THE BOSS ROOSTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 41, 5 February 1946, Page 5

THE BOSS ROOSTER

A FAMOUS ROWING TROPHY

(Br “Wbippitjn”)

The winning ol' the N. Z. Champion Fours is of course a big lionour to any oarsman, and the successful club gains a very handsome trophy of shining silver, but together with this, goes a very special trophy which is the pride and glory ol‘ the holders.

Far from being a costly exhibit, it is merely a simple piece of tin shaped in "the form of a rooster, and painted in the colours of the winners but its possession is probably more eagerly sought than the otlicial silver cup and is the recognised symbol of the Dominion l'our-oared championship.

For nearly 50 years, the cream of New Zealand rowing men have fought for possession of this battered old rooster, whose plumes have changed colours as often as it has changed hands. The Boss Rooster, as it has been known ever since, was first won by the Quene’s Drive Rowing Club in 1897 at the Championship Regatta held at Picton. It originated through the friendly if intense rivalry between the winners and the Port Chalmers Rowing Club, and was the brain wave of one “Bob” Casliman, an ardent supporter of the Port crew.

With the intention of handing it over to this “invincible” Port Chalmers crew after their triumphant success, he cut out a rooster from a sheet of tin, painted it liis club’s colours of blue with a white star in the centre, and hid it carefully until the psychological moment.

After Quene’s Drive lin'd upset all calculations by emerging victorious, the Southern men" returned, to their ship “Edwin Fox” which had brought them to Picton, and to their amazement found the rooster nailed to the mast with a bright splash of red in the centre of the white star. As the colours, of the winners, were, red white and blue, it was obvious’that Cashman’s secret had reached the “enemy camp” and with great ceremony the Boss Rooster was presented to the champions, -who, upon their return home, nailed it to the top of their shed, and did much crowing and strutting throughout that season.

Such was the humble origin of a faomus trophy, which in the years to follow has changed, hands; many times to strike pride into the heart of every member of the shed which possesses it.

With' the passing of the war, the Boss Rooster will emerge from its temporary retirement, and will be eagerly sought after at the next Championship Regatta.

The time has yet to come when the coveted rooster will crow from the mast of the Whakatane Club, but its possession by this town is well within the bounds of possibility if the full support of the public and the keenness of present and intending oarsmen is properly applied.

Let us take a pi'opev interest in our Rowing Club, and perhaps help the shed towards the winning of the Boss Rooster, and the pride of being “cock of the walk” in the rowing world.

(Next week, “Coaching and Training”) .