WITH THE OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 812, 5 November 1929, Page 14

WITH THE OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

SPLASHES Though the club season lias not yet offieiallv opened, several W aitemata crews were out for a spin on featurdav W. H. Eaddy. who sculled and rowed so well for Auckland last season, was in the stroke seat of one boat. may stroke Waiteinata Juniors. W. Fleming, a new member of the Auckland club, is the son of Fleming who was captain of the same club lor about six years immediately after the war. S Scott, a new member rowing his first race, promised well as three man in Bygate’s crew on Saturday Waitemata shed looks tidy, and the plant is in excellent order. Captain C G. Fear on is said to have put in some solid work during the winter months. From 12 to 13 members are swelling the ranks of Auckland. So far seven have signed on ant* the rest are likely to follow in their footsteps. Some of the tyros who rowed in Saturday s race looked likely men. Regatta crews are already preparing for the holiday fixtures. Waitemata had maiden and youths fours out during the week-end. Auckland is said to have a strong youths four this season and the racing in the class should be keen. To mention two others only, there is the North Shore crew, which has already proved itself, and the Hamilton four. St. George's Regatta crews will be picked during the week-end. Shore crews have been out. E. H. Korn is to stroke the juniors and A. Coates the heavy maidens. INTER-HOUSE ACTIVITY ‘tAfter a lapse of one year it seems probable that the inter-house race will be revived this season. Macky Logan’s crew is announced as follows: R. Wood (stroke), H. Little, P. Williams, R. Barry (bow). The crew will train from the Auckland shed for the race, which is set down for December 7. A. Andrews, of the Auckland club, has taken the responsibility of getting together a team from the Farmers’ Trading Company. There will probably be crews from Sargood, Son and Ewen and Milne and Choyce (the holders), and it is understood that seven crews in all will face the starter. Possibly two crews will be entered from the bigger houses. FIRST TWO WINNERS The winners of the first two club races staged on the harbour this season are men who did well at the opening stages of last season also. Auckland’s race for the historic pewter mug was splendidly won by a crew with J. Dygate as stroke. The crews were evenly matched and McComish, Bygate and Stacey appeared to have an equal chance. The qui«k, snappy work of McComish’s light-weights would have been more useful in choppy water, however, andM Stacey and Bygate, both rowing with powerful, steady swing and plenty of leg drive, were left to fight out the race. Bygate got home with only half a length to after a great tussle. He is stroking the Auckland junior crew this season and should do well. McFarlane, who won at West End on Labour Day, had no easy victory, being hard pushed by F. Conway, but he rowed well for a narrow win. SHORE ITEMS Yet another inter-club trophy will be open for competition if Shore’s intentions in regard to the Cameron Cup are carried through. The cup was presented to Shore for single sculling, but, as all the skiffs in the shed are privately owned, it has been impossible to find a holder for the cup. It is pro-

posed to make the trophy f or . club singles and run the race r ‘ same time as the Mcllraith.Cim tL?is at present held by Shore. *» clinker four from Towns * should arrive for Shore before mas. nrir - SATU RDAY’S RACING The three harbour clubs that h not already staged trials this oc 7* Tt will open their programmes on S BOS day. North Shore is holding ' Home, when there will be racing , At the president’s (Mr. \y. CaJLi Brown) trophies. The president*?,' open the season and probably the racing. It is expected that fly* >ix crews will enter, and the races u be held over the course from the d to the boathouse. There will be aft noon tea served, and an endeavour be made to put on an old-timers’ r Waitemata is opening with foursT the vice-commodore, Mr. C. J. En . beck’s trophies. This club will aT try to arrange an old-timers’ Eight or nine crews are expected t compete in trial racing for the sell Memorial Fours to be rowed h' St. George’s on Saturday. The rac* will be decided on the course inside th Hobson Bay embankment. Auckland and West End have free days. INTERPROVINCIAL EIGHTS „ Auckland has been granted n, interprovincial eights this season. It u with rather mixed feelings that tfc? association will probably greet th' belated consideration, as there are ce* tain drawbacks to be taken j n ». account. Auckland was desirous o holding the eights here only on cond tion that three crews travelled, vital* two crews are all that can be i*. garded as certainties. Otago and Wanganui are sure to compete. Secondly, it is going to be very difficult t? pick a day when the tide is rig) if the race is to be rowed, as th X.Z.A.R.A. thinks it is, on the Whai The harbour has obvious disadvantages, and the Tamaki is too swi! Mercer would be the best place to row the race and excursion trains could h run out there quite cheaply; but therl would be the question of training quarters. How the new executive o' the A.R.A. deals with the problem will be a good test of its ability. Pehaps the Pine Island course will offer a solution but it is largely dependent or the weather, and that disadvantasprompted condemnation of the Corsair Bay course (Lyttelton) at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association.

HIS LAST TERM ROWING PATRON WITH 45 YEARS IN SPORT WILL BE 70 NEXT YEAR The unusual reservation that hi would accept office if given an assur* ance that he would not be again approached in 12 months’ time was madi by Mr. John Clark, when he was reelected patron of the Auckland Rowing Association last evening. Mr. Clark at first refused nomination, but was declared elected as m further suggestion was made. ‘1 have been 45 years connected with the sport,” he said, “and there comes i time when a man feels that he mus: retire. I shall be 70 years old in another 12 months and it is time I was getting on the sofa.” Air. Clark announced that he would present £lO 10s to the association for a trophy. The money was to be expended as the executive thought fit, but the donor confessed to a weakness for the light maiden class. “I one w on a race in that class, rowing in two seat at under nine stone,” he added.