ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 68, 23 March 1901, Page 3

ROWING.

[By “ Stroke.”]

Seeing that Mr Rees Jones has now won the Champion Cup, kindly given to the members of the Poverty Bay rowing clubs by Mr Bridson to encourage sculling, a few words on the young oarsman will not be out of place. For several seasons, when quite a youngster, ho was recognised as the champion coxswain of the district, and was also a promising member of the boys’ club, which was started about twelve years ago. He was promoted by the members of the Poverty Bay Club to be an active member for his services, and it was not long before he gave ample demonstration of exceptional merit, and won a handicap sculling event, and also had a scat in the rep. crew against Hawke’s Bay in his first season. Next year he was beaten in tho final of a sculling handicap, giving Davies 60sec start. The next season he was beaten by R. liollett, who had 40sec allowance. The following season he won from F. Lowndes, who was in receipt of losec. The following season he was beaten by I. Gibbs, who had an allowance of 35see. He was also rep. during most of the seasons. Mr Bridson, the New Zealand amateur champion and the donor of the cup, was in Gisborne during the season of 1597, and was very much impressed with his rowing, and to encourage sculling he donated the cup, to be rowed for by any members of the Association clubs in Poverty Bay. Mr Jones was successful in winning it in its first season. Hot-hen left the district for two years, and during his absence Mr Arch. Kirk, representing the club, filled the breach, and was successful two years running, during the absence of the champion. On tho return of the latter the two have been left to battle for it twice since, and Rees again demonstrated his undoubted claim to the title. Out of eight sculling races, exclusive of the cup races, he has won four and lost four, being runner-up on each occasion that he lost, and in most instances giving long starts to the winner. The writer hopes that next season some effort will be made to send him for the New Zealand championship event. Tho suggestion that the two local rowing clubs should arrange a tournament has met with considerable support in both clubs, and it has been decided to. hold a meeting early next week to consider the matter. Should it be decided to carry the suggestion out, matters will be verylively in rowing circles during the next month or so. The Poverty Rowing Club’s social, on the evening of Easter Monday promises to be a great success. All arrangements are well forward, and as the visiting oarsmen from the two Napier clubs will be the guests of the Poverty Bay Club that evening, there should be a large attendance. The local oarsmen are lookiug forward to the gathering,