WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 622, 26 March 1929, Page 16

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

G. Bloxham was judge for the Laidlaw Sculls rowed by West End on the short course last Saturday.

Auckland’s reunion dinner 'has beerfixed for the last week in May. The committee appointed to make arrangements for the function is Messrs. G. Hogan (president), M. Barrett, H. Duck, R. Mahon, A. Doull, A. Ross, G. Field.

Waitemata members were busy during the week-end and repaired the skids in front of the boathouse.

A general meeting of the Auckland Club is called for the morning of April 14 at the clubhouse.

C. Read, a well-known member of the ’Waitemata Club, is leaving for Sydney shortly on a five weeks’ holiday.

ST. GEORGE'S ACTIVITIES

In addition to the trial fours for the Dingley Memorial Cup already reported in The Sun, St. George’s held the Gore Gillon Cup competition and the Tewsley Double Scuils during the weekend. The Gore Gillon Cup is a competition for first year members and points are given for boatsmanship, style, catch, blade and slide work, hands and finish. The winner this year was A. Mayhill, a promising young oarsman.

For the Tewsley Double Sculls five crews entered, as follow: —C. D’Autlireau (str). C. R. Randle (bow); F. Solomon (str), J. Coote (bow); G. Fogerty (str), J. Duncan (bow); H. Tong (str), S. Hislop (bow); W. Carr (str), E. Auger (bow). First heat: Solomon gained a slight advantage at the start and beat D’Authreau by three-quarters ot a length.

Second heat: This was another good race, but Fogerty and Duncan being a well - matched * pair, with more weight, than their rivals, drew ahead early in the race and, with the long, powerful stroke set by Fogerty, never seemed in danger of losing, beating Tong by two lengths.

Third heat: Carr rowed Solomon, the winner of the first heat. From an even start Carr gained a slight lead in the first hundred yards, but at the tide rip at the first bridge in the embankment a swimmer crossed the bows of the boat and the coxswain had to alter the

course slightly, which lost the Crew the advantage gained. From then on a hard race ensued, Solomon gradually drawing away from his lighter rivals to win by three lengths. Final: The final provided the race of the day, Solomon (str) and Coote meeting Fogerty (str) and I. Duncan. Both crews were heavy and in perfect condition, Solomon slightly at a disadvantage through having had two races to the one rowed by Fogerty. From an excellent start the crews raced on even terms to the first bridge,

and on crossing the tide rip there Fogerty gained a slight advantage, which he increased to half-way, where Solomon put in a determined and sustained challenge and drew almost level. Fogerty and Duncan, rowing like machines, lay into their work and fought their opponents through the challenge and then, a hundred yards from home, seeing Solomon coming at them again, spurted gamely and won a most gruelling race by a length.

A feature of the competition was the excellent standard ot sculling shown by all the competitors, the stroke set by Fogerty being up to New Zealand championship form.

FORTUNATE WEST END

West End is fortunate in having on ils list a member whose generosity is expressed in a most tangible form. R. Woodside, a keen and active oarsman, is footing the bill for the painting of the boathouse on the bay. He has bought the paint and is paying the wages of the men engaged on the work. The thanks of the West End executive are tendered to the donor of this most acceptable gift.

NO EASTER RACING

There will be no Easter racing in city or province. Petone has withdrawn its challenge for the Somerville Shield, so the race that was to havo been rowed on the Waikato during the holidays has been abandoned, as also have been the additional races the Hamilton Club considered putting on at the same time. City club members will be out of town, so trial racing will be postponed until April 6. Impey's victory on Saturday means that he has won the Buck Medals four times. He is one of Waitemata’s keenest members.

BUSY OARSMEN

The week-end was a time of activity for oarsmen from all five city clubs and seven sets of trials were brought to a conclusion. The end of the season is now in sight and clubs are cramming as much into each day as possible in order to finish all trials within a reasonable time. A feature of the racing was the enthusiasm displayed by members who rallied round in good style. Waitemata had six crews in trials for the Buck trophies. Five crews from Shore raced for club trophies and four crews from St. George’s contested the Dingley Memorial Cup. There were 10 entrants for handicap single sculls at West End. when the fate of the R. A. Laidlaw Cup was decided. Auckland had a challenge race for the Kohn Medals. Water conditions were a little choppy out in the harbour, but Waitemata and St. Georges rowed inside the Hobson Bay embankment and West End in St. Mary’a Bay.

PINE ISLAND EIGHTS

A meeting of the Pine Island Eights Committee was held last evening, when it was discovered that the fixture had resulted in a loss of about £l2, which will be borne by the clubs which made the guarantee. It amounts to only £3 each, and was certainly worth the money from an advertising point of view. It is the intention of the committee to hold the race on the Whau Creek next season. The estimated expenses would then be only £lo—£s for taking the boats to the course, £1 10s for the use of the eights to be paid to the A.R.A., and £3 10s for advertising. This is considered 1o be a much better proposition, and it Is

expected that great interest will be taken in the event next season. Waitemata is the present holder of the Stuart-Reid Cup. winning decisively at Pine Island.

VARSITY'S CHANCES

The Varsity Eight is training hard at present in anticipation of a gruelling race on a treacherous harbour in four days' time. The crew is said to be going well, and does three miles at a rattling pace each evening. On one

evening during the week-end the crew went down to St. Heliers and was swinging along very satisfactorily. McCalluin has now been shifted back to six Seat and Keegan is stroking the crew. This arrangement is said to be satisfactory, but, unless the Waitemata man rows with more

style than he did in trial fours on Saturday, it could hardly be an improvement. Keegan, however, though perhaps not a stylist, has the maximum of stamina and should set a lively pace. The crew is at present in difficulties over a boat. Canterbury is very much averse to boating the Aucklanders, and it is now too late to send a local eight down. Unless Canterbury decides to be a little more generous, the race may have to be rowed in heats, which would be unfortunate from the spectators’ point of view.