Rowing

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 70, 28 March 1949, Page 5

Rowing

Whakatane Now The Bay Champions Rowing a well-judged race from start to finish Whakatane defeated Tauranga in a challenge race for the Kings Cup at Whakatane on Saturday, A close tussle all the way Tauranga never headed Whakatane once Sfra although they made „ a strong effort at the finish the local team finished four feet ahead of the challengers and so retained the cup. At the beginning both boats got way to an excellent start, Whakatane gaining a slight lead immediately. This was held till after about 2/3 of the course had been covered, when Whakatane drew away and lengthened their lead to about f of a length. Tauranga made a great effort at this stage and drew level with Whakatane but the pressure was now on and Whakatane began to gain a slight lead, which increased slowly and at the line they had a good four feet to spare. This was a particularly fine effort by Whakatane as the crew had only been rowing together for just under a week while the Tauranga crew, consisting of two pairs of brothers, has had a very fine record during the season. They have had nine firsts and five seconds.

Saturday’s race now establishes Whakatane as the Bay of Plenty champions. Since the Kings Cup was presented in 1913 Whakatane has held it eight times, Opotiki 11 and Tauranga 2. The crews were:—

Whakatane: G. Moore (stroke), f S. Shapley (3), P. Armstrong (2), G. Dines (bow), R. Reid (cox).

Tauranga: Paul O’Brien (stroke), Peter O’Brien (3), H. lies (2), N. lies (bow), G. De Manser (cox).

Trial fours with mixed crews from Tauranga and Whakatane were held during the day and provided some good racing. Results:—

First heat: M. Whittaker (Whakatane), H. Mokomoko (W), Warner (Tauranga), L. Goodall (W), J. Reed (cox) lost to A. Stewart (T), R. King (W), R. Burt (W,) T. Stewart (W), N. De Manser (cox) by two lengths. Second heat: P. Bowering (W), Kiddie (T), W. Stuart (W), D. Wells (W), P. Lynds (cox) beat Randle (T), E. Hunt, G. Drayson (W), Baker (W), Pope (cox) by one length. Final: A. Stewart’s crew beat P. Bowering’s crew by about a foot.