ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 9

ROWING.

(BY Mebcort.);

COMING EVENTS. March 23.— N.Z. Championship Regatta, at Napier. Eastor Monday—Wairau Regatta.

Tho following is tho list of entries received for tho championship regatta oil Monday:— Champion Sculls.—Akaroa, Union (Wanganui), Star (Wellington), Aramoho (Wanganui).

Champion Fours—Akaroa, Canterbury, Clifton (Waitara), Union (Wanganui), Waitcninta (Auckland), Picton, Blenheim (two crews). ~' . :

Champion Pairs.—Akaroa, 'Union (Wanganui), Star (Wellington), Pict'cn. ' Champion . Double Sculls. —Akaroa, Wauganui, Wellington. N

Maiden Sculls.—Gishorne,' Union (Wanganui), Napier (two entries), StaiT (Wdllirigton). " :

Light-weight Maiden Fours.—Gishorne, Napier,- Aramoho, North Shoro (Auckland).

Maiden Fours.—Canterbury, Poverty Bay, Gishorne, Union (Wanganui), Napier; Star (Wellington), North Shoro (Auckland), Wellington. ■

Maiden Donblo Sculls.—Nil. - •. - •' Youths' Fours.—Union (Wanganui), Napier, Star (Wellington), Aramoho. - • _ Junior Double Sculls.—Akaroa, Star (Wellington), Aramoho.

' Junior Fours.—Union (Christchurcli),. Canterbury, Poverty Bay, ■ Union'. (Wahga-' nui), Napier, Star (Wellington), Blenheim,Wellington. Junior Sculls.—Akaroa,"..Gishorne, Napier; (two entries), Star (Wellington),•' Aramoho, (two entries). ; papier x Fours. —Union (Christchurcli),Canterbury, Clifton (Waitara), Union (Wanganui), Waitemata, Napier', l.'Pi'eton,Bleu-, lieim. ~■■■■ 1 : • Since these were received the date of entry was extended to last Wednesday', but. it is unlikely that tho list-will be,.inateri-' ally altered. X..', A; glance at the', champioiiship events! shows that, with the , exception;;:'.ofthe Fours, tho nominations ; ' are surprisingly poor, and that none of tho aspirants' : are likely to dislodge the present" ' / The only local competitors' in these events will be Gerald Fell, of the.Star.Club, in'tho sculls; Bayfield and' Brewer,' of- the same club, in the pairs; and Gaudin and.M'Kinley, of the Wellington Rpwing .Qlub, in the double sculls. As predicted last : week, sickness and other reasons have prevonted tho Star senior four and double scullers from making the tri]j, and altogether the chance of any of tho big events .coming to the Em.pire City is very remote.-" \ '

. Tho champion fours should provide good racing between tho Cliftoh: (Waitara),' Blenheim, and Union (Wanganui) crews, .and I am inclined to fancy that .these, willbbthe placed boats, in that orders. .with' as most likely to displaco one of them. • • The local men saw the/Wanganui regatta speak very highly of the Clifton-iien, and this opinion is borne out by ganui papers; one of 'which ."says':-'-'The form shown by the visiting crew (the Cliftonians) was a a revelation, 'at'leastso far as tho big, race (best; and . best), was: concerned. 'iAlthdiigh tho::crew have had: a fair amount of practice in the boat, which their ; club'; secured , last' November,- ; t-his ; was: the' first race rowed in it. That crew have made theiiest possible use of l their opportunities was proved by the way they shaped, as their, style was-much admirod, their combination. being really- first-: class —oqual to. the best fever" seen here.' ■The Unions, too,-'rowed;in capital style, giving aii,exhibition worthy, of -their reputation, but in .the Cliftonians'they '.met a -crew which on -, the'day vfeta'-,slightly.'their: superiors.' • • The. Unions had'the same *:crew. that won . the champion fours ai Lake For-! 3yth .last year, with the pxceptioiv of Joo Green (iSTo. 2), whose place' was' taken by W. Diistin._ The rowing. of both crews was of a very high class, and;;tho.;honours, of the day went to. the CHftoniiins,: ivho\ thoroughly deserved ".their successes. ' Great interest will' bo taken in the meeting of theso two crews. .Train at. Napier in the champion (fours, and, if .this'event is not won'.'by-onc or other of these crews,' then .the.', winners will indeed-need to he a grand combination. Though;.tho-'first' rac'o between , ;the lightblues and the Cliftonians was a very fine one, the second struggle between them was oven better—it was simply,a magnificent exhibition, of skilful rowing and gumcness,-and can safely. be described as one of the, most exciting contests v.'hich has been', fought out on- the. IVangamii. River. - ■ Whereas.,;,.there was/about a length between the two'boats, at the .finish of tho first- event, only a few feet separated . thorn. in the clinkers, tho visitors winning on each occasion."

The Star C.lub will bo represented in,tho youths'' and.. maiden fours by the same crews that won these events in Wanganui, with the exception' that. JY .Williams-replaces 11. D. Bridge, who has been unable to obtain tho nccessary leave, in the latter combinations': Di Brewer and Kerslake, who won the maiden doubles in AVanganui, will contest tho junior doiibl? sculls, aw! ".11 these crews should'just .about win.. Hie club's maiden sculler, W. Robert-soil, is doing good work, and must have .a'big: chance, though he is up against a stiff proposition in J. .Ruscoe, of the Wangaiiui ; ; Unions. For tho'champion sculls T-can see nothing better than. Wholch-, though Green is much fancied,' especially in; Wanganui.' .."Denny" Bornctt is • accompanying Green, as trainer, and.he-has had the bouelit of Webb's cpaching, but. nevertheless his .showirg against M'Donald at Wanganui wasn't convincing. True, he won easily, but M'Donald led him .comfortably until the quinsey lie was suffei;ing. from choked his breathing • aiid * • forced him •to stop—and M'Donald is; no champion yet." ■ • ■ -.

Tho champion pairs- and double bar accidents, should again- .feo- to vAkarca, unless M'Donald and Marshall .effect.'a .surprise in- tho latter raco. ■ However ;tVs-is not likely, as the experiences of tho veterans ana their great pace should keep them out of danger. . .■ ;y: