers during the afternoon. The banks of the river were lined on both sides by hundreds of spectators, and the motorists and cyclists who followed the m‘*e must have constituted Thi> may be accepted a s an indication of the size of the < rowd which will turn out on Saturday provided weather and water conditions are favourable. Thus it behoves the coninmree controlling the e\ent to arrange Dr a certain amount of trafti - control during rhe few n inutes the ra e is in proManv inquires have befi; ’>;ade a« to the approximate time the .<art of Hi* ra *. V **: it > impt- —«>:e in stat.- just when the raw will start. Th.- event must be rowed on slaek water if pr.s-.bh s .lit;--.,- «.,! have to be -u I and an announcement may be made to-n>.»rrow. Ihe ne before I o” P-- -. on Saturday, ar.d the indication- are chm it wi., e nearer ° p.m. However, th' pub. c wi I Sc kept fully ad. :-od a- to mv de. ision arrived at. Island rare will be rowel. This w.ii -raw- to eonte-t th - *>en; will not be the N rth and S th Is nnai rare for th.- >«n * up. .< .*• e I! . ..p4 : n th.» two raves OH form display eo *n rnr - Game**, which are to be ne I n ■ ••*- nev in 193 5 . the pc.••<•.<»> a.i, > opportunitv of studying ta? «*e-t rrr al available from the towing r übs throughout the Donun:**!!- - ‘ crew, who defeated the m«»re experieight l-v » Ure -an.:.- 1 «»’ ■ the full journev. and the big ciowd was keyed up to a high pitch of excitement. Wanganui’s hopes n*w re-t on Edwards’ men, and it is antiv ipatr I that they will reproduce the*r best form on the big day. It will -erm strange to see H Wanganui crew without <*‘a»r:e Healey in the 4 •general’s” seat, for he has piayed a big part in enabiin" W-n--gar.ui to defeat the oppo .non n *■••* past two years. Robert-haw is ,ne n the who has taken part in a previous race for the Hallyburton-loh -o:u- h being » member of the wangay h ...... . . y at Dune The first winners of tl in cial eight oar championship, held m 7 • but in the five su. •e, ding -ea-.n-Ota w o carried off the honouis*. I •'*’ years ago. at Wellington. Wangarr.lowered the colours of their >■•!.<h Iland rivals and became the tir-t Norin Island winners of rhe magmticent trophy donated by Mr. Haliyb ;rt Johnstone to encourage eight oar row ing in New Zealand. I*a>t tea. Mai. ganui sent their crew as far sou tn as Dunedin to defend their title, and the representatives fulfilled their task n splendid style to re* ord their setuid sL-.-esshe Victory. On Saturday thenwill be many on the bank prepare.! .*• .... anga ete a “hat triels. In the direction of expense, rhe War. gangi Rowing Association have ireuuentlv shown other associations how t > run a regatta without calling *»n he •»pnPral public for contributions. When such an event as this i- staged there is generally son.e difficulty in securing a “gate,” b i the Wanganui Association adopts the attitude- an I manv will agree that it is rig’ i *t having the goodwill nr the j;• i- . When thp New Zealand champion.’.* *p regatta was held here three years ago visitors expressed appreciation of ihe fart that a crowd of eould be provided with an afternoon’s sport without having the accompaniment c*

rattling collecting tins throughout. The donation money for the big race has already been provided, but it is understood that further expenses to the extent of approximately £25 will have to be found. For this purpose several collectors have volunteered their services. No launches will be permitted on the actual course of the big race for half an hour prior to the start and during the race itself. It had been intended that a procession of all boats be held | prior to the start of the race, but after discussion at a meeting of the association last night it was decided that the procession be held on Friday morning and that arrangements be made for a motion-picture record of the occasion. The boats will assemble at (’alver’s Corner at II a.m. The first of the visiting crews to arrive in Wanganui will be Otago, who are due here this afternoon with their boat. They are likely to be seen out on the river to-morrow morning, and keen interest will be displayed in their training spins. For this evening an invitation has been extended to the Otago party to be the guests of the management of the Plaza Theatre. The Otago eight been going well under Harry Prftcli:\ !. formerly bow of the provincial eights from 1929 until : his retirement in 1933. The impression i the crews gave observers at Dunedin * : before their departure was that they | were not quite up to the. standard of • the best crew of 1933. In the cons-I wain’s seat will be R. I nderwood, who I Jias steered the . raft on previous o. ca- . 'sions. ! The tragic death of Mr. J. G. <’otjieriil removed from the ranks of oarsmen one of the greatest exponents of the sport that the Dominion has ever seen, lie laid, nearly thirty years ago. | the foundation of what must be one i I of the greatest records possessed by a [club in New Zealand. As a member I ■ of the Wanganui I’nion he first won i | championship honours in ]909. being j stroke of the light blue four who took j I the premier honours at Picfon. In 1910 he took his men to Tasmania and led a powerful field home to win the A’;s- --( tralasian Champion Fours. These sue- j i re««es were the forerunners of many victories in Dominion (;hampionshi|><. [ and but for the Great War interven-i ing he would have probably created a 'record that would have stood for ;:.l time. D was a great and fitting tribute {that those who shared his triumphs should carrv their former comrade Jo | •his last rest, and farewell him on the. journey that must eml with the verdict ■of the Great Judge, ••Well rowed. ’■ What giants of former days gathered I ~n _Mon-|;,v to ’I" honour to tlo-ir | ’ lOl mer < olleague! Bill Dustin had jour- | : neved from I'atmeistou North to h*’ | lore-ent. Ted Ryland. Duncan Corby | I:,:,.I llnrol-l Sliaip'- wi" there. XUlhj 'them «:is clarrio Bottley, •lack interj national stroku cf the war years, ami | Utill pulling bis weight in international , i rowing. Healey - time under Hie eye -,t l.lim Cotterill when he was a Itol of I s . | 'am! this season h.- celebrates his row- ' ing silver jubilee. To the younger gen- . .'elation these are nanu-s spoken or in [tones of adoring aw*, figures tn be wor- , ■shiiHM'd from afar, aiul to the rising i oenpration thev represent all that is I (ideal in rowing. Truly there is soni-‘-i thing inspiring in su<-h a gathering, as There was in the sight of The kings and | prim es following a l-lom-.l monarch to When the account of the Somerville Shield r;. - e ••aiiie through souie doubt- I I was * ast on the time reported for the | ra*e. but later details in the following | :a«*-ount of the event may prove inter- 1 vil!»* Shield between Tauranga (holder) , and West End (’challenger> was rowed ion the Tauranga ll.arbonr on Saturdav afternoon under ideal conditions in the I presence of several hundred special**!?. I Tauranga won a splendid race by a ■ length. The course was approximately (two miles and was from a mark off the I Government plantation at Mount Kfaunganui to the town wharf at TaiIranga. The tide was making and water I conditions were splendid, with a lignt • sea breeze, states the N.Z. Herald. The crews were:- Tauranga: T». Finikin (stroke i. B. Walters. Haua, I'Samlur, Fogerty. T. I>. H -rvoy. S. ■ I Smith. It. I.’aymcnt. W. McMnst-r I ,' SO x . Wi-.-t Eml: M. 11. I>. Conw.iy (stroke . W. c. Parni-11. .1. H. Biirtoii, Id <i. Tnpp. E R. Craies. .1. 1., .lom-s, •E. E. Rap*r. ■-. I’- ' onwny. I'. I The choice of position was given to I W—t End, am! the Aucklanders took I the western side. The crews k-il to a ■ fine start, both rowing perfect time ami j [hitting the same stroke. The boats, .kept together for the %u yards, fanranga then forge-1 slightly ahead and I opposite Whareroa Point had an ml vantage of a quarter of a length. Off iCemeterv Point Tauranga had increased its lead to half a-length, ami

approaching the railway wharf was a length to the good. Both crews then settled down for the sprint home, each rowing 36 to the minute. A stirring finish ended in Tauranga winning by one length, the time being Bmin. 25scc. After the race Mr. Tonkin, president of the Tauranga Kowiug Club, complimented West End on its sporting spirit in coming to Tauranga in order to give the local crew a race prior to the contest at Wanganui on Saturday next in I the interprovincial eights, in which th Tauranga Club’s crew will represent the Auckland Province. On the call oi Mr. Tonkin the spectators gave three hearty cheers for West End. The visitors were the guests oi t tie Tauranga Rowing Club at a dinner in the evening. At Auckland on Saturday last the annual inter-club race for the Barrett. Cup was rowed under the control of the West End Rowing Club. This was the third occasion on which an attempt i had been made to row the contest this j # -ason, the race having been twice post- j poned on account of lad weather. Ender the rules governing the compcti- j tion for the trophy, each competing ■ club is required to row trial fours con- ' sisting of not fewer than two heats and | a final. The winners of each set of | club trials row off for the Bairett Cup. , 1 lintries from two chib.- on’y. \\ e-t End. thp holder, and Aucklard. were reI ceived on Saturday, a total J seven icrews taking part in the competition.. Auckland boated three crews in its ( [contest for the -T. H. Kinnear tro- | I [diies, while four West End crews eomI peted in the trial fours for the R. L. I Stcwa» t trophies. In the 6nal for the I Barrett Cup, an Auckland crew, stroke*! hr C. S. Marceau, defeated the West End combination, stroke*! by R. Allum. bv two end a-half lengths. ‘Aiamoho Boating Club. . Raring for the Pellew Single S*-ulls occupied the attention of Arainono (Boating Club members last week-end. |on the whole the racing, off handi*ans, | provided verv even contests, and tor this result credit must b** given the j handirapper. I Tn winning the Bellow Single Sriills ! trophy F. Paddy score*! a popular vi*- | tory. Joining the club rather late :n j | the season, he missed a few trophies, but he made up for this by his keenness and attention t" training, ami his win was thoroughly deserved. i J. Farrell, who rea*-he*l the final only ito !>*• beaten by Paddy, also s.-ullod ‘very well and is showing ,onsi<l*.al.le I promise as a sculler. Racing for the Victory F'uns. th? I (final trophy of the chib’s season, whirl. I | was to have taken pla.-e on Saturdav, | April IS. will not be rowed till the fol- ) [lowing morning. The Saturday marks I the commencement of the local Rugby j (fixtures, ami several club members will ; ibe tinning out for the op**ning games. I ■ 'flie congratulalions of Aramoho oars- i men are extended to the eight strok<‘d ' v Edwards on the sterling race they | rowed last week-end in qualifying in i I the deciding race for eight-oar representative honours. Though defeated by I a narrow margin, the eight stroked by T. Ditchfiel'l put up a splendid fight, and to them also congratulations must j [be. extended. I Once again C. Weller, of the Aramoho | Club. wilT be the coxswain of thp Wanganui representative eight, and a*i- [ other Aramoho member is W. Heath. . [Weller well deserves his seat. Heath rowed an excellent race last week-end and <-an always be relic*! on to pull his Wanganui Rowing Club ' I'luh rowing at the Wacganui shed ■ has been completed for the season. | though keen interest is being taken in [ the interprovincial pight-oar crew a? i five Wanganui Rowing Club members ( art* included in the eight. . Edwards. Robertshaw. Clay, and j Bvres provided the successful combina- j tion in the Wellington Plate, the con- j solation four-oar event at ‘.lie New Zea- i land championship regatta at M idling- .< ton in February. M. McCann is also ' a Wanganui member, and the congratu- 1 lotions of the v-lub ami fellow-members : will be extended to them -m their sue- ’ cess in winning recognition ns Wanga- < nui iepresentafives. What proved to be the most intore-f- J ing chib racing of the sea on was provided la<f Saturday when twelve crews | competed for the Drew Pair-oar 1 Trophv. With three Fonts in use for each heat a very interesting afternoon’s rowing was enjoyed by members. 1 Tn the first heat Cooper and L. Stroud J [defeated Gold-burv and Christian by a I length, with M. Brodie and Morrts a * length further back. Paul and ’Turnbull won by a narrow margin from Butzbach and L. Clapham in the sec- : end heat, with Nnlan and Merewether in. length behind them. 1

Staton and Morris were the winners of the third heat, getting home ahead of Cass and Nicholls, third berth being occupied by Foster and Fletcher. The fourth heat resulted in Larkin and Christian winning from L. Claphain and Campbell after a groat tussle, with Kitchen and A'. Clapham bringing up the rear, a length further back. The first semi final resulted in Cooper am?. L. Stroud winning from Paul and Turnbull by a length ami ahalf. d’hr crews weir racing on level terms over the early stages, but Cooper, rowing with a bit more length, gradually drew ahead. In the second semifinal Larkin and Christian defeated Statoil and Morris by half a length. Tt was a, very even race, with both crews fighting hard all the way for supremacy. Larkin secured the advantage with a snappier stroke. The final, rowed over the two-mile

course, proved the most interesting or I the series, and icsulted in a win for | Cooper and L. Stroud (G. Tuffin, eox) ! over Larkin and Christian (J. Cleary, cox) by half a length. Larkin led | early but Cooper drew level, shooting i the. Dublin Street Bridge. Larkin j struck a higher rate and resumed the I lead at half-way to increase his lead ho half a length. With great determination ('wper challenged strongly .200 yards from the finishing line and I overhauled Larkin, who appeared to (falter, Cooper crossing (he line with ’half a length to spa re. | The final rave for thp Durie Rose Bowl was rowed last, week and resulted in a win for the (tpw stroked by Goss, who showed the better combination throughout, and were not pushed over the final stages by thp other finalists, ‘Turnbull’s crow. The winners were Goss, Staton, I’aul, Christian.