Rowing Club’s Opening Day Was Successful, Despite Choppy Water

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 17, 8 November 1948, Page 5

Rowing Club’s Opening Day Was Successful, Despite Choppy Water

Although there was brilliantly fine sunshine, a brisk northerly wind' whipped up the surface of the river to a cutting chop, making accurate rowing by the crews difficult at the opening of the Whakatane Rowing Club on Saturday. A large contingent of visiting, rowers from the Tauranga club attended, while a considerable crowd thronged the -river bank. Several close and exciting finishes were con- , tested with the final race being . won 1 fairly easily by H. Iles’s crew. ■ Crews in each race were mixed with those from Tauranga and the home club. For such an early time of the season the rowing was of a surprisingly high standard. Between' races several speedboats gave exhibitions qf turning at high, speed, sometimes with nearly disastrous results. , • At the conclusion of the events the president of the club, Mr R. T. Morpeth, »preesnted the winning crews with the trophies and then declared the season open. Results:— Ist Heat: S. Shapley’s crew (E. Kirk, L. Stewart, D. Bridges) 1, G. Moore’s crew (H. Mokomoko, M.. Gilpin, D. Grinder) 2. Second heat: A. Sewart’s crew (M. Brown, G. Grayson, J. Holmes) 1, L. Carey’s crew (W. Sandham, C. Randle, J. Taylor) 2. Third heat: H. lies’ crew (E. Hunt, B. Stewart, T. Stewart) i, P. O’Brien’s crew (M. Whittaker, D. Howat, A. Atkinson) 2. Fourth heat: K. O’Rourke’s crew (E. G. Wore, D. Crapp, P. Bowery) 1, P. Armstrong’s crew (E. Petty, C. D. Molesworth, J. McShane) 2. Fifth heat: L. Sylvester’s crew (D. McCarthy, A. Edmondson, M. McGill) 1, G. Dines’s crew: (H. Mokomoko, - J. Taylor, B. Burt) 2. Sixth heat: Shapley 1, Dines 2. Semi-finals: Stewart 1, lies 2; Henry 1, O’Rourke 2; lies 1, Shapley 2. Final: lies 1, Henry 2.