ROWING.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16174, 27 December 1924, Page 17 (Supplement)

ROWING.

THE EIGHT FOR AUSTRALIA. HAMILTON REGATTA CREWS. (By "Outrigger.") The following oarsmen have -been selected to visit Australia, sailing about February 27:—C. J. Adams, E. T. Hegglum, W. Pinkhan, and F. W. Southgatc (Blenheim), F. H. Brown, W. Sergison , and T. H. - Greenfell (Canterbury), and P. Oborn. (Wellington. The selection of the eight-oar crew to represent New Zealand in Australia was decided without Waikato oarsmen even having a ohance of being reviewed. Whether the fault was with the centre or with the council this writer does not know, but the point is that the local nominations had only been asked for by the centre on the day that the selected eight appeared in the press. The men nominated from the Hamilton Club were I. W. St. Clair, B. Sandos, W. Bayly, and G. St .Clair.

The crew selected will in some respects occasion surprise, especially to oarsmen at this end of the Island. With the exception of one man, it is a wholly South Island combination, with four from Blenheim and three from Christchurch. Adams, Hegglum, Pinkham, and Southgate are the men who will make up Blenheim's four for the championship 'at Hamilton on Anniversary Day, January .29,, 1925. This crew won the title last' year. So far as years are concerned, neither Adams nor Hegglum can bo classed in the youthful category. The former had his first year as stroke of the Blenheim crew during last season. Hegglum has' been in the champion class for the past five or six years, and is a good Southgate was a junior last year. Brown, of Canterbury Club, is a young oarsman who was- a member of the crew which row,ed second to Blenheim last year

Sergison, who is No. 3 in the Avon senior four, is a good type of oarsman and a big man.

Greenfell has had a lot of success in pair-oar rowing, and holds, with Velvin, of the Christchurch Union, the championship in their division. The Wellington representative, Oborn, who is a member of the Star Boating Club, has. had little experience of big rowing. He was in the club's junior four last year, which crew was beaten by the Waitemata en the two occasions they met at Wanganui. The question those conversant with the rowing standard in the Dominion are asking is: "Where arc Clarrio Healey and Harry Sharpo?" two of the best oarsmen, with Billy Coombes and Ted Ryland, in the lattcrs' heyday, turned out in the country. Age cannot surely be the mar, seeing the composition of the selected. If these men were not available it is, of course, a conclusive answer. ;

Hamilton oarsmen feel, at any rate, that they have not had a fair deal in the matter

/ LOCAL NOTES. A. Sandos, who was captain of the Hamilton Club last season, has returned to the district, and will be available for the senior four. The stroke will have Bayly (3), G. St. Clair (2), and S, Curtis (bow). This is a young crew, which should do well, though it may be found a shade short of training by championship period. The Hamilton Club's crews for the Tauranga regatta on December 27 are:—

Junior Four —E. Tasker (stroke), G. St. Clair, S. Curtis, and Kane (bow), Youths' Four—Tasker (stroke), J. Paterson, Waters, and Hall (bow)^ Maiden Four —J. Patterson (stroke), Collett, Waters, and Hall (bow). Maiden Doubles —S. Curtis (stroke) and Paterson (bow).

A maiden and junior pairs will also compete from the ranks mentioned, while I. W. St. Clair will take part in the handicap singles. At Russell on December 31 the crews will be: — Maiden Four—Waters (stroke), J. Patterson (3), R. Hill (2), and T, Hall (bow). Youths' Four —Tasker (stroke), Patterson, Waters, and Hall (bow), and also the Maiden crew.

Maiden Doubles —Patterson and Hill.

Hill and Patterson will represent the club in the Maiden Singles, while I. W. St. Clair will compete in the open singles. At Whangarei on January 1 the same crews .will also compete, but there is no race on this programme for I. W. St. Clair.