FOUR WINS GO TO WHAKATANE AT ROWING REGATTA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 3, 27 February 1950, Page 5

FOUR WINS GO TO WHAKATANE AT ROWING REGATTA

Gaining four first placing's and one second in five starts the Whakatane Rowing Club had one of the most successful days at a rowing regatta in the long history of the club at the Tauranga rowing regatta on Saturday. In all their races Whakatane crews were up with the leaders' while in the open maiden fours Hamilton, the present New Zealand champion crew of this class, failed to catch Whakatane, whom they defeated narrowly on the Waikato River last month. -

By their wins on Saturday Whakatane now has a junior crew promoted to senior class and the open maiden crew moves up to junior. The first Whakatane win came in the junior fours. Ngaruawahia were away first followed closely by Auckland and Whakatane G. Moore (str), E. Hunt (3), L. O. Stewart (2), G. Dines (bow) P. Lynds (cox) the latter soon settling down to a stroke of 36 to the minute. With half the course covered Whakatane went to the front and despite strong challenges from -Ngaruawahia went across first with a comfortable three lengths margin. Auckland were third.

There were two starters in the youths’ fours (under 18) which developed into a keen tussle between Whakatane and Mercer. Whakatane, D. Baker (str), S. Stubbs (3), M. Cropp (2), B. Fitzsimmons (bow), cox P. Lynds, went to the front after half the course had been cohered. Mercer challenged but could only come in second two lengths behind.

The third successive win for Whakatane came in the open maiden fours, which had ten starters. Whakatane, P. Armstrong (str), S. Shapley (3), W.' Sandham (2), G. Ki Koea (bow), P. Lynds (cox), went out to the front with Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, the New Zealand champions, and Tauranga. Covering a third of the course Whakatane were ahead by two lengths from Hamilton and Tauranga. Both these crews challenged 300 yards from the finish but Whakatane staved off this burst by two lengths from Tauranga who were followed in by Hamilton.

The lightweight maiden fours resulted in a win for Tauranga l-£-lengths ahead of Whakatane, P. Bowering (str), R. Burt (3), R. Seebeck (2), T. Stewart (bow), T. Flay (cox), who were two lengths in front of Auckland. Going strongly all the way Whekatane lost considerable ground by turning to avoid rough water. Whakatane’s final race and fourth win came in, the youths’ fours (under 21). There were ten starters, Whakatane, M. Whittaker (str), M. Brown (3), K. Bowering (2), K. O’Rourke (bow), T. Flay (cox), drew the .outside position and kept to the middle of the hai'bour despite rough water. They were away first and at no time looked anything less than the winning boat. They finished 2£ lengths ahead of Cambridge. Tauranga were third.