WITH THE OARSMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 4

WITH THE OARSMEN

CHAMPIONSHIP REFLECTIONS

(By “TANIWHA.”) The Waitara regatta on Saturday marked the conclusion of inter-club rowing in the Wanganui district, but there are still several club competitions to be concluded, and in addition there is the interprovincial eight-oar ehampionship to be decided on Easter Saturday.

The Wanganui Rowing Association have set down Saturday, April 3, as the date for the Head-of-the-River re gatta, this concluding the season s programme.

A Wellington writer has the following under the heading "Inter-Club Eights Fiasco”: If there were two crews more than any others who were disgruntled over the conduct or the inter-club eights at the national rowing regatta they were Petone and Star. After considerable delay the race was started, and then, after three-quarters of a mile had been covered, it was called off. When It was decided later to restart the event, Petone and Star were non-starters. They were rushing to get the north boat. The steamer was delayed half an hour, but as it was the oarsmen had to change their gear during the journey by car. *

It must be considered unfortunate for Petone and Star that members or these crews had to dash back to Wellington by Saturday night’s boat, out as it is reported that some or the oarsmen were in Christchurch on the Sunday they must have returned by ’plane. It is to be hoped that they had time to fulfil their Wellington engagements. But one wonders wnat must have been the thoughts of those visiting oarsmen who remained behind at Akaroa and for eighteen solid hours on Sunday toiled over the work of packing nearly 40 boats —inducing those belonging to Star and Petone.

Saturday, old residents say, was rhe biggest day in the history of Akaroa. The New Zealand championship regatta drew to the sleepy little town some hundreds of active young men and many spectators. After tne rewas over there were sounds of revelry by night, and it was late indeed before the town settled down. Signs of Saturday night’s celebrations were not wanting on Sunday, rhe field gun outside the Bruce Hotel had been overturned, the huge whaling trypot near the War Memorial had been dragged from its concrete base and thrown to the beach below. A broken post on the marine parade showed where a swerving car had mounted the footpath and narrowly escaped diving into the sea below’. Small boys combed the beach early in the morn-

ing, reaping their reward in the shape of sacks of empty bottles. It had been a memorable evening. 4* 4* Here is a story told by the London Star of the magical effect of Steve Fairbairn's tongue: A certain coxswain who came under the lash for the first time, all unprepared, was so badly shaken that he piled his craft on the bank, where it sustained grievous damage. Further eloquence by the old Australian finished the cox altogether, and he was never seen on the river again; but it was just as well for he was E. T. Killick, who later rose to fame as a cricketer. “Had Killick been able to devote his whole summer to cricket there would nave been no worry about an opening partner for Sutcliffe,” says the Londoner. Union Boat Club. The club enjoyed a fair measure of success at the Waitara regatta last Saturday, winning the Senior Fours and Fairwether Cup, also securing premier honours in the Senior Pairs The lightweights, heavy maidens and junior doubles were also runners-up in their respective races, while the youths were also second in tnelr event. It is a pity that the crew that won this event at the Championship Regatta, at Akaroa, the previous week could not make the journey, as it was anticipated that their clash with the Wanganui crew that fiinsned ahead of them at Wellington, would have been worth seeing. The winning of the first club eightoar championship of the Dominion has fallen to the lot of the light blues, and the club and members of the successful crew have received congratulations from all parts of the country on their convincing victory. Southern critics describe the effort as a magnificent display of clean oarsmanship, and the only regret is that the Petone and Star Clubs could not wait to take part in the re-row ordered by the umpire. Although a contempor ary sporting writer states that Petone were leading when the umpire fired the recall gun, such was not the case, as this crew was only lying third when the race was called off. The Union crew was leading Port Chalmers by a length when it stopped owing to the boat being full of water. It was al this stage that Port Chalmers put their bow in front of the light blue

crew, who were endeavouring to get going again when the gun was fired signalling the abandonment of the race. The race was rowed later In the day and resulted in a clear-cut win for the light blues, whose form greatly impressed ttte New Zealand selectors who were following the raceThe youths won their race at the championships in hollow fashion, stag" ing a complete reversal of their form at Wellington on the previous Saturday. This was their second win In successive championships, and although the field was not large, it contained crews that had some good performances to their credit at regattas held earlier in the season.

The form of A. K. G. Jackson Tn the sculling events was a long way below that of last year, and it was plainly apparent that he was far from be ing fit. He has put on a lot of conditiem, and owing to his continued ab sence in the country, he has been denied the opportunity of getting into good physical shape.

The club experienced a bad stroke of misfortune on the return journey from Akaroa, for when the boat? were being unloaded at Wellington a watersider put his foot through the new best-and-best four. Nothing ljut sheer carelessness was responsible xoi the extensive damage to the craft, and it is the second occasion within the past two years that the best-and-besi has been badly damaged. At Auckland two years ago the crew taking part in the Champion Fours had to borrow an old boat owing to theirs being damaged prior to the race, and as the borrowed craft only travelled a hun dred yards when the stretcher broke the crew was doubly unfortunate. Racing for the Dustin Pairs is now being held, and several keen and exciting finishes have resulted In the heats in the first round. Entries for 1 the Dustin Fours close during the

week-end, and members are reminded that the selection of crews will take place on Sunday. Memners are reminded that nominations for the Dustin Fours are fo close on Sunday next at 11-a.m. and racing will commence with the heats on the following Wednesday.

Aramoho Boating Club. Members of the club put up a very good display at the Waitara Regatta. Starting in five races only, they gained three firsts, one second, and a third, winning prize money to the extent of £l5. Clifton topped the list In prize money, winning £l6. The following members are to be congratulated on their rowing: Open Maiden Crew (first): R. Gurr (str.), B. Gifford (53), T. Sweet (2), V. Benefield (bow). Lightweight Maiden Crew (first); H. Thomson (str.), A. Brougham (3), I. Pepper (2), J. Fothergill (bow). Maiden Double Sculls (first): W. Firmin (str.), C. Stokes (bow). Junior Fours (second): F. Laird (str.), H. Clarke (3), W. Firmin (2), E. Hutchins (bow). Junior Pairs (third): F. Laird (str.), H. Clarke (bow). The seniors were unable to start In their race owing to the fact that one or two of the crew could not get the time off to attend the regatta. Excellent entries have been received for the Bridges’ Double Sculls. This is one of the club’s most populartrophies, and is eagerly awaited by members. The entry of eleven crews at this time of the season is very good and some keen racing should be witnessed. '' In winning the club’s Double Sculls trophy last month, E. Wallace (str.) and H. Clarke (bow) showed splendid form, more so in that they are firstyear members.