WITH THE OARSMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 279, 24 November 1937, Page 4

WITH THE OARSMEN

WANGANUI ROWERS PREPARE

It is not expected that rowers will always be bubbling over with energy, but there are in all sheds the few who do the work and the many who take it all for granted.

With the New Zealand championpionship regatta and the interprovincial eights to be staged at Wanganui next Easter, it will be interesting to note whether the rank and file of the rowing clubs will have any bright suggestions to make regarding finance for the big occasion.

Even if they have not accepted executive positions oarsmen should take an intelligent interest in the activities of their club, thus showing appreciation of the vast amount of work entailed in carrying out the season's programme.

It is satisfactory to note that the well-directed efforts of members of the two city clubs have resulted in the removal of a good deal of the silt which has been the bugbear at the local pontoons. It is felt, however, that still greater and more permanent improvement could be effected with the adoption of a more comprehensive, co-operative scheme. Perhaps the first of the efforts to raise money for the championship regatta at Wanganui will be the dance to be held next Saturday night, this being made possible through the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band placing a hall at the disposal of the Wanganui Rowing Association. It is to be hoped that the financial result will be encouraging.

Although it has protested to the New Zealand Association against the method adopted for financing the visits of New Zealand crews to the Empire Games, the Otago Association intends to make an effort to obtain the amount of the contribution expected from it.

All oarsmen, especially those associated with him at the Los Angeles Games in 1932, will regret the death of L. ("Jumbo”) Woodgate-Jackson, of Picton. Only 31, Jackson had a quick rise to national fame. He became a member of the Picton Club in 1928, and two years later he stroked his crew to success in the New Zealand Champion Fours. He was successful, also, in this event at Wellington in 1936. He was selected to represent the Dominion as a member of the eight-oar crew at Los Angeles, where he rowed No. 4.

A few weeks ago it was published in Sydney that funds were being raised in London to send a women’s crew to the Empire Games. This was believed to be a mutilation of a message that women were making efforts to raise funds to assist the men’s finances (says the Sporting Globe). Now comes the information that "students, typists, dressmakers” are likely to form part of the crew and that Lady Desborough has started a fund. Surely they know in England that there is no rowing for women at the Games. Nor is there any at the Olympic Games.

The card evenings held each Wednesday are proving very popular, but the committee would like to see these functions supported to a greater extentby the members themselves. The same "old faithful” few have to attend to the preliminary v t>rk of preparation and the conducting of the tournament, and it is only the gcod patronage accorded by supporters and friends of the club that encourages the enthusiasts to carry on with the work. Union Boat Club. Racing for the Club Fours commenced on Monday evening, and the racing was closely contested with but one exception. In the first heat Granville rowed with good length and judgment to defeat R. Gould and H. Benge, and in the second race A. Tonks beat H. Halkett after an exciting struggle over the full distance. At Ingestre Street it appeared as though Halkett would take the honours, but Tonks stayed on better and won by a narrow margin. G. Delves defeated E. Day by a comfortable margin in the third event, Day failing to produce his usual dash in the early stages of the race, and finishing well back. The racing will conclude to-morrow evening.

The Sprint Fours held on Saturday afternoon proved to be the most exciting yet staged by the club, the finishes being remarkably close in all of the races. Inches only separated the boats in many of the heats and semi-finals, and the improvement in form displayed by the competitors was very pleasing to the selectors and coaches. The final was won by R. Coxon’s crew, who defeated the combination stroked by Earle Crutchley by a canvas. Setting a fast stroke Coxon obtained an early lead, and although hard pressed by Crutchley over the latter portion of the journey managed to maintain the advantage to the finishing line. Crutchley’s light crew put up an astonishing performance in reaching the final, and the sting they infused into their work could well be emulated by other

Though the enthusiasm of Wanganui rowing executives must be applauded, it would be well if the oarsmen themselves were to exhibit a keener desire to assist in the big programme ahead.

crews. Graduating from the cox* swain’s ranks, Crutchley, who is only sixteen years of age, rows with the judgment of an experienced oarsman and as he possesses an abundance o; grey matter and is very level-headed, he should go far in the game.

W. Stodart was the recipient of many congratulatory messages on his appointment as coxswain of the New Zealand eight which is to compete at the British Empire Games in February of next year. His experience over a number of years, both as an active oarsman and coxswain, will stand him in good stead over the water, and in selecting him the Council of the N.Z.A.R.A. could not have chosen a better man for the job.

A working bee during the week-end has effected considerable improvement to the foreshore around the pontoon, and the boats are now able to be put into the water without being affected by the mud in the vicinity. Unfortunately the improvement will only be temporary, but it has relieved a situation that was particularly trying to the executive and members.

The next trophy for competition will be the Members’ Fours, nominations for which close on Sunday next. In view of the regatta at New Plymouth on New Year’s Day, all members are urged to enter for this trophy, as keenness and physical condition wil be taken into account when the crews are being selected.

If 1937 does not provide anything else of outstanding importance in sport, it will have one brilliantly red day in the calendar—the day the absurd amateur definition was removed from the A.R.A. books and the rules of Henley Regatta (writes Geoffrey Simpson, in the Daily Mail). To permit a clerk in an office to take part in the best-class regattas and prevent a mechanic of the same firm the right to do so, seemed to me a mixture of bad logic and snobbery. It has taken Mr. Charles Tugwell, secretary of the National Amateur Rowing Association, 13 years of hard work to get the reform.

Arainoho Boating Club. Congratulations are extended to Peter Stowers, Colin McNicol, John Brown and Roy Swallow on annexing the Mitchell Shield. What makes the win more meritorious is the fact that Stowers had two new men in his crew, Brown and McNicol. Both these first-year oarsmen rowed splendidly and combined well with the two older members of the crew.

In fighting their way to the final Farrell, Anderson, Thomson and Hickman also put up a good performance. Hickman, the new man in the crew, rowed well and did all that was required of him.

As expected Doug. Holmes, Charlie Stokes, Doug. Bridges and Doug. Coughlin won the Consolation race, although perhaps, not so easily as expected. Ken Shaw, Ernie Vincent, George Broadbent and Gordon Harrison had them working hard to get the judges verdict. Both these crews rowed with confidence, the new men in the crews Couglin and Broadbent, showing great promise.

The following new members rowed in the Mitchell Shield:—R. Francis, W. Hickman, J. Brown, S. Burton, G. Broadbent, A. Cox, H. Whibley, J. Reid. H. Bloor, C. McNicol, D. Coughlin, ’V. Gooding, A. W. Clark and R. Robinson. All of the rowers are firstyear oarsmen and considering the few weeks they have been at the the game, the performances they put up were very good indeed.

The card evenings held every Wednesday night are again proving a success,-and as the net proceeds from this weekly function are devoted to the Re-building Fund the support given by members and supporters ia much appreciated by the committee.

The tender for a new coaching boat will be ready for use in the early part of next year. The acquisition of this craft will supply a long-felt want as it will greatly facilitate the coaching of new members.

Ten first-class racing oars have been purchased from Geo. Towns. These oars arrived from Australia last week. With these and the oars on hand the club will be well set up for oars for the rest of the season. Members are reminded that the cost of an oar ranges from £2 10s to £3, and as they are very easily damaged the greatest care in the handling of them must be taken.

Table tennis has proved a great attraction to the members and the four tables in the club’s social hall are well patronised every evening.

Every Thursday evening a training night is held. This takes the form of an hour’s physical jerks followed *by table tennis, then a cold shower and, to top the evening off. a much-needed cup of tea and biscuits is provided. These functions do much to help members to mix together and know one another and also to encourage good-fellowship and foster the club spirit.