ROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 247, 19 October 1936, Page 4

ROWING

SEASON OPENS WANGANUI ASSOCIATION SPRINT FOURS RACING ROBERTSHAWS SUCCESS Contesting the season's sprint fours for the fifth year in sue- \ cession, Robertshaw (Wanganui Rowing Club) stroked his crew to victory for the fourth occasion on Saturday afternoon to perform a feat that must be almost unique, or at least seldom equalled. Oarsmen and their supporters gathered in large numbers for the official opening ceremony at the Union Boat Club’s clubhouse, where afternoon tea was provided for the rowers and visitors by the ladies’ committee. Dancing was indulged in at intervals to music supplied by the Wanganui Piano-Accordion Band. Mr. W. McEvoy, president of the Aramoho Boating Club and actingpresident of the Wanganui Rowing Association, first addressed the gathering and invited Mr. J. B. Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui, to declare the season open Mr. Cotterill, speaking as an active oarsman of several seasons in Wanganui, said that it gave him great pleasure to officiate on such an occasion, especially as the prospects for the new season appeared very bright. The successes which had come the way of Wanganui oarsmen in the past season had been fitting reward for the enthusiasm which had been infused by officials and oarsmen into activities. The staging of the inter-pro- | vincial eight-oared championship race ’ had been a triumph for organisation, and he felt sure that the Wanganui Association could look forward to giving the holders another great race tor the premiership of Dominion rowing. He suggested that to maintain the standard set in the past Wanganui oarsmen would require to bring back some more championships, thus stimulating the younger oarsmen to even greater efforts. With the 40-hour week and a general Saturday holiday he felt sure that rowing would make still greater progress, and as healthy, physique-building sport it was deserving of ail the support that could oe afforded it. Mr. Cotterill concluded by declaring the season officially open, and then took his place in the crew for the opening event, the eight-oar race between Pirates and Harrier crews. He also stroked his crew to victory in the first two rounds of the sprint fours, eventually being defeated in the semifinals. Among the guests were Mr. W. J. Rogers, Mayor of Wanganui, and Mrs. Rogers. Also present at the gathering were Mr. D. Dustin, president of the Union Boat Club, and Mr. W. J. Gibson Hughes, president of the Wanganui Tourist and Development League. j Results were as follow: * Elimination Heats. Robertshaw won from Gould. Benge won from Laird. Heath won from Edwards. McCann won from Tonks. Cotterill won from Gurr, Butzbach won from Delves. Robertshaw won from O'Donnell. Heath won from Benge. Cotterill won from McCann.

Semi-finals. Robertshaw won from Butzbach. Heath won from Cotterill. Final. H. Robertshaw (str.), N. Foster, M. Paul, A. V. Sheppard (bow) won from W. Heath (str.), T. Sweet, J. Lumsden, E. Merewether (bow). Pirates Beat Harrie-g In the annual eight-oar race between crews representing the Plra>« Rugby Football Club and the Harrtes Club victory went fo the former by over a length. The respective crew" were as follow: Pirates. Gurr (bow), Langman Farrell, Lind, Cotterill, Waters, Tonks, Delves (str.); Stodart (cox). Harriers. Carr (bow), Kiddle, Clark, Harrison, Luxford, Granville, Jones, R. Edwards (str.); Weller (cox).