“ONE ROUND”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 134, 27 August 1927, Page 11

“ONE ROUND”

“One Round” Kelly was proud of his nickname. He determined that lie would continue to deserve it. Having stopped his first three opponents in the first round, the name, naturally, had been attached to him. _ He became a star, a “main-eventer.” That one-round reputation was, then too valuable an asset to lose. All element of risk must be eliminated A dozen fights in succession were "framed” for him. Each one lasted a fraction of a round. True, the public was suspicious, sceptical, scornful —but what of that? He loved the designation, and meant to retain it. , « . \ tempting bait was offered bmi. Being a “draw,” lie was offered a fight with Wolgast. The fight m»d lasted' about 20 seconds; then V. ol east clipped him on the chm. g He was still "One Round Kell}, but somehow he had lost pride m th« title.

with company of the gentler persuasion, or perhaps in the coarser society of fellow-warriors. As in New Zealand, England’s rowing underwent a severe slump in the years 1915, 1916, and 1917, when school rowing was the only class seriously pursued. In the summer of 1917 a services regatta was conducted at Marlow, when an Australian eight, no less than four of whom were afterwards killed in action, beat an Air Force crew, but there is no record of New Zealand entries, and not until May 30, 1918, is New Zealand participation recorded in that reliable little volume the Rowing Almanac. On that day a blinded soldiers’ regatta was held at Putney, where a crew of sightless Anzacs, including J. M. McPhee and C. Simes, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, beat a mixed crew by the narrow margin of two feet. A services regatta was held* at Hammersmith three weeks later, when New Zealanders participated in mixed eights. In one crew, rowing four, was F. W. Spurdle, a New Zealander, and in the others were Driver Lomas, of Napier, and Artillerymen Kendrick, Wanganui, Anderson and Marshall, all of the New Zealand forces. A photograph of the latter crew hangs in the Waitemata shed. It was stroked by

T. Marshall, who still participates actively in local rowing, and who states that the event catalogued as a serious race was in reality only an exhibition row by the two crews. THE KHAKI UNIVERSITY The Canadian forces had a regatta of their own at Putney on July C. Later the Canucks formed what became a famous sporting organisation —the khaki university. Shortly afterwards the New Zealanders appeared on the scene as serious factors in contemporary rowing. Healey and W. Coombes had been in hospital at Hornchurch, and on recovery they allied with kindred spirits to get several promising crews going. Like unknown invaders the New Zealanders descended on Hammersmith, where a service regatta was held on August 10, and practically scooped the pool. D. C. Hadfield easily beat all opposition in the sculling events, and rowed bow in the winning boat, which beat another New Zealand crew (J. Laing, T. Goudie, R. B. Forrester and G. H. Wilson) in the final of the senior fours. Corporal Horrick, L. Garton, L. Curtis and Sergeant C. Perry, also New Zealanders, beat the Royal Air Force in the maiden fours, and in the senior eight the winning crew was also of New Zealand, beating the Wattles (Australia) easily in the final. The members of the New Zealand crew were: C. J. Welsh. P. Monagatti, T. Wright, F. S. Bush, W. Keenan, W. Coombes, C. R. Moore and C. Healey, with G. H. Wilson coxswain. Of the crew, Coombes. Wilson and Healey were from the Union Boat Club, Wanganui. Mongatti was a Nelson man, though last year, curiously enough, he and Healey were both playing for the Pirates Football Club, Wanganui. Thus was formed the nucleus of the magnificent crew later assembled, though as early as August 31 the eight had undergone changes. Then was held the inter-services regatta at Putney, “confined to members of the khaki university of Canada boating clubs,” so it appears that the New Zealanders must have joined that illustrious institution in a body. Hadlield did not compete in the single sculls, but occupied the No. 3 seat in the crew which won the eights, beating Canada by two lengths. Though Healey was still at the stroke oar, the crew differed from that which won at Hammersmith, and now comprised: R. Forrester (bow), G. H. Wilson, D. C. Hadfield, T. Goudie, C. W. Keenan, W. G. Coombes. C. R. Moore and Healey. Practically the same crew, with the substitution of R. E. Fitzer for Keenan, beat the Australian Forces at the R.A.F. regatta at Reading on September 21, and Healey’s crew won again on Boxing Day, when a midwinter regatta was staged at Richmond.

REVIVAL OF ROWING Peace now dwelt upon a war-wearied world, and the spring of 1919 opened with a wonderful revival of rowing in England. The high command allowed special facilities to the New Zealand soldier-oarsmen, several of whom were transferred to the military post office, to deal with the Christmas mails, and after that they were free for much further rowing, - a boat equipment being bought with accumulated sports funds. Healey and his merry men braved the freezing Thames and wintry air to get practice during the early spring, and at a series of regattas, some of which were organised by E. C. Day, now a Hamilton auctioneer, they repeated their 1918 successes. Some of the men who rowed and won at the many river carnivals, were Patterson (who rowed for Picton in last season’s championships), Coombes, Trussell (coxswain), Mcßoberts, Rutledge (Auckland), Horne (Timaru),

White (Auckland), Healey, Wilson, Prideau (Wanganui), J. Fry, Lester (Christchurch), L. G. -Croll, L. Johnston, T. Polton, J. Tench, L. Garton and E. Pentecost. The great events of the services rowing season were the inter-allied race in Paris, the Henley regatta, on the Thames, and the Pershing games, also staged in Paris. For their share in these important fixtures the New Zealanders trained assiduously, making their headquarters at the beautifully-fitted Thames Rowing Club, where supporters came regularly to watch their training. J. Brittain, a well-known professional, helped to coach the crews, and J. Fry and Coombes were the selectors. For the international race on the Seine, rowed on April 27 in in-rigged boats, there were entries from Portugal, Newfoundland, France, New Zea-

land. Alsace-Lorraine and America. [ This is a copy of the inscription on each of the cups the New Zealanders won: TRAVERSEE DE PARIS A L’AVIRON Huit Rameurs Epreuve Militaire inter-Allies 27 April, 1919 Each cup bears a crest, enamelled in colours, and is a worthy memento of an epic feat. Rowing over a mile and

a-quarter course, under six bridges that were packed with people, the New Zealanders beat America by eight feet. Other crews in the final were Newfoundland and France, between whom there was a dour struggle for third place. AMERICA OVERHAULED After leading at the start of the race New Zealand lost ground, and only a determined sprint resulted in the eclipse of the Americans in a heartrending finish. France got third, the race throughout being rowed at a fast

clip. The in-rigged boats yielded more pace than would be imagined, and proved to be little slower than clin-ker-built gigs. After Paris came Henley, from July 2 till 5. Mcßoberts had replaced Patterson in the New Zealand crew, which now comprised: Sergeant G. H. Wilson (10.12), Sergeant A. T. White (10.8), Sergeant D. C. Hadfield (12.4), Sergeant W. G. Coombes (10.13), Lieutenant C. L. Lester (12.0),

Sergeant S. B. R. Rutledge (12.12), Sergeant J. I. Mcßoberts (11.9), Sergeant C. A. Healey (str., 11.9), and A. H. Trussell (cox, 8.9). The abundance of sergeants may be noted. Unfortunately the New Zealanders were eliminated early in the proceedings by a fine Cambridge crew, stroked by that magnificent oarsman, P. H. G. Hartley. Also in the winning boat was Lieutenant M. V. Burton, who died from pneumonia, with tragic suddenness, a few months later. Many attributed the failure of the

New Zealanders to Healey’s inability to retain an early lead. The Maorilanders thus failed to capture the King’s Cup, which was won by the Australian Army crew, and is now the cherished trophy for the Australian inter-state eights. But Hadfield won the Kingswood Sculling Cup. while a four-oar, comprising Prideaux, Horne, Croll and Fry got as far as the second round of the senior fours, only to be outed by an American

For the Pershing regatta in Paris the New Zealanders went across at the urgent invitation of Major Paul Withington, a sporting American. The New Zealanders reached the final of the eights, but finished third in a stirring race, Cambridge winning from Australia, though Hadfield won the sculls in great style.

While at Paris the New Zealanders were billeted with other oarsmen from Cambridge University, and the Australian and American military services, and they experienced the true meaning of the world-wide fellowship of rowing men. Major Withington was a grand host, and some were even able to return to England on an American battleship. Shortly afterwards the crew was dispersed, as re-embarka-tion was proceeding rapidly. The boat in which they won their triumphs is now at the Union Boating Club’s shed in Wanganui. Still in first-class racing condition, it is a historic memento of a bright chapter in New Zealand rowing.