BEACH RACES HELD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 258, 1 November 1939, Page 4

BEACH RACES HELD

WANGANUI SPORTS MOTORCYCLE CLUB There wa.s a good attendance of spectators and riders at he motorcycle meeting at Castlecliff over the week-end when a series of races was run off under good beach conditions, although a stiff breeze was blowing down the half-mile course. After some very close finishes the five races resulted as follows: Novice Handicap. L. Little (Excelisior) 1, R. Carey (Harley) 2. Six-lap Handicap. - G. Hartley (A.J.S.) 1, G. Richards (Velocette) 2. Six-lap Open (rolling start).—D. Lawrence (J.A.P ) 1, R. Kendall (Ariel 2 Six-lap Handican. L Little (Excelsior) 1, R Mitchell (8.5. A. 2. Six-lap Handicap. R. Mitchell (8.5. A. 1, B. Lawrence (J.A.P.) 2. The last, race provided an exciting finish, there being only a few yards between Mitchell on the limit mark and Lawrence off scratch, with the rest of the field very close behind. It is to be regretted that an accident occurred on I lie beach, when two motor-cycles collided after the I races were over, but motor-cyclists must remember that the beach may be used only when under the control lof the Motor-cycle Club. ling block. There are indications, however, thal the Otago Club will not long delay in acquiring a boat. An innovation in lhe matter of facilities for rowing practice is planned by the Queen’s Drive Boating Club. Dunedin, which proposes to have erected in its boathouse a tank for use in educating novices and in eliminating the faults of more experienced oarsmen. The tank will be .14ft. long 10ft. wide and sft. deep. Tne importance of only qualified oarsmen giving instruction to novices cannot be emphasised too strongly as faults which develop in the early stages are difiicult to eradicate. “Stroke" lias seen one or two novices showing very bad faults which the coaches have apparently failed Io see or have not considered of sufficient importance to be of concern. Many a promising oarsman has been ruined because of poor coaching or later on has had to spend many worrying hours trying to rectify a fault, which could have been righted with ease before th<» habit was formed. ¥ * ♦ The silt question is again the bugbear of the Wanganui Club and, to a lesser degree, to Union. Wanganui oarsmen when the tide is about half out. have to carry their boats to the spit just south of their shed or else wander through about live or six yards of soft, mud. Tne Union pontoon can be used at all stages of the tide but at dead low water there is about a yard of mud in front of the pontoon. Six feet from the edge of the pontoon is deep water and the club proposes to add a length of eight feet to the staging to overcome the difficulty. “Stroke” has noticed one or two prominent oarsmen smoking cigarettes and pipes while steering crews. If the persons concerned stopped to think they would realise how their actions offend spectators on the bank. And these spectators usually include past and present oarsmen. The motto is, “Leave your pipe at the boatshed.’*