WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 20

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

Auckland has still to bring round the last of the boats bought from West End. The inclement weather during the week-end did not attract any Auckland crew to visit St. Mary's Bay. * * * Waitemata's night at Dixieland is still to be held on Thursday. By arrangement with the proprietors, halt proceeds will go to the club’s funds. St. George's dance on Saturday evening was very successful, forty couples attending. The committee has been asked to continue dances at intervals during the season. • * * Ten crews competed in opening day trial fours held at Tauranga on Saturday. Enthusiasm is high, and great racing should be seen at the Boxing Day regatta. * * * West End enrolled four new members during the week-end. The new men are keen and put in some solid work on Sunday. W. H. Conway, West *End veteran, had another win on Saturday rowing behind his son Floyd, who stroked tlj£ crew. The club’s “At Home” will now be held on December 8 to avoid clashing with inter-club fixtures. * * * AUCKLAND CREWS Auckland regatta crews for the season are as follow: Light maidens: J. McCormish (str), M. Barrett, L. Rose, A. Finn (bow); emergencies, T. Morgan, A. Hirtzell, A. Coutts. Open maidens: R. Stacey (str), E. Thorburn, J. Bygate, A. Andrews (bow). Maiden pair (for Tauranga): J. Bygate (str), E. Thorburn (bow). For Whangarei: R. Stacey (str), A. Andrews (bow). Maiden doubles: p. Cleal (str), W. Eaddy (bow-), A youths four may be picked shortly. The junior four, which will be unable to travel until Hamilton Regatta on January 29, is: A. Ross (str), J. Jenkins, E. White-Robinson, R. Mahon (bow). If the sculls are rowed before the pairs at Tauranga, it is probable that Cleal and Eaddy will figure in the latter race. R. Martin wil coach the juniors and G. Jonson the open maiden crew. • * * W. LOGAN’S MOVEMENTS W. Logan, coach to W. Stevenson, informed “Rigger” the other day that he might possibly be in Rotorua for the greater part of the rowing season. If he decides to go, it will probably be within a few days. Stevenson i s still uncertain about having a tilt at the sculling title which he W. Logan allowed to go by default last year. Auckland rowing men would like to see Stevenson get into training again. Though set back by the injury suit ore! earlier in the year, he would certainly extend the present champion, Jackson, whose performances so far, though certainly promising, do not stamp him as the finished performer his Wanganui admirers consider him. INTER-CLUB EVENTS The season’s programme for interclub trophies has been arranged by the delegates to the Auckland Rowing Association, and opens with the Barrett Cup at the North Shore Club’s At Home on November 24. On February 9 the Smith Shield and Mason Cup will be rowed under the control of the Waitemata and St. George’s Clubs. The first race for the Sir Henry Brett Memorial Cup will be decided under the control of the St. George’s Club on February 16. A week later the inter-club eights and Maurice Caro Cup will be decided under the control of the Auckland Club. The Mcllraith Cup contest will take place at North Shore on March 9. The season concludes on March 23 with the Auckland Rowing Association’s championships on the Whau River. * * * ST. GEORGE’S PROGRAMME Following is St. George’s programme for the season:—November 24.—Dingley Memorial

Fours, to be rowed in with the Barrett Cup. “vuoj December S.—Bankart Fours December 15.—Rowsell Fours January 19.—Schmidt Pairs January 20.—Oliver Scott Pairs January 26.—Trial Fours February 2.—Walker and Hall P onrt February 23.—Luke Double SoiX March 3.—Gore Gillon Cup ® March 9.—Thomas Pairs. Most of the Saturdays left blam are the dates fixed for inter-ctah events. The programme is suW to alteration. * * * SHORE NEWS. North Shore Club had rough watefor Saturday’s races, for Mrs Eagietrophy. The crews of F. Norris\J D. Davies were heat-winners. l a thfinal they see sawed until within sighof the finishing mark, when Norri« won by spurting two lengths ahead The club has had practice boats op order from Edwards, Melbourne, f or 14 months, and now, with 24 members, has only two boats avail able for tyros. In addition, the regatta crews use the boats. A ne* best-and-best boat for the seniors, ordered for delivery in February, will arrive at the end of the month.’ The President’s Day is scheduled for November 24. The same after noon the Rar% will be rowed for, all the city clubs entering fours for the elimination series. * * * RYLAND’S DECISION “Wally” Sharpe, the well knowi Wanganui coach, and former chair, pion stroke, tells of a quick decisioi made by E. Ryland, another fine oars man from the Union shed. Rvlaud said good-bye to the Union crew 'when it left Wanganui on the way to Mel bourne for the recent Henley regatta. Seeing them go must have preyed on his mind, for that evening he decided to go himself. The boat was leavinf Wellington at noon the next day, but Ryland managed to get a motor-car to Marton, and catch the Main Truk express there in time to get on the boat just before it left, Mr. Sharpe, who was also with the party, spent a few days In Auckland last week before returning to Wanganui. * * * NEVER TROUBLED Mr. Sharpe told “Rigger” that the Union crew was never worried in the Stewards’ Cup races, and won absolutely as it liked. He criticises the short finish of the Australian crews, and is willing to back the New Zea land style, with its hard drive and deep throw of the body, at any time, lit practice starts with the Mosman eight, which won the grand challenge cup on the Yarra, the Union four was invariably away first, bouncing along nicely after the third chop at the water. Among those who extended their hospitality to the Union crew were the members of the Wendouree Club, which sent its senior four to New Zealand in the 1926-27 season. • • • BOAT RUINED The accident which deprived the Union crew of the uses of its swo boat happened when the boat was ou a coastal steamer en route from Sydney to Melbourne. A heavy sea swept the decks, and knocked the boat’s ease about so much that the boat, inside was completely shattered from the coxswain’s seat back. The backbone was broken, and the general condition was so bad that Mr. Sharpe said “When I saw it, I wanted to put s match to it at once.” Anyway, the Melbourne club loaned a very good craft, and the wrecked shell was left at Melbourne. Union is now without a racing four, as the practice boa: was smashed on a snag some monthago. A new boat will probably ht ordered from Towns at once. ROWING AT TAURANGA The Tauranga Rowing Club had * very successful function for the opening of the season. There were eight races (trial foun_ for the president’s trophy, the winn® crew being Hammond, Fenn, w® and Gillian (str.), with Roy To coxswain. There was a fair a ance of the public.