OUTLOOK GOOD FOR COMING ROWING SEASON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 9, 18 October 1950, Page 5

OUTLOOK GOOD FOR COMING ROWING SEASON

The coming rowing season should be a good one. On the national front the Canterbury centennialrowing regatta with overseas crews competing is a big attraction.

With a Berkeley, Californian eight, a Haberfield Rowing Club, Sydney, four and double scull, Kevin Webb, the second-string Australian Empire Games sculler, and maybe Merv. Wood, British Empire champion, coming, the centennial regatta will be a big draw. As the Avon River will allow only three boats per heat, the 11 races in the regatta will be spread over three days—January 1,2 and 3.

The first race is the international eights with donation money of £IOO for first, £25 for second, and £lO for third.

All races will be on the knockout principle, except the eights, which will be run on a two-life system. No crew will be eliminated until defeated twice.

The Canterbury Rowing Asociation has asked that' each local association nominate one crew to be known as a provincial crew. It may be a club or a composite crew. Increased Membership ,

As in Whakatane where the learn-to-row week at present in progress is meeting with a fair amount of response from prospective new members, Auckland Clubs generally report a numerical strengthening of membership. The Auckland University College. Rowing Club this year has nearly doubled its strength. It is at the moment negotiating to obtain the freehold of a section on the Tamaki River at Panmure.

The West End Rowing Club, after advertising for new members, has increased its strength by 34. Ten

fours were organised for the unofficial opening day. The Empire Games eight, with one replacement, C. Green, has been rearranged, and is already in training. Their goal is the New Zealand championship eight title. Although still early in the season, Auckland St George’s believe they will have more rowers this season.

Still hampered by the worst facilities in Auckland, the Waitemata Boating Club is numerically weak.

The North Shore Club has a new Australian plywood four arriving before Christmas. Although inactive last year, the club hopes to start again this season. Tentative dates fbr local regattas are: November 18, Bennett Shield, North Shore; December 2, Whangarei; January 29, Hamilton; March 17, Ngaruwahia. Whakatane will probably compete at Hamilton, which will be their first regatta for the season and at Ngaruawahia. The Auckland Provincial Championships at Mercer and the Tauranga regatta will also be on their programme.