ROWING

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2065, 17 December 1907, Page 3

ROWING

Tlio first round' of tlio 'Hennessy Fours competition (Gisborne Club) •wascommenced on the W-aininta. course fast evening, .when :G. ißuscko met H. Puflett. The, latter’s crew gob away badly -through not striking together, and- lost a couple of lengths. Further misfortune was in store for them, however, as when going strongly No.. 2’s footboard gave way. This practically quit them, out of tho race, and Busck'e had a, rather easy win by two -lengths. To-night Johnston meets ißennett, Bayly drawill a bye. Two further races in the Seymour Double Sculls competition (Poverty Bay .Club) were decided last night. Lyford and Scott met Nicholas and Roche, and' after a good-race the latter pail- -got-home first by a length. IV. Brokeiislilre and Huston succumbed to the brothers McConnell by two lengths, after a fast-rowed race. Tlie latter pair were rowing very strongly at the finish.

In connection with the filial for the Schumacher Sculls, rowed on Saturday night between D. Dustin and H. Kershaw, a fine spirit of sportsmanship was shown by the former. When coming through "the bridge Kershaw had the misfortune to .strike one of the -piles, -thereby losing several lengths. Dustin on observing tine accident, however, ceased rowing, and waited until Kershaw got going again. and they finished the .race together, Dustin being declared the winner by a. length. The (Poverty -Ray Club will start the single sculling races on December 27th for a trophy presented by Mr. Broad, a. supporter of the club.' (Messrs. S. Ledger, A. E. Lyford, and C. Somervell were appointed handipap-per-s. Entries are also being received fo-r trial fours for trophies presented by 'Mr. F. Harris. The races are to be -rowed early in January.

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. To-night the first heats for tho Grieve Cup will he rowed. This contest, as has already been, stated, carries with- it the sculling championship of '.Poverty Day, -and is exciting a considerable amount of interest. The heats will be between two members of tho Gisborne Club -and two from the Poverty Bay Club, D. Dustin and H. Kershaw representing the former club and R. Jones and J. Nicholas tho latter. The first race will be between D. Dustin (Gisborne) and J. Nicholas (Poverty Day), starting at 5 o’clock, -a-nd .at 5.30 -R. Jones '(Poverty Bay) and H. Kershaw (Gisborne) will try conclusions. The two winners to-night meet ;in the final tomorrow -night. Mr. W. Hackett will act as umpire, and- will follow the competitors. 'THE CONTESTANTS. D. Dustin (Gisborne), lOst 121 b.— An old oarsman, having been a. member of the Union R.C., Wanganui., for several years- .-Has rowed' against many scullers of repute, and bias competed -successfully at regattas jin various parts of the Dominion. Dustin is the winner of the recent Schumacher Sculls competition, and is tlio present captain of his club. H. Kershaw (Gisborne), lOst 111 b. —Altluouigli an oarsman of some six years’ standing, Ivershaw i-s practically new. to sculling, but has shown great .improvement in the last two seasons, having developed from a handicap man to the position of scratch-. Prior to .rowing in -Gisborne has rowed in several Napier -regatta crews. Kershaw won tlie Buscko Sculling Cup fast season', and has been chosen .as stroke this year for the G.'RjC. .regatta crew. R. Jones (Poverty Bay), 12st 21b.— “The old veteran,” as lie is looked upon in.the club, although practically a young man, has been rowing for so many years that he is considered, and is actually, the oldest .rowing member .of either club. Ho lias won- -a number of trophies in his time, and has been a runner-up oil several occasions when conceding very long -starts to 'liis opponents. His first win in the single sculls was in 19.04, when he won a cup presented' by Mr. J. Nutting. (He also won a cup presented by -tlio late (Mr. J. Rosie, but his best performances were in liis races for the Poverty Bay sculling championship, -for a- cup presented by u\lr. W. A". 'Bridson, himself a 'champion sculler in his day, and an admirer of Jones. •This cup was to be won three times to become the property of the winner. Jones won it- for two years in succession, and being absent the next year Kirk got a leg-in-, but Jones won it outright -at the next time of starting. "He also -won the medal presented in 1905 by Mr. F. Harris. He has rowed some good -races in. double sculling contests, but as a. nil-'e the handicaps were against him. He has also been of great service to- tlie club in fours events. His height is 6ft. J. Nicholas (Poverty Bay), list 111 b is practically <a maiden rower, blit last year came to light, winning tlie handsome cup presented by Mr. -Broad -and the gold medal presented by Mr. F. Harris. Although not possessing tlm reach of Jones, lie is a very strong oarsman, and full of igrit -and determination. Can be retied' upon to do bis best to uphold tlie honor of the club ho .represents...