Whakatane Rowing Crew Dogged By Very Bad Luck

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 58, 28 February 1949, Page 5

Whakatane Rowing Crew Dogged By Very Bad Luck

(By “Coxswain”) Possibly the most unlucky crew of the Whakatane Rowing Club is the junior fours combination. In two important regattas in the last three weeks it has been involved in two mishaps. On each occasion Whakatane was in the running for a good place but was forced to withdraw because of the accidents. It seems that this crew is to be dogged by fate in its most unkind form. Recently the crew entered in the junior fours competition at the regatta of the Tauranga Rowing Club. Left at the post it nevertheless made a wonderful effort and succeeded in catching the remainder of the field, before half the course had been covered. Inch by inch Whakatane gained, putting themselves in a good position nearing the finishing line. Then came the collision. Waitemata, who had drawn seventh position in the start, had been pushed across stream by West End (Auckland), who were making an effort to come to the centre of the course in the hope that they might get some help from the- current. When West End straightened up Waitemata did not and kept coming across, finally colliding with Whakatane, who had a • half a length lead on them at this stage. Whakatane had drawn number, two position at the start and were rowing extremely well when the collision occurred about 50 yards from the line. They were a possible second, as they had been gaining on the second crew at every stroke, and were a certain third.

At the collision both boats stopped dead, locked together, and drifted across the line, Waitemata being in the fortunate position that a portion of their skiff went over first, to take third place. An inquiry was subsequently held, but the final result was unchanged. The umpire considered that no blame was attachable to any crew and that decision stood, Whakatane placed fourth. The previous occasion when this Whakatane crew suffered bad luck was at Hamilton three weeks ago, when they were again lying in a handy position at the. finish. This junior crew has had an unfortunate season. At times it did not seem to be making the grade, although the material was known to be there. Later, the combination was changed, and despite the fact that it has improved immensely in the last few weeks, it has been unfortunate in the competitions in which it has taken part.

Tomorrow it will row for a New Zealand title at Lake Karapiro, Perhaps fate may be more kind to the crew on that day. ‘ On Saturday the crew rowed at Karapiro and was unlucky not to do better, it coming a very good fifth.