ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1932, Page 18

ROWING

BY "STHOKB"

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

ROWING ON THE WAIKATO

HAMILTON'S FOURS

The principal event at the New Zealand championship regatta, held at Hamilton last week, was the fours race, which was won by Hamilton, the club retaining its title. Wairau (W. Gibbons, H. Eutledge, C. Saunders, J. Eutledge) were second, and North Shore third. "The display of the local senior four was first class throughout," states the "Times," "and well merited the tumultuous applause which greeted them at the boathouse. North Shore took the lead on the town,bank' after all crews had started evenly. Hamilton, stroking faultlessly, then took charge and never dropped a canvas for the rest of the race. At the mile and a half peg Hamilton was six lengths ahead of the others, and, rowing at about 29 to the minute, increased to nine lengths after crossing to the town bank.' Petone led North Shore at this stage. Just below the bridge Hamilton was about four lengths ahead of North Shore, Wairau, Petone, Aramoho, and St. George's in that order. Past the. bridge North Shore steered an erratic course, but maintained position. Approaching the boathouse the champion four gave,final evidence of their form with a magnificent spurt which widened the gap. North Shore were well behind third, and led Petone, Aramoho, and St. George's. Hamilton retain the Halliburton Johnstone trophy, and the 'rooster ' of supremacy." The handsome Halliburton Johnstone trophy, which tho Hamilton itowing Club retain, has a more interesting history than most trophies of this kind. It- originally belonged to the Duke of Buecleuch, a Scottish peer whose family had possessed it for many years. When: Mr. Halliburton Johnstone acquired it and presented it for competition among Dominion oarsmen the Duke had a replica made, which he still holds. The Sculls. ; - W. Turner (Napier) failed to retain his single sculla title. "B. Smith (Waitemata) caused a great surprise by showing splendid form against his more experienced ; opponents," states the "Times." : "Turner, the title-holder, was not in the picture. St. Clair had difficulty in dodging the willows shortly after the start. ' At the mile peg the positions were Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Waitemata, Hamilton, and Union. Approaching the bridge, Smith.' dropped back a length and steered erratically. St. Clair was showing a fine stroke on the Claudelands bank. There was a length difference between Turner and Haua nearing the bridge, with Smith, St. Clair, and Jackson following. Smith then clapped on pace, which held magnificently to the finish. Approaching the •boathouse Smith increased his lead to six lengths with Stuart, St. Clair, Turner, Jackson, and Haua following in that order. Jackson came forward to gain an-.easy second from Stuart,: St. Clair, Haua, and Turner in that order. Turner ran inside the buoy and was disqualified." In the double sculls, from a good start all crews pulled evenly until Hamilton spurted and held the lead. North Shore did not start. Hamilton headed for the centre of the river and Tauranga put a length between themselves and Union. At the mile peg Union overhauled Tauranga and rowed level with Hamilton for some distance. Union added. another length and were a moral 'winner approaching the boathouse. Tauranga and Hamilton bustled to reach second place. • The Avon (Christchurch) pair retained their title after a strenuous raise with Hamilton, which will" be long remembered. A gusty wind made conditions rough in the centre of the river. The Hamilton challengers^ drew ahead early and pulled across to. the town bank, taking the lead' from Avon and Star. Wairau dropped behind early. Avon drew level with Hamilton at the mile poßt, and then, took the middle of the stream. The home pair held their own on the town bank, and Star overhauled after a fine spurt on the Claudlands bank. Of the three crews the' title-holders were rowing the prettiest stroke. Sandos and Bayly made a superhuman effort to overtake ' the southerners at the boathouse, but the latter wero too good. A Big Day. Tho record crowd present was estimated at approaching 6000, nearly 1000 people travelling on the special train from Auckland. When the train left Mercer it was crowded, and platform passes had to .be used as tickets, all the: special tickets having been sold OUt. '.'■,'■:, Once again the Hamilton Bowing Club has demonstrated its superiority in most classes of rowing, states the "Times.'', Though possessing the undoubted advantage of rowing on their own course, the local oarsmen were fully extended in several of the events, and the clnb?s foremost position (out of 15 competing clubs from all over the country) with two firsts and seven, seconds is deserving of the highest praise. In the four championship events alone the local club topped the list with a first and two seconds. It also secured the bulk of the donations (£59), Wairau (Blenheim) being the next most successful club from the financial standpoint with £25. Some of the rowing will go down in the history, of the sport as the keenest on record. There were several surprises on the day. While the consensus of opinion favoured Hamilton lifting the classic event, the senior championship fours, few anticipated almost a walkover. Tor another year the "rooster," symbolising rowing supremacy in the Dominion, remains on his lofty perch on the boatshed at' Perry Bank. The Wairau oarsmen rowed a fine race for second place in this event. It was, unfortunate that the eagerness of the competitors to hug the town bank caused a postponement in the single sculls championship—the second classic and most.popular event. After the minor damage to some of the boats owing t< a collision had been repaired the race was placed last on the programme, and certainly made a fitting finale to a memorable day's racing. It waß not generally expected that Turner's form would be up to the standard to ensure him retaining the title. The Napier holder also had the misfortune to pass the inside of a buoy ea route. What caused such great surprise and delight was the emergence of the Waitemata entrant, R. Smith, who forged ahead to secure the title by a six lengths' margin. Jackson (Wanganui Union) and Stuart (Auckland) thoroughly deserved the other places. G. W. St. Clair pulled valiantly for Hamilton, but could not anake .the distance^ '