WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 154, 20 September 1927, Page 13

WITH the OARSMEN

“RIGGER”

BY

NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS Rowing men will from now on devote their principal attention to preparations for the opening of the season. As finer weather approaches, conditions for training are improving, and more and more are getting down to work. With the prospective introduction of the daylight saving principle, the 192728 season may be memorable in the Waitemata’s rowing history. On Sunday last crews were out from every shed. Conditions in the morning were unpleasant, but brightened toward midday. CREW FOR MELBOURNE Arrangements for: the departure for Melbourne of the Waitemata senior crew are now practically complete, and the response to the appeal for funds has to date been satisfactory. With spins every day, as far as weather permits, the crew is rapidly regaining racing trim, and should be in sound condition by the time it leaves on September 30. The crew will use its own boat, which is to be shipped to Melbourne, and will use tubular oars, the existing set to be supplemented with two new sweeps purchased in Sydney. A. coxswain familiar with the Yarra will be “borrowed” in Melbourne. 0 0* WEST END’S HISTORY The West End Club, which holds its annual meeting to-night, was formed in 1884 as an offshoot of the old Ponsonby Club, which began operations in 1877. The parent club did not survive very long—it was wound up in 1892—but West End flourished. Before the defection of Ponsonby, which was one of the three clubs that met in 1883' to form the Auckland Rowing Association, there were seven clubs in Auckland. Five clubs still survive, and are in sound positions. The other club, besides Ponsonby, was City, a successor to the first City Club, which was formed in 1869. DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE The early history of the world’s oldest sculling event, the race for ’Doggett’s Coat and Badge, is shrouded in obscurity. Thomas Doggett, a famous comedian, founded the contest about 1715, when he created a fund for the presentation of each winner with an elaborately braided livery, to which a large badge is attached by means of a strap round the left arm. The influence of heredity is shown by the fact that the race has been won by four different members of the Barry family. This year the successful sculler was L. B. Barry, a younger brother of the man who was beaten by Goodsell. PHELPS TO THE FORE The record for wins by one family in Doggett’s is held by the Phelps. Old Charlie Phelps, who was driving a launch in attendance on one of the

competitors in this year’s race, won in 1884, and three sons have also been successful, H. T. in 1919, T. J. in 1922, and R. W. in the following year, while Jack Phelps, a fourth son, is eligible, and will scull in next year’s contest, in which he has a good chance of success. H. T. Phelps, the eldest of the four sons, is the new bargemaster of the Thames Fishmongers’ Company, and this year made a very successful debut as starter and umpire. NORTH SHORE LIGHT-WEIGHTS Pictured here are E. Korns and O. Townsend, stroke and three respectively of the North Shore light-weight maiden crew which was so successful

last season. Its outstanding performance was the capture of three firsts at Dargaville, where both "maiden races were won, as well as the youths’ fours. At Hamilton the light and heavyweight maiden events were again collected. Altogether, the crew, of which the other members were W. Seagar and B. McCallum, scored six firsts and two seconds, and was second in the Smith Shield event. Superb fitness and plenty of punch were its principal assets. 0 0* SULLIVAN’S SUCCESS Recent mention of Tom Sullivan, who was a prominent North Shore oarsman, and for a time worked at Logan’s boatshed, Devonport, recalls that for a time he was one of the famous Wellington creAr, consisting of Sullivan, Bridson, Rose and McKay, which repeatedly won the principal four-oared events throughout the colony. Bridson in 1890 won the amateur sculling championship of Australia and New Zealand, while Sullivan went to England and won the championship of that country, as well as several cash events, commanding what was then big money. A BEREAVEMENT The sympathy of all Auckland rowing men will be extended to J. Haylock, the popular West End secretary, whose younger brother was killed in a motor-cycle accident at Featherston on Saturday. Like his brother, the victim of the tragic smash was a popular sportsman, and formerly followed rowing at Wanganui, where the family was located before it came north.