FINE ROWING

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21042, 19 February 1940, Page 9

FINE ROWING

CENTENNIAL REGATTA AUSTRALIANS WIN EIGHTS SMITH TAKES SCULLS AGAIN (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sunday One or the finest exhibitions of rowingseen in the Dominion in recent years was provided by the visiting New South Wales crew, which won the New Zealand champion eights rrom Aramolio and Union (W(anganul) at the centeniaJ regatta yesterday. Showing very stylish form, the Australians had the race In hand from the mile mark. Their appearance marked the first occasion that an Australian eight has raced at a New Zealand regatta. For the sixth time in succession the event has been disorganised by bad weather, as a result or which the events had to be spread over two days. A northerly wind blowing In strong gusts, with driving rain, delayed the programme yesterday. Conditions were even worse this morning, when the regatta was to have been continued at Petone at eight o’clock, and a postponement was made until after i l o’clock, when the sky had cleared and the wind had dropped. I.ater the wind veered round to the south and the final two races had to be transferred to Orlenrtai Bay. The water was always choppy on the outside or the course, and, with big fields in the championship events, It was not possible to row them under the smooth water conditions prescribed by the rules. Following were the results:— I.lght-welght Malden Fours.—Union (Wanganui). 1; Wanganui, 2; Plcton, 3. Two and a-half lengths; three-quarters of a length. Malden Pours.—Union (Wanganui), 1; Avon, 2; Wairau, 3. Three lengths; half-a-length. Junior Fours.—Aramohio, 1; Port Chalmers, 2; Plcton, 3. Won easily. Junior Single Sculls.—Wellington No. 1 (T. Hegglun), 1; Aramoho (J. Fotherglll), 2; Union, Wanganui No. 2 (J. Colway), 3. Ten lengths; two and a-hair lengths. Youths’ Fours.—Union (Wanganui), 1; Avon, 2; Blenheim, 3. One and a-half lengths; half-a-length. Welter-weight Junior Fours.—. Wellington, 1; Star, 2; Union (Wanganui), 3. Half-a-length; length. Great Win In Fours ■New Zealand Champion Fours , 200 0 metres.—Clifton (Topliss, Old, Ollson, Sampson), 1; Petone, 2; Auckland, 3. Thirteen crews competed. Two lengths; half-a-length.

Clifton staged a magnificent performance to came rrom the rear in the early stages and had the race won a quarter of a mile rrom home. The leading crews early were Auckland, Gisborne and Union (Wanganui). An exciting tussle, ensued for the minor places, Petone finishing very strongly to take second place from Auckland, which just shaded Union for third. A feature of the race was the decisive manner in which CUTton retained the title In spite of the loss or Its stroke, Fowler, who is In camp. It was only by a vast

Improvement during the last week that the rearranged crew achieved the form It (lid. Eights Championship New Zealand Champion Fights, 2 000 metres.— New South Wales < Bobinson. Jay, chibbe, Gordon-'Jilassford, Murray, Foote, Montgomery, Thornton , i. Aramotoo, S; Union (Wanganui). live crews competed. Three-quarters or a length eaeb way. 'l lie water was almost calm ut the -tat t, but there were still gusts or the northerly wind. Aramoho Jumped out at the gun, but was soon passed iiy N«*\\ South \\ ales an l Union . Wanganui , which were level alter the first quarter of a mile. Aramoho drew ( ahead again ami a stern battle ensued, with the three crews level over most or the next quarter. The Australians were rowing within themselves, hut Aramoho, showing great form, was never far away. At the three-quarter mark New South Waiei put on a spurt arid was still rowing very evenlv. At the mile Union made a spurt, hut New South Wales quickened pace and gradually drew away to Increase Its lead. Aramoho drew up to within half-a-length, bu.t they could not keep up the pressure and New South Wales restored Its lead to he three-quarters of a length ahead ion vards rrom the post. Aramoho cut this lead to half-a-length and succeeded In decreasing it still further, but New South Wales, still hard at it, crossed the line the same distance ahead. Malden Pairs.—Wanganui, 1; Wellington No. l, 2; Petone, 3. Six lengths; threequarters of a length. New Zealand Centennial Plate. 2 000 metres.—Aramoho, l; Petone, 2; Wellington, 3. Five crews competed. One and three-quarter lengths; three feet. Aramoho came hard over the last stages with a surprising burst and moved further ahead with every stroke. New Zealand Champion Single Sculls, 2000 metres.—Auckland No. l (R. B. Smlthi, l; Petone No. 1 (P. A. Abbott), 2: Wellington (T. Hegglun', 3. Eight clubs competed. A canvas; three lengths. Five Consecutive Wins Smith Joined Hegglun In the lead at the half-mile, but the latter began to drop back at the three-quarter rnlle mark, where Abbott came up to take the lead. He held the advantage to within 200 yards from home, where Smith again drew level. These two lnreased the pace, with the Auckland man doing 30 strokes to the minute to Abbott’s 34. Smith came with one of his characteristic hursts to win In the last three strokes. He set a new rent'd wLth five consecutive wins in the singles event. The Australians. Webb and Cliibbe, finished In sixth place. New Zealand Chamjiion Pairs, 2000 metres.—Union, Christchurch (J. T. A. Harris, r. A. Hooper), l; Petone No. 1,2; Tauranga, 3. Five crews competed. Two lengths; three reet. Union showed great Improvement on Its winning rorm or last year. Petone led arter the Ilrst quarter, with Tauranga and Blenheim going well within themselves. Union, however, had rorged ahead steadily to hold a comfortable lead 350 yards from the post. Petone seemed to miss a stroke Just when it was coming up fast, but recovered well to beat Tauranga In a desperate finish for second, with Blenheim also close up fourth. New Zealand Champion Double Scull*, 2000 metres.—Petone (Abbott, K. Boswell), l; Auckland, 2; Tauranga, 3. Union (Ch rlstchu roll) also competed. Four lengths; ten lengths. Auckland might have provided keener opposition if it had not steered erratically In the early stages. Petone was leading when Auckland began drawing closer In, but Petone apparently gained some advantage because the wind was more directly behind the crew over the final quarter and Auckland had no chance of overtaking.