VETERANS RACE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 65, 18 April 1944, Page 5

VETERANS RACE

REAI> ALL ABOUT IT! SUNDAY'S ROWING EVENT Specimens of Whaka's. greatness gathered round the Rowing Club's shed last Sunday when the. doughty champions of other days (some indeed so dim and distant that they could not be recalled clearly at all) vied with each other in a breathtaking and dazzling rowing contest. What ever else to the contrary Ave can safely say that the, announcement brought a record crowd down to the waterfront where the 'old buffers' as they were called received a friendly ovation as they took off up stream' in readiness for a start. A feature was the sportsmanship exhibited by His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, who shed all his dignity of office, including chain and pendant in order to strip down like other oarsmen to brief shorts and jumper. Sponsoring the Hillcrest. Haw Haws (R. Morpeth, B. S. Barry, J. D. Rivett., A. Fisher) (coxj Phyllis, Rivett) he flung down the gauntlet, to the King St. Ha Has (W., Smith, C. Kingsle.y-Sm.itlv, W. S. Henderson and J. Gattsche) (cox Nellie Rivett) to determine who should be the future owners of the coveted "Junket Shield." The result was a spectacular con(Continued in. next column)

test which had the crowd alternatively on its toes and heels as it rocked to and fro in a delirium of excitement. From the start of the five mile course (well it seemed like it. Ed.) the Haw Haws broke well ahead, pulling strongly, with No. iJ putting in. an occasional extra dip or twc for full measure, which wasn't really fair to the Ha Has, who dazzled by these new scientific manoeuvres began to slip behind until, Wally Smith came to light with some horse language which forced foreman and pendriver to blush deeply until they realised he was in earnest and referred to them. Thereat nothing could stop them and to the cheering of the vast, multitude they shot past the post to win by a blue nose.. The second race of the day took on a sterner note when a Costley Home Old Boys team sponsored by Mr H. N. McDonald challenged the He Has to a bit of genuine pulling. The new team took on the title of the Commerce Street Ho Hos 1 and comprised (McDonald (s), A. Head, N. Rigden and R. Hunter). Stormy weather bloAving up from the west was only offset by the grim looks of determination as the two crews, paddled (?) up stream to the starting point. This time the Ha Has, though hampered by a choppy sea got away to a flying start which so boxed the opposing cox that he headed straight for a mid river snag. A near miss was; registered, but the Ha Has never lost their initial advantage and once again swung in majestically past the post a good two lengths in the lead. Mob hysteria ensued. Presenting the "Junket Shield" to stroke Wally, His Worship (now jjroperly clothed and in his right mind) said that personally he considered his team had won by at least two lengths (cheers and uproar) unfortunately several of their arrangements had misfired as Jim Rivett'r outboard motor had arrived too late, and their stroke had let them down badly. Had he faced the other way and taken his time from No. 3 who was setting the winning pace the result might have been different. Cheers for both teams: concluded the ceremony.