TRIAL FOURS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21082, 8 April 1940, Page 10

TRIAL FOURS

ROWING SEASON ENDS

HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE KEEN CONTESTS ON WAIKATO Like many other sports, rowing in Hamilton has not escaped the effects of the war but the Hamilton Rowing Club is carrying on splendidly. On Saturday the season ended with a series of races in which many members and oarsmen from neighbouring clubs competed. Keen competition was seen throughout the programme. About 100 people including oarsmen and friends gathered at the clubhouse for the afternoon. Six starters competed in the open singles handicap, which was won by I. Duncan (Hamilton) off the scratch mark by a margin of three lengths over P. Brough (Kawhia), who sculled off 355. W. Taylor (Ngaruawahia), also a scratch man, was third a further two lengths away. The other starters in this race were K. Snowden and W. Mcßurney (Ngaruawahia) and C. Pope (Hamilton). A feature of this race was the keen sportsmanship and enthusiasm revealed by Brough, of Kawhia, who, despite the fact that he is truly a veteran of about 50 or 60 years of age, brought a boat in from Kawhia especially for the race on the Waikato on Saturday. Keen Rowing Two crews from Ngaruawahia and one from Hamilton started in the Head of the River. Ngaruawahia No. 1 (R. McFarlane, W. Mcßurney, P. Mcßurney, K. Snowden) won by a margin of three lengths over Ngaruawahia No. 2, with Hamilton third after a very close finish for second. There was very little between the second and third crews. The principal attraction of the afternoon was the competition in the trial fours for the set of trophies presented by a life-member of the Hamilton Rowing Club, Mr W. V. St. George. Keen racing was seen throughout the class which produced some good oarsmanship. There were five crews competing. In the first heat of the trial fours a crew comprising W. Curnow, J. Clough, R. Reece, and K. Turner, defeated a crew stroked by K. Snowden by 1} lengths. The second heat was won by W. Mcßurney, R. McFarlane, F. Simpson, R. Kirby, who defeated a crew stroked by I. Duncan by a bare canvas. It was a thrilling duel all the way with the two crews locked together almost stroke for stroke. Exciting Contest In the semi-final of the trial fours, the rowing was even more exciting and just the final stroke in favour of a crew comprising W. Taylor, W. Tarplett, E. Clague, and R. Collins, led to victory by merely half a canvas from Curnow’s crew. The final was rowed between Taylor and Mcßurney. It was indeed a fitting race for a final for not only was some good oarsmanship displayed but also the race was very exciting as the two finalists came up the stream stroke for stroke, clinging together in a hard-fought issue which went to Mcßurney, who defeated Taylor by half a length. At the conclusion of the racing the trophies were presented by Mr St. George who tendered the club’s congratulations to the successful oarsmen. He also thanked the women who had provided refreshments at the clubhouse.