ROWING CHAMPIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 3

ROWING CHAMPIONS.

THE HAMILTON CLUB.

BEST YEAR ON RECORD. SATISFACTORY ANNUAL REPORT. “Club members have every reason to be complimented upon and gratified with tne results recorded during the past season,” stales the annual report of the Hamilton Rowing Club, wnich will be presented at the annual meeting of the club in the boatlouse this evening. The report states: — ‘'The senior four secured the New Zealand championship fours al Picton and Hie Auckland Rowing Association championship at Auckland, while the juniors, lights and youths secured the Aucxiand Rowing Association's provincial championship. With other successes the club lias added further lu Hu lustre of its record.

"The appended accounts show no signs of a nnanciai stringency. Income from ail sources totalled £3BO Us 3d, which compares favourably with any previous season. Last season's total receipts were only £2 14 J3s 3d. A feature of the receipts is regatta winnings which total £22i. in addition a set of oars "‘as won by Hie eight oar crew which were worth £lO at a conservative estimate. Therefore regatta winnings were £234, a record for the club, the previous record being £224 15s in the 1924-25 season. In that year the prize money for the senior lour clianilpionship was £SO, but this year it had been reduced to £4O. It is evident that the club is dependent upon regatta winnings as the Jack of public support is indicated by. donations totalling £lO 4s 6d. Therefore it is incumbent upon members io concentrate upon training to maintain Hie club in a nourishing stale.

Sound Financial Position. “After providing £i.‘) 8s 7cl for depreciation on plant., shed and IILI tings, and writing off £l3 for regatta I donations unpaid and i'a 1 is for over ’due subscriptions, a total of £6l 3s | 7d, a prolil of £J U2 16s l()d is siiown iin the year's working. The excess of assets over liabilities now readies tile imposing total of £1073 J3s 3d and £OO 8s 6d is represented lay cash in hank and in hand. The membership at present is only io active members and six honorary members, which shows a slight increase on the pre- ! vious season. Jn view of the great successes achieved by crews last sea- | son there is every prospect of an increase in membership. '■Conservatism lias been the watchword of Lne ciuu in regard to expendi- | ture upon plant, livery purctiase lias been controlled by strict necessity and searching investigation of tno lmaiiciul pus.non. m iast report it was staled tuat a Simm s best and best four and an Edwards' Clinker lour were oil order, 'these duly arrived and involved the club in an expenditure of £173 os 6d. Your committee desire lo thank your president, .Mr uouglas Hay, for his assistance in linanciat arrangements in England, both have fully justiiied the expenditure. The Minins has been used by the senior four and has the record of a win for every start including New Zealand championship and the Auckland bowing Association championship. "A special meeting of the club decided to proceed with the construction of two practice boats as the club was handicapped by shortage of practice boats, which are now under course of construction at the boat shed. The work is in the capable hands of Mr Harry Davis and one boat has been completed and is a work of art. These boats will involve the club in an px- ; penditure of about £l3O but will till a long-felt want. .Members were hindered through no training boats being available. Record at Regattas.

“It is the aim of the club to foster the sport and therefore the club was represented at every regatta in the Auckland Province. In addition club crews competed at tbe Wellington regatta and New Zealand championship with considerable success. The club secured twenty-five firsts and fourteen seconds. The placings resulted in the receipt of donations totalling £2 2 i and a set of oars worth at least £10 —a total of £23 i. This is a record for the club. The club is again to be congratulated upon having won more races and secured more donations than any other club under control of the Auckland Rowing Association. It is doubtful if any club in New Zealand can exceed this record. i "The outstanding triumph of (he season was Ihe victory of Hie senior four at Piclon when they secured the blue riband of rowing by winning the New Zealand championship. This senior crew has an unbeaten record, securing six firsts out of as many starts. The members of the crew consisted of Messrs G. \V. St. Glair, IS. Sandos (3), \Y. Bayly (2), E. A. Waters (bow). Your committee ex- j lends congratulations to Ihe crow j upon their meritorious performance. Club crows again occupied Ihe position of runners-up in tbe New Zealand | championship double sculls and Ihe New Zealand championship pairs. The club secured four Auckland Bowing Association championships, namely senior fours, junior fours, youths’ ■fours and light weight fours. Club crews were also successful in praoli- j rally every class and to all members your cornmiltec e.xlends its hearty congratulations upon such wonderful j results. But for Ihe laxity of some j of tiie new members in maiden crews j the results would have been even ! better. In a few instances the concentration by members upon training was not all that could be desired.

j Eight Oar Successes. I “The club still holds undisjnutcd sway in the eight oar field. At tiie I Hamilton regatta the club crew was 1 victorious. At tiie Auckland championship regatta in flic town versus country eight oar race the country crew consisted solely of Hamiltonians, who easily accounted for the cream of the Auckland sheds. The members of the crew were J. \V. St. Clair, B. Sandos, \V. Bayly, E. A. Waters, G. D. Molesworth, N. Pope, L. Brockett and W. Taylor. Each member of the winning crew was presented with a fine silver cup which was much prized. it is regrettable that no race eventuated for Hie Somerville Shield. Pelone entered a challenge hut found it inconvenient to travel. Your committee would welcome competition llicrefor. Mr S. H. Buchanan was coach and coxwain and ids tuition was of much value. As the club members have acquired the same style

■of rowing there is little difficulty in ) boating a strong eight oar crew and I the members of your committee feel that a Hamilton elub crew would not have been disgraced as provincial representatives at the inter-provincial eights.

“Your committee extend to the Tauranga Rowing Club and Mr W. Turner its hearty congratulations upon this club securing its first New Zealand 'Championship. As a sister country club the success of Tauranga was well received here. Congratulations are also extended to the Star Boating Club and the Union Boating Club upon their successes at New Zealand championships.

Club Racing. “Four sets of trial fours were held during the season and provided keen racing especially for members not in regatta crews. Your committee desire to thank the vice-president, Mr -Jones, for his donation of a handsome set of silver cups for one set of trial fours. Your committee regret that concentration upon training of regalia crews ami attendances at regattas docs not permit of an increase in Hie number of trial fours as Hie non regatta members deserve considerations in this respect. Inadequacy of Club House. “Your committee again wishes to draw attention to Hie fact IliaL for a club holding as it doe's, such a high position in ihe rowing world, Hie club house is woefully inadequate. No oilier club in Hi c Dominion has such a lack of club photographs and there is no doubt that Hie uninviting club house is a contributing factor lo these conditions. A boat tiouse reserve fund should be established immediately to alter existing conditions us soon as possible.

It is pleasing lo record that during the season at least one smoke concert was held which enabled all members to foregather socially. The concert was held to celebrate the victory of the senior four at the New Zealand championship regatta. Mr Jack Parlane presided over a large gathering of club members, supporters and friends and a most successful function eventuated. Opportunity was taken at this function to farewell and make a presentation lo a committee man in Mr T. ii. Blackman, who lias since left lo take an appointment in Hie Malay Slates, it was mentioned at this function that as a memento of the New Zealand championship senior four victory, framed photographs would be presented lo each member of the senior four.

“Your committee desire lo place on record that at Hie last annual general meeting, Mr \Y. Brydon was unanimously elected a life member in recognition of his efforts as.a past member, committee man, club secretary, club captain and club coach.

“Another Red-Coat.” “Your committee records with the greatest pleasure that another of its members in Mr E. A. Waters lias attained Hie ambition of every Now Zealand oarsmen and joined the select band of "Red Goats” and iias thus attained Hie highest honour in the rowing world in .sew Zealand. Your committee extend to him its heartiest congratulations. Seven meinners of the cluli have now secured Hie coveted ■Red Goat,’- —.Messrs I. W. St. Glair, G. D. .Molcswurth, G. St. Clair, W. Bayly, B. Sandos and S. Curtis.

Trophy Donations. “The club in past years has received very little in the way of donations of trophies for trial fours or club races. However, this year has proved an exception in two instances. The bate Mr L. \V. \V. brown donated a silver cup for annual racing for maiden single scullers with the idea of promoting single sculling in the club. He also undertook to provide a miniature each year to the winner. Tills cup achieved the object of ils donor as it created great interest in single sculling and the cup was secured this year by J. b. Wink. One of your vice-presidents, Mr Fred Jones, donated a handsome silver cup for the last set of trial fours.

Obituary. “It is will] sincere regret that your committee records tiie death of Mr L. W. W. Brown, who had assisted tiie club in many ways. Two club members in Messrs \V. Brydon and C. U. ' .Molesworth have suffered family bereavements. “Such a successful season as relalcd above is due in no small measure In the zeal, enthusiasm and work of supporters and friends who have so wi migly assisted upon all occasions. The club hereby conveys its dee]) sense of gratitude and thanks to all friends and supporters who assisted in any capacity during the season. Thanks are extended to Mr F. W. Luxl'onl for his services as honorary auditor, and particularly Ihe Waikato Times for Ihe publicity given to rowing mailers. "in conclusion your committee desire lo point out that last season maLlers looked very black and yet this has been the most successful in Ihe history of tiie club. Present and inlending members have a great responsibility cast upon lliem to maintain Hie standard set by their predecessors. The club lias a. record that is tiie envy of all oilier clubs in New Zealand.”