ROWING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19145, 31 October 1927, Page 3

ROWING.

! GAY SPECTACLE ON AVON. If the river-sweeper accomplishes what is expected of it, find Saturday's opening of the season fulfils one quarter of ita promise, rowing will receive o decided increase in popularity in Christchurch. \ Already this season the clubs' membership lists are larger than ever, and the opening ceremony proved the best possible advertisement for the pleasures to be found on the river. Hundreds of spectators lined the banks of the Avon from the Fitzgerald avenue bridge to the Stanmore road bridge, and they wore rewarded amply for their attendance. Tho river presented an animated scene. Tho docorated boats caused much admiration, while the sight of an eight-oared craft and the fleet skiffs wero redolent of the sterner type of rowing. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) paid a tribute to Mr R. B. Owen for the splendid fight he had made to keop the river open for boating. Mr F. I. Cowlishaw then declared the season open. The prize list for decorated boats was as follows: Best Decorated Boat (open), and Best Decorated Boat, rowed by ladies—Canterbury (Cherry Blossom), Mesdames Fountain, Brown, and Misses Stewart and Saunders, 1: Canterbury (Tulip), Misses Payne and Stewart, 2. Most Original Crew—Christ's College, Whale; Darktown Crew, Union.

Coxswains' Crew—Union (Rainbow), Masters Anderson and Turner, 1; Avon (Daylight Saving), Masters Marne, .2. The introductory racing events of the season provided some good contests. Results:—

Double Sculls —First heat: Union beat Avon' by two lengths. Second heat: Canterbury beat Cure by five lengths. Final: Canterbury (Brown and Godfrey) beat Union by half a length. Four-oared Race—First heat: Union beat Canterbury by half a length. Second heat: Avon beat Cure by half a length. Final: Union (Bush, Duggan, Rogers, and Greenway) beat Avon by a canvas.