LOOKING BACK ON THE REGATTA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 92, 20 April 1938, Page 8

LOOKING BACK ON THE REGATTA

ROWING ASSOCIATION'S WORK FINANCES WILL SHOW CREDIT It was with a feeling of irony that members of the Wanganui Rowing Association, who had planned so thoroughly for the New Zealand championship regatta during Easter, greeted the clear leather and smooth surfaced river yesterday morning. Every officer on the association, and all who had anything to do with the regatta during the unfavourable weather of the week-end, spent several trying days. “I would like to pay a tribute to the way those chaps worked,” said Mr. R. J. McDonald president of the Wanganui Rowing Association yesterday, when approached by Ute “Chronicle” to briefly review the regatta in the light of the hardships caused by rain and flood. “They planned the undertaking so keenly and thoroughly and it was very hard that the weather came as it did. But instead of lightening the work of an executive such conditions as ruled considerably added to it. The committee met all the troubles as they came, doing all within their power to overcome difficulties which were not of their making. Naturally, it was impossible to please everybody, but I would like to pay tribute to the sporting spirit of the visiting crews, and to the patience and sympathy of the public. The crews realised the position, and they were tolerant indeed. Wanganui did everything possible to organise the regatta as it should have been organised, and the one thing which stood between that organisation and success was the weather, and with that the Rowing A-ssociation had to make the best of what was offering.” Mr. McDonald pointed out that the prize money involved amounted to £267. The whole of that had been won, and the management was pleased on that account, in that the weather had not been a means of the association making money by reduction of expenditure in the way of prizes.

Although the association lost considerably over gate receipts, £3OO it is estimated, it is understood that it will be able to show a small credit balance when the accounts are wound up. This has been due to the generosity of supporters and friends of rowing, who contributed donations. Social functions, which were promoted indoors, also brought in additional revenue. Because of the lack of activity on the river the indoor programme was probably more fully supported than it would have been otherwise.

Several members of the visiting crews sympathised with the Wanganui Association over the hardships they had to face, and the management felt grateful towards those who were sportsmen enough to appreciate the situation. The East Coast crew probably felt the conditions harder than any, in that they travelled all the way from Gisborne and did not get their eight into action. Even they, though keenly disappointed, realised that something beyond human control was at fault