ROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 5

ROWING

WANGANUI WINNERS COLLEGIATE SCHOOL CREW DEFEAT OF CHRIST’S COLLEGE ANNUAL EVENT DECIDED (Special to “Chronicle”) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec .18. By decisively beating Christ’s College in the annual rowing race, held on the Avon River, Christchurch, today, Wanganui College ended a long series of defeats. It was the first Wanganui victory since 1930 and the result was popular. The Wanganui crew rowed well, and the stroke (R. Holmden) led his crew in fine style, clinching the race by his clever tactics. The mile course on the Avon has two big bends in it. The crew drawing the south bank has the advantage at the first bend and, if with this assistance, it can capture a good lead, it may cross to the other side at the bigger bend (Cowlishaw’s corner), thus still further increasing its lead and practically deciding the race at that stage. Holmden had apparently a clear understanding of the tactics necessary to win a race on such a course. Drawing the inside position, Wanganui leapt away to a magnificent start. The crew put in a solid dozen; then another, almost lifting the boat out of the water. The result was that they had a lead of a length over the more sluggish college crew after the first hundred yards or so. This advantage was doubled at the first bend when Christ’s College had the longer distance to cover. Then the crews settled down on the run to Cowlishaw’s corner. Wanganui, still rowing a faster stroke than the local crew, maintained their two lengths' advatage and were able to cross over to take the inside water at Cowlishaw’s.

When the boats straightened up after this bend, Wanganui were two and a-half lengths clear. There was about 600 yards to go. Christ’s College challenged strongly. Their stroke (H. N. Thompson) called on his crew, who responded magnificently. Slowly they overhauled the leaders, but Holmden had led his crew to victory in the first half-mile. The lead was too great and Wanganui crossed the line a short length to the good. It was a splendid race and the Christ’s College supporters were quick to recognise a well rowed and skilfully judged effort. The crews were:—• Wanganui College.—R. Holmden (str.), W. J. Hyslop, G. L. Jones, R. G. Bannister; T. W. Blennerhassett (cox). Christ’s College.—H. N. Thompson (str.), J. B. Fisher, N. Tutaki, J. D. Aitken; R. W. Clark-Hall (cox). Christ’s College won the junior race by two lengths. In the early stages this race was the same as the senior event, Wanganui taking an early lead and rounding the first bend a length and a-half to the good. Christ’s College, however, made a valiant effort to wear down the lead before Cowlishaw’s corner was reached. In this they were successful, being only a canvas behind when the bend was reached. Wanganui were unable to cross over and had to take the outside of the bend, with the result that the crews were almost level when the boats straightened up. Christ’s College lengthened their stroke and began to draw away. Wanganui were labouring a little at this stage and although they hung on gamely they could not prevent Christ’s from increasing their lead to a two lengths’ margin at the finish. The crews in this race were:— Christ’s College.—W. R Andrews (str.), R. E. Spooner, F. C. Chennells, E. S. Hamilton; R. K. Hughes (cox). Wanganui. —J. I. Mackie (str.), J. S. Bidwell, I. H. Smith, B. H. Bunny; T. W. Blennerhassett (cox).

Officials for the race who were officers of the Canterbury Rowing Association, were: —Starter, Mr H. Ayres; umpire, Mr H. S. Hobbs; jv.dgij Mr F. L. Cowlishaw. WANGANUI ASSOCIATION SUCCESSFUL “AT HOME” SPRINT" eights racings In order to raise funds for the New Zealand rowing championships and the interprovincial eights next Easter, the Wanganui Rowing Association held a successful "at home” on the lower course on Saturday afternoon. In addition to the racing, the visitors were catered for with games and novelties, and entertained at afternoon tea by the combined ladies’ committee. The feature of the afternoon was the sprint eights racing between composite crews representing the three rowing clubs, eight crews competing. The races were held over a course from the lower end of the Town Wharf to opposite the Union Boat Club's shed. The races were all closely contested, especially the semi-final, in which there was only a margin of two feet between the boats. The inside course was a decided advantage, with the result that practically every race was won by the boat drawing this position. The races were started by Mr K. J. Crotty. Results were as follow: P'irst Round. D. Holmes (str.) won from E. Cooper (str.) and R. Edwards (str.) by a length. H. Benge (str.) won from R. Gould (str.) and W. Firmin, (sir.) by half a length. P. Stowers (str.) won from G. Delves (str.) by a canvas, after a hard tussle. Repecharge Heat. R. Gould (str.) won from E. Cooper (str.) and R. Edwards (str.) by half a length. G. Delves (str.) won from W. Firmin (str.) by half a canvas. Semi-final. P. Stowers (str.) won from D. ;Holmes (str.) and H. Benge (str.) by a margin of two feet. The racing was very exciting and it was only over the

last few yards that Stowers secured his small lead. Final. G. Delves (str.), M. Granville (7), E. Goldbury (6), R. Gifford (5), E. J. Blair (4), M. Brown-Sharpe (3), W. Dearsley (2), D. Bridges (bow), won from P. Stowers (str.) and R. Gould (str.) by half a length.