FROM NEAR AND FAR

NZ Truth, Issue 1208, 24 January 1929, Page 17

FROM NEAR AND FAR

Rowing Crews Speed Up For The Championships

(From ".N.Z; ■; Truth's" Special Rowing Correspondent.),

Though the Head of the River contest m Christchurch has so far failed to create much interest, except among- those who are directly connected with the competition^ there has been one outstanding feature which. is regarded highly m rowing circles.

THAT is the success of Rogers and 1 Godfrey, who won the senior pairs event m hollow ; fashion from the Stiles brothers. These ■ two are still eligible for junior class, . but the easy manner m which they have disposed of allcomers so far suggests that they will represent, the Canterbury Club m senior events for the remainder of the season. Rogers, who competed successfully under the. Union banner last season, finished up by. being selected emergency for the provincial eight which won the national title. ';. Judging., by. the improvement which has marked: his rowing' this ' season, he will be a certainty. for . the defending- crew this year. One of ■''the features of the rowing season m Christthurcli Is the numerical strength of the Avon Club, and with the means at its disposal the club is. using every endeavor to give each member experience on the water, this being especially' so m the case of novices; of whom there are many. As an indication; of its interest m « i r 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 rt i r 1 1 1 1 m■i i ■ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii i f 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ) 1 1 1 1 1 ii r 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 m 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 >11i i i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■i 1 1

the sport, the club has nominated double entries for the maiden, youths' and lightweight maiden fours at the Christchurch Regatta on Saturday. Word has been received from Wanganui that the Union champion four crew has commenced training again, and will compete at the championship regatta at Picton. It is probable the crew will row at the Wellington regatta the week previous. Trail and Jackson, who won the champion double sculls at Wanganui last year, are m training with a view to defending their titles at Picton next month. Jackson, the singles champion, is getting m a fair amount of work on the river, and is afloat daily, either by himself or with Trail. \lt is expected that there will be several starters m /the singles cham-, 'picjnshi'p,; jncltiding< Jackson; . . Bright, Stevenson, Turner and; two or three others;- ' ■ ■■•>>■ : ■ : ■ ••' '' -: ' '.' Bright is showing fine form m ■ Wellington; and he makes no secret of the

belief that he can beat Jackson, be it rough or. smooth going. There was some fine rowing on Auckland harbor last Saturday, when the. Wai temata Club held the first race of the' year, six crews competing. The first heat was won by a crew stroked by A. M. Mackay, but Fearon's crew held the lead until near the finishing, line, when the bow man's poppet string broke arid he lost his oar: W. Lowe's . crew Avon the next heat, and then came : the final, m which Feai'bn was allowed. to start. ' A great race was witnessed,' the crews being level 'for over half a. mile, when Fearori forged ahead. . The . other two crews closed up, and a ding-dong battle ended m ■■ Fesiron getting the 'verdict ,by ...■■■^.feet.'.' ■■■• "• " ;;'. .' ; ." . : - ■' It was the best race seen, this season. It is to be regretted that the Starsenior four. has been broken up. As a result, Cooke and Williams will now be rowing m, senior and junior double sculling races, while McLean (a very promising young oarsman) will row m

the maiden four and m the maiden pair. , ;■■-.' The Wanganui Union Club will select its regatta qrews next week. In the meantime the Foster Fours are being contested. The date has not yet been fixed for the Wanganui regatta, but it wili no. doubt be held some time m March.; As Clarrie Healey has his crew m solid training again, the prospects of the light blues retaining the championship: look 'very bright. Their new boat will; arrive this week,, and it was to have [been built -on the same lines as the craft which was damaged at Melbourne. •. Supporters of* "Wairau . are . confident that the'w,earers,of the ■emerald green and white singlets. will prove too, good for the' present holders of the; title.. \ It is reckoned' Wairau will 'show better combination and more . pace than, last year, when -they put up. a fine race against Union. : ■ .. At present 'there-is little prospect of any- other ,crew defeating- either; Union ror:WaitauJ. ••■.■■,'/.' ■'::';-)..'. .-,;■; ■'.-■;-:■■■■■•