ROWERS RELAX

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 3, 26 April 1939, Page 5

ROWERS RELAX

o — PLEASANT SOCIAL EVENING PRESENTATION OF PRIZES The many.oared Whakatane Rowing Club skiff was launched and pad. died along vigorously at the Masonic Hall, Whakatane, on Monday night when the club held its annual social function and presentation of prizes. Though the liquid in which the boat floated was one of water's more sociable by-products, and though some of the young blades dipped into it quite vigorously, the evening was generally quite restrained. No crabs were caught. Whether the neighbours enjoyed the fun as much as the rowers did is perhaps doubtful, but probably they could be asked not to view with too severe an eve the occasional high spirits of a ~et' of young fellows who train harder and make more sacrifices for their sport than do any other sportsmen. Following the toast of The King, the chairman, Mr C. Hayward, introduced to the gathering Mr H. E. Cuclcsey as the brother of Mr 'Nudger" Cueksey, a keen supporter of the club in past years. Mr Cueksey thanked members for their welcom?' and promised to help the club as his brother had done. M" Dent proposed tho Auckland Rowing Association. They owed much- to their parent body whose president had recently visited Whakatane, and had told the club that much would be expected of them inthe centennial year. Hard training wou'd be necessary. Mr Tnvlor who responded said thnt he would not like the Auckland As. sorption's job of controlling the Whakatane Club. Auckland was fa<* away and personal contact was diff:fidt, but they did the job well. lie hoped to see a Bav of Plenty Association before long. Mr C. E. Gibberd traced the history of rowing from the dark ages, •vhen proposing the toast of the club. Rowing was a great sport. He pitied men who, unlike rowers, had never trained hard and been fit. H- wished the club Wf»ll. Mr B B. Norman, club captain, replied thanking Mr Gibberd. HARD SPORT ■; Kindred Sports was the next toast.; Mr Hall proposed : t and Mr L. Pres.ton responded. One race had been >no ugh for h'uu, he said. P.owing was the hardest sport of all and ha honoured the men, who took it lip. The toast of the Coxswains was proposed by Mr Stubbs. Master Loombs and Master Dines emerged "rom behind a barricade of lemonade bottles to respond in neat and effective speeches. Before asking the donors to ore. ient trophies won during the season, Mr Hayward at this stage said he *vas gratified by the results. | -rows had run into places and though | they had not won major prizes they ! iad done well against stronger clubs with every facility for training. Next season the men must train as never before and do even better. Thcv hoped to hold a regatta. They had a fine stretch of water which' <vas real'v better for rowing than the seaway the Auckland clubs used. The business people, ,he thought, 'vould support a regatta. Transport of boats for competing crews would be the big obstacle, but the club must solve this by organising to pro. vide more craft. This could be done. They should remember that the task of raising finance to get their present new boats had seemed difficult but it had been accomplished. In conclusion he sa d the club members were a fine set of boys, and any man would be proud to be associated with them. THE WINNERS Tiophies and prizes were presented as follows: Points races, winners trial fours, S. Dent, D. Laloli, L. Carey, D. Wilson; W. Stubbs, : N • Taylor, A. Head, 11. Armstrong; W. Stubbs, F. Brown, S. Dent, J. Fish, er; W. Stubbs, H. Armstrong JHall, J. Fisher; S. Dent, J. Hall, I. Dent; Bergman Trophy, Norma'.:,. Laloli, Stubbs, Fisher D. Marks; Stewart Challenge Cup, S. Dent, Laloli, W. Stubbs, H. Thorburn; Cueksey Clip, A. Head, F. Brown H. Thorburn, R. Stewart; Wairere Cup, F. Brown, W. Stubbs. D. Laloli, J. .Fisher; Armstrong Cup, \\ . Stubbs, Dent. Hall, Brown: Point Cup winners W. Stubbs 29 po nts. S. Dent 22 points, F. Brown 23 points, D. Laloli 19 points; Service Cup, T. Crapp; Coxswains trophies were presented to T. A.tkinson, D. Marks, B, Lqombs, G. Moore 11. Ellis. . The toast of Ladies and Support, ers followed..- Mr Don Stewart said that they had a valuable hnml of sunnortcs, chiff nmong them S-ing M-s HavwW. Mr J. P»nc wh~ : . ■ ' ' ' • 5 " J ' h '

of the club's early days. In 1912 four fellows bought a boat from Chris Faulkner at Devonport. They decided to form a club and inaugu. rated it on Labour Da3 r 1913. lie was proud to say he was captaii: of the club for nine years. Mr Head followed with the toast of Officers of the Club. The singing of "For they are Jolly Good Fellows'' by the rest of the boys showed quits clearly that the officers w r ere the songsters of the club, said Mr Hayward. Mr Taylor replied for th e com mittee and thanked members for their support. Competition winners were proposed by Mr S. Armstrong and Mr Brown responded. He hoped this year's losers would be next year's winners. Mr Norman gave the health of the Regatta Oarsmen and Mr V. Hayward replied. The crews had enjoyCil themselves and agined valuable experience. They would do better next • yeai. PRESS SUPPORT Mr D. Wilson proposed the toast of The Press. They knew how bene, ficial publicity was and he hoped they would get the same support from the paper as in the past. Mr D. Vincent responded to this toast. He promised that the BEACON would do all in, its power to help rowing. Mr Sharp proposed the- toast of those useful members of society the Stewards, and Mr Price that of the: Artists. Mr Wells responded to the latter toast. After the meeting had heartily honoured the toast of the president, Mr. Hayward, proposed bv Mr Arm. strong, it turned its attention to community singing with Mr Harper at the piano. Later the gathering broke up after as pleasant n evening as could be imagined. During the function songs were given by Mr D. Stewart. guitar items and yodelling by Mr Wells, and Mr Gibberd to'd stories which were well up to his usual high standard of wit. Occasion was taken to present iVtr Brown with a silver sweet dish as tiwedding present.