WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 522, 27 November 1928, Page 14

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

A. G. K. Jackson, Wanganui sculler and present New Zealand champion, definitely leaves for Sydney at the end of the month. The match which has been arranged to take place between him and H. R. Pearce, the Australian and Olympic champion, will be rowed on the Parramatta on December 22.

Senior members of St. George’s are rallying round in splendid style to coach the club’s new members, who now go out both morning and evening. * * * One of the most spirited finishes seen at Shore on Saturday was that between Ross and Bygate in the final of the Auckland trials. Although Ross Jost ground through the carelessness of his cox, Bygate’s sprint was a splendid effort, and no one could begrudge him the race. * * * deal and Eaddy, Auckland’s maiden scullers, are in trouble over their boat, having ripped a hole in it. It is not yet certain whether it can be satisfactorily repaired. It is probable that this pair will figure in the junior pairs as well as the doubles at Whangarei. * * * St. George’s will hold another dance in the Parnell Park kiosk on Saturday week. * * * Regatta officials for the season will be appointed at the next meeting of the Auckland Rowing Association executive, to be held on December 12. Auckland rowed the semi-final of the Henderson Cup fours last Thursday evening, when Jonson’s crew beat deal’s crew by a length and a-half. The final is postponed indefinitely as Wigley of Eaddy’s crew, the other finalists, is in hospital. * * * Waitemata is the only club holding trial fours next Saturday, when the competition for the C. J. Ellerbeck trophies will be decided. SHORE’S AT HOME Shore’s At Home on Saturday was a most successful function. There was a splendid attendance of visitors as well as about 70' oarsmen from the four city clubs who took part in the Barrett Cup contest. It is of great value to the sport to have combined efforts such as Saturday’s contest. The attention of the public is drawn to the fact that rowing is still alive in Auckland. On Saturday there were 80 oarsmen competing and 1.4 races were rowed, at the rate of about one every quarter-hour. “Rigger” would like to suggest that, in the preliminary events, a shorter course should be used. Saturday’s course was a full mile and it was 6.30 before the cup race was finished. Apart from the fact that one can hardly expect spectators to wait as long as that, even for the chief event of the day, it must be remembered that most of the contestants had to row their boats back across the harbour, with the result that it was about 7.30 before many of them left the sheds. From the spectator’s potnt of view a sprint is much more exhiliarating to watch than the finish of a stiff mile against the tide. Perhaps the organisers of the next inter-club event may see fit to remedy this, though as the season progresses and the crews become fitter the necessity, to a certain extent, will disappear. FIRST BLOOD TO WEST END No rowing nthusiast in Auckland c ? n xL ail to be P lea sed with the result of the first inter-club race of the season. It is never a pleasant thought reflect that a club is going down the hill, and last season was certainly a lean time for West End. With a well conditioned plant and a satisfactory muster of keen new members

the club anticipates a successful season, and '‘Rigger” hopes that Saturday’s win will prove a happy augury. McFarlane rowed a well-judged race and thoroughly deserved his victory, though, had the course been a few lengths longer, it is probable that Bygate would have secured a win for Auckland.

AMONG THOSE PRESENT Visitors to Shore’s At Home included Mr. Phil Stevenson, who rowed in the club’s heavy maidens in prewar days. Mr. Stevenson, who now lives in Oldham, England, is visiting his relatives in Eevonport, and expects to return to the Old Country early in the New Year. Mr. Alex Harris, tot ~- e --he club, declared the season open, and congratulated the club on entering the 56th year of its existence. He described rowing as the cleanest sport in the world, and expressed a hope that Shore would be head of the harbour this season. Mr. Harris paid a condiment to the — ww 4 . lllJlu . c e, which had raised EnS? y £ j* oo for the Purchase oPnew not yet to hand. 7;' 'X; McLean, life member and past president, and Mr. N. C Camprnn president of the club, also spoke. Mr! o' . r represented the Auckland fuming Association, and Mr. C. Malsecretary of the Whangarei ReSt tta T CornmlU ee, was also present, file Ladies’ Committee, under the direction of Jlesdames Seagar, Butland, Farquharson and Sharp, provided afternoon tea.

* * * A FEW FAULTS Following on a criticism of the Shore senior crew, which was published in The Sun last Tuesday, the club captain sends a list of faults which are apparent in the heavy maid* ens and other regatta crews. “Norris, stroke of the heavy maidens,” he writes, “is inclined to shoot his slide and skys his oar before the catch” (a complaint that is generally known as cocking.) “Three slices his oar by not turning the blade sufficiently at the catch; two reaches a trifle too far forward and does not get his hands away quite quickly enough at the finish of the stroke; bow leans away from his oar.” Certainly the most serious of these mistakes is slicing. It means that a man will row deep and will hav* difficulty in chopping his blade out at the end of thestroke. He is also doing much useless work which would be avoided if he took only a “bladeful” of water at each stroke. The critic mentions that the light maidens aro developing a good swing. He also predicts a good season for the youths, who are spending their third season in that class. “The stroke does not finish quite close enough in to m» body,” he concludes.

ST. GEORGE’S REPRESENTATIVES A list of regatta crews additional t® that already published in these note* has been supplied to “Rigger” by StGeorge's: Maide* double sculls: D’Authreau (str.). C. Kelleway (bow), maiden pairs, Coote (str.), S. Hislop (bow); junior pair. I>. R. McGregor (str.). F. Solomon (bowj; youths* four, W. JL. Carr (str.). I. Duncan. McAlpine, K. Auger mow;; senior lour, M. Simons (str. , F. Solomon, V. Hargreaves. y- ■vl Woolhouse (bow). The senior four i picked for Tauranga, and Sunona an Solomon will rew juniors as seniors at the Bay regatta. * * *

HAMILTON’S NEW BOAT The new clinker racing four chased by the Hamilton Rowing <- from Melbourne is expected to rive at Hamilton to-morrow. * cost of the boat was about . it is urgently required as a rac* » four was badly damaged early m season. It is expected the new will be raced at the forthcoming re gatta at The Whangarei Rowing Club opened the season on Saturday. TPhe wa , was good and the weather line, a there was a good muster of mem » and supporters. Seven crews co peted in the president’s trophy rac the winning crew being Hannan, Hughes, Storey and Clark. In accordance with custom the tr phies won by members last seaso were presented during the afternoo by the president, Mr. A. D. Jack, congratulated the winners and club members generally on the work achieved.