STANDARD ROWING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 77, 24 January 1947, Page 5

STANDARD ROWING

KING’S CUP TO WHAKATANE LOCAL CREW’S FINE PERFORMANCE Rowing against the tide and wind, which suited it better than the other two crews—Whakatane annexed the King’s Cup from Tauranga on the Tauranga harbour on Saturday last. The course for this and other events, which were a part of the rowing programme, was from the Tauranga railway bridge to the north end of the Tauranga Rowing Club’s boatshed. The standard of rowing was high for this time of the season. In the race for the King’s Cup, the main contest of the day, the three crews were sent away to an even start, the striking rates being Tauranga No. 1 32 strokes a minute, Whakatane 28 and Tauranga No. 2 30. Whakatane settled down (o a heavy body swing and gradually drew away to cross the finishing line four length ahead •of Tauranga No. 2, with Tauranga No. 1 four feet further back in third position.

Decision by half a length was .gained by Whakatane in the race for heavy maidens. With 200 yards to go, and the two boats on even terms, the Whakatane crew quickened to 32 strokes to win the verdict. Displaying good form, the Tauranga No. 1 light maiden fours gradually drew away from Whakatane and Tauranga No. 2 to win by four lengths in this contest. Excitement ran high when Tauranga and Whakatane youths’ fours rowed in the last event of the day, because there was little between the two boats as they neared the finishing mark. Both crews rowed strongly, Whakatane gaining the decision by one foot, only after both boats had. been on an even par for practically the whole distance. The King’s Cup was presented by the president of the Tauranga club (Mr T. D. Harvey) who expressed the hope that the New Zealand championships would be conducted at Tadranga next year. He congratulated Whakatane on its win. Details of the races are as follows:

Heavy Maidens: Whakatane (F. Price, H. Armstrong, B. Cutler and D. Debreceny) 1; Tauranga (Paul •O’Brien, C. Hartley, T. Doherty and D. Snowden) 2. Half a length. King’s Cup: Whakatane (L. Carey, ;E. Hunt, G. Dines and G. Moore) 1; 'Tauranga No. 2 (S. J. Smith, T. D. Harvey, T. Doherty and C. Hartley) 2; Tauranga No. 1 (A. Stewart, E. Beston, R. Stevens and T. Oliver) 3. Four lengths, four feet. Light Maidens: Tauranga No. 1 <(A. Stewart, E. Beston, R. Stevens and T. Oliver) 1; Whakatane (A. Head, W. Rivett, A. Edmondson and A. Atkinson) 2; Tauranga No. 2 (D. ■Cooney, J. Dockray, M. Gilpin and R. Brown) 3. Four lengths, two. Youths’ Fours: Whakatane (G. Dines, K. Burt, A. Edmondson and P. Armstrong) 1; Tauranga (D. Cooney, D. Snowden, Paul O’Brien .and N. lies) 2. One foot.