WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 627, 2 April 1929, Page 14

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

Entries for the Fearon Pairs, to be rowed by Waitemata, closed day. * * * There has been no meeting of the A.R.A. lately on account of the absence of the secretary, Mr. E. H. Buckler, who has been away on leave. A meeting will be held as soon as possible, when details of the Whau finances will be discussed. * * * SEASON REVIEWED A x’egatta season chock-full of interest has now drawn to a close, and the fortunate clubs of the province are busily wondering what to do with their winnings (?). It is a pleasing feature of the season’s racing that wins have been fairly evenly divided, particularly in the city, where Auckland and West End, clubs that have had several lean seasons of late years, have been well up in the list. ‘Waitemata has* fallen from its high estate, and is at the foot of the city list, and North Shore has moved up to second. Hamilton is, of course, at the head of the list, and Auckland is second as far as the province is . concerned, though, when Turner’s win at Picton is taken into account, Tauranga takes that position. The total winnings are: Hamilton, £143; Auckland, £59; Tauranga. £49; North Shore, £37; St. George’s £29; West End, £l9; Waitemata, £ls. The placings are: Hamilton, 19 firsts, nine seconds; Auckland, seven firsts, six seconds; Tauranga, seven firsts, three seconds; North Shore, five firsts, seven seconds; West End, four firsts, four seconds; St. George’s, one first, 10 seconds; Waitemata, two firsts, four seconds. Detailed figures of each regatta are: Tauranga.—Tauranga, three firsts, two seconds, £ 29; Hamilton, three firsts, £27; St. George's, one first, two seconds, £l7; Auckland, two firsts, one second, £l6; North Shore, two seconds, £4; Waitemata, two seconds, £4. Whangarei.—North Shore, three firsts, £IG; Hamilton, one first, two seconds, £10; Auckland, one first, two seconds, £8; Waitemata, two firsts, £8; St. George’s, three seconds, Hamilton.—Hamilton, eight firsts, two seconds, £6l; Tauranga, two firsts, one second, £11; St. George’s, four seconds, £7; North Shore, two seconds, £5; Auckland, one second, £l.

Whau.—Hamilton, four firsts, one second, £22; Auckland, two firsts, one second, £18; Tauranga, two firsts, £9; North Shore, one first, one second, £5; West End. four seconds, £4; Waitemata, one second. £2. Ngaruawahia. Hamilton. three firsts, four seconds. £23; Auckland, two firsts, one second. £l6: West End. three firsts, £ls; North Shore, one first, two seconds, £7; Waitemata, one second. £l.

These statistics. • compiled by “Rigger,’’ are approximately correct, though subject to alteration. In addition to the regatta wins, two Dominion honours came Auckland’s way at the championships, when decisive wins were notched by Hamilton in' the senior fours, and Turner (Tauranga) in the single sculls. The Hamilton four and the sculler, as has been the custom for the champions during the last two seasons, may cross the Tasman to the Henley-on-Yarra regatta next season. * ♦ * PRIZE NIGHTS Prize nights generally are fixed for the end of June. Auckland is the only club to make definite arrangement's about its club function so far, and a committee of six, with M. Barrett as convenor, has the organisation of the evening well in hand. • * • INTER-CLUB TROPHIES Holders of inter-club trophies for the season are as follow: Auckland. Smith Shield, Mason Cup, Caro Cup;

St. George’s, Brett Cup, Nixon Cup: Waitemata, Stuart-Reid Cup; North Shore, Mcllwraith Cup; West End, Barrett Cup. Every club on the harbour is represented in this list, and the trophies are well divided. WINTER WORK The usual crop of accidents is marring end of the season racing, and it is to be hoped that those members who can will spend some time in the sheds this winter making necessary repairs. When an accident occurs as late in the season as this, the tendency is for it to be patched roughly and, if the plant is not overhauled during the slack months, the boat will take the water next season with the fault unrepaired, and it will not be long before further delays result. Auckland is the only club so i'ar to make definite arrangements for winter work and organisation among the red and blacks Is remarkable. The executive hopes to put six practice fours on the water in perfect order next season, and if this hope is realised, Auckland trial four racing should be worth going a long way to see. * * * CORRECTING FAULTS A novel and most effective way of correcting faults in style has been discovered by the Varsity eight, which is, unfortunately, debarred by lack of time from taking advantage of it. A rowing enthusiast, who has in his possession a cine-camera, intended to take “close-ups” of the Varsity oarsmen as they were out training. The film would have been shown in slow motion, and each member of the crew could have seen exactly why and how his rowing differed from perfection. There was not time to have a series taken and the film developed before the crew left for the South, but as these cameras become more common their use as an aid to training will probably be taken general advantage of. * * * STILL MORE TRIALS Rowing finishes late this season and there is not a club in the city without trials to be decided. Auckland is nearest to being finished, with only the semi-finals and final of the McCormick pairs to row. Men who are required for the race are in camp, so that it may not be possible to conclude this race next Saturday. Waitemata has the Fearon Pairs and the Foreman Cup double sculls on its programme, and should close the shed doors about April 20. West End members are occupied with single sculls and have set down the Bigelow-Far-rell Cup for handicap singles for April 6, and the Hinton Cup for April 13. The latter race is for maiden scullers, and will complete the club programme. Three events are yet undecided on St. George’s programme: The Oliver Scott pairs for first-year members, the Luke double sculls and the challenge fours for the Thomas Cup. It is probable that two ot these events will be decided Jn one week-end, which should bring the programme to a conclusion by April 12. North Shore also has three events to be decided, and may not finish until April 20. CLOSING DOWN These are the last notes “With the Oarsmen” that will appear this season. “Rigger” wishes to thank club officials who have assisted in supplying material for the weekly column, and particularly the captains of St. George's, Waitemata and Auckland, and the secretary and captain of West End. This season, as never before since The Sun commenced to give rowing regular publicity, the value of its service has been fully appreciated, and clubs have rallied to the support of what are their own particular notes. Thanks are also due to the secretary of the A.R.A, The season has been crammed full of incident, and there is every reason to expect that next summer will see the old sport as popular as in the old days, of which “old-timers” ar© never tired of reminding us.