ROWING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 112, 9 February 1928, Page 8

ROWING

(By

“Sculls.”)

Coming Events. February 25.—Wellington Regatta. March 3.—Championship Regatta, Wanganui. March -21.—Inter-provincial Championship Fights, Wellington. March 31.—Inter-club Eights, Wellington. All the Auckland clubs, as opportunity offers, use the long course for trial racing, and the value of its adoption has been shown in no uncertain manner (states an exchange). The rowing has reached a higher standard. Contrary to many opinions, with crews selected at the last moment, the finishes have been very close. The men have maintained better condition, and gnerallv favour the long course. A special attraction at the Hamilton regatta on January 30 was the two eight-oar trial races. These were rowed with a view to assisting in the selection of the Auckland inter-provincial crew to compete for the HallvburtonJohnston Cup nt Wellington in March. The Auckland “Sun” states that with the completion of the Arapnni dam the Auckland province now has the finest rowing course in New Zealand, a stretch of calm and sheltered water, overlooked by a hill which would permit spectators to see every foot of the course. Although transport arrangements would at the outset be difficult to adjust, it would not be a big undertaking to capitalist the newly-created facilities. Boats could be railed to Putarura, which, bv first class Public Works road, is only six miles from Arapuni. The difficulties are not insuperable. A Ln-ss to Rowing. Rowing generally, and the Union Rowing Club in particular, suffered a heavy loss in the death of Harry L. Bush, who was recently drowned at North Beach (says the Christchurch “Sun”). Bush was one of the most successful oarsmen of the present season, and he had been well known in the sport for a number of years. He joined the Union Club about seven vears ago and since then has been one of the most enthusiastic members, and a hard-working officer-bearer. This season he was taking a spell from official duties, but last year he was deputy-captain of the club. At every race and regatta in which the club was Interested Bush was present, and lie was the winner of a large number of races. For the past two seasons he won the single sculling championship of the Union Club, and this season, with W Greenawav, he won the only race that fell to the club at the Lyttelton regatta, and the only race tint fell to the club at the Akaroa regatta. At each meeting they won the junior Double Sculls, anil thev were depended upon by the club to win at the Christchurch regatta on February 11, Bush being entered in both the Junior and Senior Double Sculls. lie was a member of the Merivale Football Club, for whom he plaved in a lower grade some seasons ago, and one of the most popular athletes in Christchurch. Of a genial,

happv nature, he had a very wide circle of friends. Star Club. The draws have been made for the Senior and Junior Sculls clubs race, and are as follow:— Junior Sculls.—ln the first heat Hunter meets Hinkley, Osborne meets McLean, Lambert meets Taylor. Senior Sculls.—Gray meets Newtown, Williams meets Thomas, Herd meets Comerford, Rees meets Leask. Both these races will be over a mile course. Christchurch Regatta. The Star was well represented in Christchurch last Saturday. Eighteen men went south to compete in various races. The following races were won: Junior Fours (Gray, Crease, Mullins, Brooker) ; the junior double sculls (Cooke, Williams) ; vouths* fours (Comerford, McLean, Bell. Rees) The maiden four (Field, Tavlor, McHardy Cudbv) came second. Masters Wilfred and John Clouston accompanied the crews ns coxwains. Petone Club. The semi-final of the Collett Cup was rowed last week between K. Rod gers, and K E. Duncan’s crew, the former winning after an interesting race by 12 lengths. The senior fours was to have been .

Even Lake Taupo, with its vast expanse, is receding as the result of the prolonged drought (reports an exchange). A visitor who has been spending an extended holiday there put in a bench mark on one of the cliffs on a calm day, and a month later found that it was 7in. above the surface The lake is fed by a number of streams which have their source in the mountains of the mid-island, and for a considerable time there has been no rain to melt the snow on the high country.