WHO WILL WIN THE "ROOSTER?"

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 17

WHO WILL WIN THE "ROOSTER?"

Union Will Be Hard Pressed by Wairau and Hamilton In Classic Champion Fours

FEW TITLES SHOULD CHANGE HANDS AT REGATTA

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

IT is indeed a pity that Auckland, Christchurch and Southland are not "'■■ represented . m the four championship events. Expense, ol course, would be a' consideration so far as Auckland and Southland were concerned. All present title holders will be on hand to retain their' honors if possible, and' it, is doubtful, if there will be any changes. ' . ■ , -'"• There are five crews m the. champion fours event — Hamilton, Picton, Queen's Drive, Wairau, and .Wanganui Union (the , present champions). . .•■ ' made a good race of it last year on the Wanganui, and., their, rowihg,was mxich admired. They were a good -combination - but Clarrie Heaiey's (geherals'hip and his knowledge of the ! river, tu'-ned the scale m favor of the light': blues. ".,.'*,' • Though Union won they did not impress as a really' great crew. They had, not that splendid fore and ■ aft swing, with the weight evenly applied, that. balance and rhythm, of some of the old champions. They were going along much better before they went to Australia m October, but "Truth" does not think that the champions have got back, to that form againi ■ . However, the crew is better now than last year, and that being the case it is hard to pick a crew to beat them. ■ Wairau is going 1 through a special preparation, and Hamilton will pro-

bably make a good show, but can have only an outside chance of contending successfully against Union. Queen's Drive may prove the toughest nuts to crack. They turn out good oarsmen m the south. The stroke (G. Clark) is an' experienced oarsman and he has three good men with him m H. Pritchard, L. 'n!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii|iiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiin)iiiii

Although the entries are not large — they are rather disappointing as a matter of fact — some classic rowing should be witnessed on the Picton course at the New Zealand championships Regatta on Saturday.

Fountain and D. . Matheson. Barring accidents, . however, the "rooster" should remain m the river city. | The pairs championship promises to provide a great race, though pair-oared form is very unreliable. Stiles Bios. (Avon) rowed so well together last year that they must have. iiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

a rosy chance of retaining the title if they go as well next Saturday. However, they will meet strong opposition m Williams and Cooke, thefamous Star crew, and Galbraith and Healey (Wangahui Union) may also be hard to beat. "Gus." Jackson had conditions all against him m the single sculls las. Saturday, but he won well. The water is likely to be smoother afPicton, and t.M<i will suit the present holder of the title. If Jackson gets a chance to show, what he can do ..in smooth water then it is only a question of how much he will win by. If he gives of his best at Picton hewill prove beyond a shadow of doubt that his form m Sydney was all wrong. ' : A young sculler' who ' gives much promise is W. Turner, of Tauranga. He showed a lot of pace at Wanganui last season,. but cracked up after going half the distance. He has improved m style and stamina since, and he may bent all but OTackson. Summed up, the championship events may result: Single Sculls — "Gus." Jackson 1, Turner 2, St. Clair 3; Double Sculls— Wanganui Union • 1, Hamilton 2, Avon 3. Pairs— Avon 1, Star 2, Wanga- : hui Union 3. < ' Championship Fours — Wangariui Union i; Queen's Drive 2, Hamilton 3. , '