WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 540, 18 December 1928, Page 14

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

St. George’s next flannel dance will be held on January 12. These functions are now arranged as regularly as possible. * A.R.A. officials who had intended to take a trip up the harbour to inspect the Whau course on Sunday were disappointed. The launch on which the journey was to be made was not available, so the trip will now be made early in the New Year. Writing as captain of St. George's, Mr. V. Dunne has asked the Tauranga Regatta Committee to make an alteration in its programme and put the Junior Fours before the Seniors. Simon and Solomon are rowing in both races, and, if they win in the Seniors, according to the present programme, they will be unable to compete in the Juniors. There will be no more club trials until after the holiday regatta season, the next event being fours for R. L. Stewart’s trophies to be rowed at West End on January 5. Walker and Hall’s pairs, which were to be held at West End next Saturday, have been postponed. A ROWING PROBLEM If a race is started by mutual consent, there being no umpire, who is competent to judge whether a defeated oarsman’s appeal should bo sustained? This is a problem that is considerably exercising the minds of the members of several harbour clubs at present. A serious mix-up marked the rowing of Waitemata’s final in trials rowed on Saturday. W. A. Stevenson recovered quickest and got way to snatch a victory from Impey. Leaving the question of whether or not Stevenson would hay© won ordinarily; the collision took place near the reef, all three crews being implicated. There was no umpire; the judge was too far away to pass any opinion; who is to adjudicate in the event of an appeal? One would naturally assume that the strokes would have different stories of the collision. A foul also marked Auckland’s race for the Kolin Challenge Shield. It would be as well for all crews to remember that at Tauranga, they will be rowing under strict regatta conditions with an umpire’s watchful eye upon them. TAU RANGA’S BLACK DAY The imminence of the Tauranga regatta recalls last year’s fixture, marred by one of the most perverse winds that ever swept a Xew Zealand rowing course. The course is usually one of the most sheltered stretches obtainable in the country, but on this occasion a strong wind raked the lower reaches, raising very heavy seas. Trouble started in the first race of the day, and continued thereafter. In some of the raoes neither scullers nor oarsmen could keep afloat in the troubled waters, and the conclusion of one race was a truly extraordinary sight, the winning crew practically swimming across the line. Boats waterlogged or awash were to be seen in all directions. Only by changing the course for the last two or three races could the programme be finished. The unfortunate but unavoidable happenings illustrated once again that no course is perfect. Tauranga is an excellent course in reasonable weather.

THE FINISHING TOUCHES Regatta crews were out in full strength during the week-and putting the finishing touches on their style and developing that' elusive “swing.” Auckland’s crews put in some solid work on Saturday, Light and Heavy Maidens and Doubles being out for the greater part of the afternoon. The most noticeable feature of the trials was the improved form shown by deal and Eaddy, the club’s scullers. Eaddy is showing better finish than his partner, but it is on deal’s strength that the pair will laigely rely for victory. Eaddy, who will be a Youth for several seasons to come, may stroke a Youths’ Four for the club later in the season. Waitemata Seniors and Juniors took a long pull to Kauri Boint on Sunday. The Seniors lasted well, Stevenson setting a fairly stiff stroke, but the

Juniors were not quite so fresh an turned back before reaching the Poir Waitemata’s pair-oared represent tives are as follow: Maiden Pair* w Johnson (.sir), J. Beasley * Junior Pairs. C. Fearon (str), j L Stevenson (bow). STUART REID EIGHTS At a. meeting of club delegates heir last Thursday evening a list of ruC for the annual race for the Stuart eights was drawn up. The race be for competition by all the harboclubs over a course preferably i n th upper readies of the harbour,‘and not less than two miles in length. W arrangements will be controlled bv * committee consisting of two delegate" from each competing club, a chairma: with a deliberative and casting vote be appointed by the Auckland Club h, whose hands the disposal of the c " really lies. All competing clubs W share losses or gains. In the event r the race not being held, the cup sh~ revert to Auckland, which shall the-' be empowered to draw up any new rules necessary. ONE OF WEST END’S BEST A young oarsman who is showing great promise is V. McFarlane, of Ker. End. He has already stroked two crews to victory this season-one In an inter-club event and the other in subscription trials. Last season he rowed behind J. Haylock in the maider pairs and the combination carried West End? brightest hope? Unfortunately, both at Hamilton and Ngaruawahia, the pair met with mishaps which put them definitely out of the running. This season McFarlane will row in the pairs again with Haylock. He will also stroke a strong youths’ four and row in the Heavy Maidens at Whangarei. M. Conway, u boy who was a club coxswain not so long ago, will row bow in the youths. He will be the fourth Conway on the club’s active list —a father and three sons, and all good oarsmen. Wes: End Light Maidens are not going to Whangarei. TAURANGAS FREE-FOR-ALL Who will predict the result of the Senior Fours at Tauranga? There ar-. more conflicting opinions being expressed about this race just at present than have been the case for several years past. Five crews have entered for the event and, though none a condemned as having absolutely r.o chance, none is hailed as a certain victor. Hamilton has the strongest crew individually, but not many experts are impressed with the idea of Gordon St. Clair occupying stroke seat. Tauranga is rather an unknown quantity, but Tonkin, who will stroke the Bay crew, has a good number of wins to his credit. Waitemata is likely to be Auckland? fancy and the crew is going well at present. St. George’s has not made many appearances on the harbour and news of the crew’s progress is scanty. Shore’s boat is said to be running well, though there are still many minor faults in style that could be corrected. The general opinion seems to be tba: the race will be between Waitemata and Hamilton, with St. George’s wel. up. The weather, of course, will ph: its usur.l part. • • • PUBLICITY IN AUSTRALIA Jackson is getting a great receptic: in Australia and rowing critics ovc. the Tasman seem to be more optimist: over his chances than do many of own friends in New Zealand. A Sydney morning daily writes thus of Jac:> son: “Jackson, the winner of the Ne~ Zealand championship, is described a splendid type of sculler, and the V Zealand authorities class him as t: best amateur the Dominion has turnet out. He has already beaten stk-well-known scullers as Stevenson (*cwas beaten by Pearce in the Yarra Sculls race at Henley on Yarra 1C October, 1927), and Gordon St. Clair, who won the New South Wales title * few years ago. Little is known of tb* second sculler (Bright), except that was the runner-up in the New Zealai'championship.” “Rigger” must commend such a reception for the dominion’s representative, but cannot feeling that the writer’s pen has ru* away with him. In the first P IaC " there are few New' Zealanders would yet class Jackson as the be s amateur sculler the Dominion turned out. Again he has beaten Stevenson. Indeed, thoflf* that the latter through his from last year’s championships niaj*® gift of the title to Jackson. Next aurday, however, may see Jackson co*. found his critics. Australian CTi are unanimous in prophesying & k T * race. „