ROWING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 17

ROWING

(By

“Outrigger.”)

Taking advantage of the exceptional run of good weather during the past week or so, Star members have made a start with the training of their regatta crews, which were auuounced last week. Most of the crews picked have been out several times doing their preliminary work, but they have not done sufficient to warrant any comment upon their form. The maiden pair alone has been missing from the sheds. # * * * Since the war there has been a remarkable absence of challenges to selected regatta crews at Star; in fact, “Outrigger” remembers but one. That was in 1920, when the maiden four was challenged. Eventually the challenge crew was officially accepted as the No. 2 crew without the challenge race being rowed. » • * • There is no doubt that the appearance of a challenge crew is a great help to the club. Quite, apart from the stimulus which it gives to the officially selected crews, the value of the training of the challengers themselves and the interest which the challenge must create helps the club along wonderfully. • w # « “Outrigger” has heard quite a few comments regarding the omission of well-known men from Star’s regatta crews. Of course, these come from others than the men omitted, but it is nevertheless, strange that there are no rumours of any of these men forming challenge crews. In the maiden class, particularly, it would be an easy matter to arrange a really good crew that should give the selected crew something to train for. • • • •

During the last week-end Star brought their senior and junior fours to a finish. In tho seniors, Cooke (stroke), Comerford (3), Haines (2), and Cudby (bow) had a fairly easy win from Brooker’s crew, while in the junior fours Mullins (stroke), McLean (3), Bell (2), and Samson (bow) carried off the honours from Moffatt’s crew.

With these two races finished the Star Club is now in the satisfactory position of having four club races already completed this season.

It is anticipated that crews for New Year regattas will be picked during the week-end. The form showed so far in club races this year encourages one to think that the club will be fairly successful at the regattas. Most of last year’s regatta men will be available for this year, and with the additions of Kruse (Union, Wanganui), Creagh (Avon), and Kent (Canterbury) some formidable combinations will be found.