WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 498, 30 October 1928, Page 14

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

Opening the season at Hamilton on Saturday, Mr. Douglas Hay, president of the club, mentioned that Hamilton had won 18 events in regattas last season, which was twice the number won bV any other club in Auckland Province. z

Delegates to the Auckland Rowing Association from Hamilton are Messrs. S. Buchanan, W. Brydon and V. St. George. W. Kane and I. W. St. Clair have been chosen as selectors.

Waitemata has 12 new members, St. George’s 8 and Auckland about half a dozen. Shore, however, heads the list with 14.

Jackson, who is rowing bow in the Shore senior crew this season, is an old St. George’s man. This club will also feel the loss of Page, last year’s captain, who, so “Rigger” is told, will have little time to devote to rowing this season.

The Public Works Department has amended its plans for the permanent bridge on the waterfront road near Hobson Point to include three 40ft spans and six 30ft spans, instead of the nine spans each of 30ft. This decision will be hailed with pleasure by Auckland’s rowing fraternity, and the Auckland Club, for one, will now finalise its agreement with the Harbour Board in regard to leasing a site near Purewa Creek.

Club races at West End this season will be rowed, except in the case of “At Homes,” from the Victoria Cruising Club to Shelly Beach Baths.* The course is approximately a mile in length, and, being straight, should give satisfaction to all.

On the condition that they can be finished in time for the season’s work, St. George’s is ordering two practice single sculls from Norton, of Wellington.

A.R.A. REPORT “Rigger” has just seen a copy of the Auckland Rowing Association’s annual report, to be presented on November 5. It is mentioned that two clubs less were affiliated last season than was the case in 1926-1927. The total clubs’ membership was 327, compared with 320 in +he preceding season. Reference is made to the proposed course on the Whau and the committee will recommend that this season’s important events be held there if satisfactory arrangements can be made, particularly in regard to the Power Boat Association’s use of the course. The balance sheet reveals an excess of expenditure over income of £l4 12s lid, the outstanding item being the amount drawn for the expenses of the inter-provincial eight. Depreciation on the eights has been written off as £2O 5s for the first year. * * * NEW ZEALAND WINS AGAIN

Wanganui Union is to be congratulated on its senior crew’s victory at Melbourne. The cabled report says that the crew was never troubled in

either the heat or the final, and remembering the fact that they were rowing in a borrowed boat and against some of the strongest crews in Australia, this is a remarkable tribute to the crew’s capabilities. This is the third successive win for a New Zealand crew in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup. The winners have been Otago, in 1926; Waitemata, 1927; and Wanganui Union this season. WEST END CREWS West End regatta crews for the season are as follow: Heavy maidens, L. Strange (str.), E. Such, V. McFarlane, E . M. Taylor (bow); maiden doubles, V. Hogan ( str.), F. Conway (bow); pairs, E. Such (str.), I. Strange (bow); single sculls, F. Conway. A light maiden crew will probably be selected later. Owing to having strained the ligaments of his shoulder, J. Haylock will be unable to row at regattas this season. The club’s programme for the season is appended:— Nov. 10.—Subscription Trials. Nov. 24. —Opening day. First “At Home.” Thomas Peacock Shield and trophies donated by Mr. J. A. Peacock. Dec. B.—Pair oar, Mr. J. A. Cooper’s trophies. Evening trials will be held during the same week for Mr. John Clark’s Memorial Shield. Dec. 22.—Pair Oar, Walker Hall’s trophies. • Jan. s.—Trial Fours, R, L. Stewart’s trophies. Evening trials will be rowed during the following week for Kohn Shield. Jan. 19.—Trial Fours, Kohn medals. Feb. 2. —Double sculls, Schmidt’s trophies. March 2.—Bigelow Farrell Cup. March 23.—R. A. Laidlaw Cup. NEW BLOOD

Waitemata has a good infusion of new members this

season, including several prominent footballers, headed by A. H. Keene, the 'Varsity wingforward. Several members of the Grafton Club have joined up, and of these Hammond, with his excellent physique, should make a particularly useful member. J. Kruse, a

brother of W. Kruse, who rows bow in the Union senior crew that won at Melbourne on Saturday, is another new member. Kruse has come from Wanganui to join the railway workshops staff at Otahuhu.

ST. GEORGE'S SPRING CLEANS “Spring-cleaning” was the order of the day at St. George’s on Saturday. Out on the beach a party, headed by Woolhouse, was putting the finishing touches on a single. Upstairs, V. Dunne, the new skipper, was busy re-

buttoning oars. A blackboard with work requiring to be done was inside the St. George’s members certainly do not mind working for their club. It is hoped that the commodore, Mr. H. W. Hudson, will be present to open the season on Saturday week. A programme of water sports will be held on the bay and visitors will probably be taken out in the club’s pleasure boats. ♦ * * WAITEMATA PROBLEM Waitemata will have a problem in arranging its senior four this season. There appears to be a distinct chance that the club may again have the services of T. Johnstone, but V. Smith, Doubleday and D. Smith are all rather doubtful at the moment. To fill the gaps there are several offering, including C. G. Fearon and A. M. McKay, both experienced oarsmen. Among the younger members Galagher is perhaps the most impressive.