LOOKING AT THE CREW

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 930, 25 March 1930, Page 14

LOOKING AT THE CREW

There can be little room for undue criticism of the selectors’ choice for Canada. The crew is younger and probably lighter than the 1928 men. but there should be life in the boat and that is certainly the main thing. One may be inclined to ask the question—where are the men of yesterday? but Air. Bayfield, in announcing the crew, stated that several men were known to be unavailable. The 1928 crew wa.s: H. F. AlcLean (Wellington), C. S. Alorris, F. H. Brown, C. A. Styles, G. Duggan (Canterbury), G. St. Clair, L. Brooker (Auckland), C. A. Healey (Wanganui), F. Brough (Otago), V. Olsson (Alarlborough), F. Brough (Auckland). Of these, Brough. Olsson and St. Clair are the only men in the 12 picked on Saturday. AlcLean has left Wellington and is in Taranaki. Rugby will probably hold his interest this winter. Alorris is a married man who, like Brown, his clubmate, spoke of retiring from big rowing after the 1927-28 season. Healey has had a sparkling career as a stroke, but the selectors evidently were bent on giving the younger men a chance and they had not far to look for a stroke. Brooker has not been really fit all this season and was certainly not seen at his best on Saturday. Brough will make a great stroke as his performance on Saturday showed. He is on the way to building up as good a record as Healey. He has had two visits to the championship regatta and two wins. He has twice stroked the winning crew in the inter-provin-cial eights and his visit to Australia was rewarded by the winning of the Stewards’ Cup. Though he appears to be rowing a short stroke, that impression is given by the way he rips his oar through the water. I-Ie is above all a lively stroke with any amount of reserve strength. Saunders, the young Marlborough man, would make a good second stroke. He led his crew well on Saturday and his style is somewhat reminiscent of F. H. Brown, who stroked the winning Canterbury eight in 1928. Cook, the Wellington stroke, also rowed a good race on Saturday, but had not the men behind him to keep up with the leaders. Of the capabilities of St. Clair and Sandos, Aucklanders are fully familiar and their inclusion in the crew was quite expected. AlcDonald (Alarlborough) is an All Black’ winger, a powerful man.

NEXT SATURDAY The main event for Saturday is the Caro Cup Double Sculls, which is to be rowed under the control of Auckland. Entries for this interclub race close on Friday evening. St. George’s have no club event on. Shore has fours for the Camera Cup; Waitemata will row pair-oared or‘sculling trials; Auckland is putting on fours for maiden oarsmen, and West End has pair- oared trials also.

A.R.A.’S MESSAGE The following message on behalf of the A.R.A. has been handed to “Rigger” by Mr. ~V. Dunne, chairman of the association executive:. —“The members of the Auckland Rowing Association view with pleasure the inclusion of A. Ross, of the Auckland Club, as a member of the New Zealand rowingcrew to compete at the Empire Garner in Canada. They feel sure that the selection will prove a wise one. Air. Ross is very much esteemed not only for his rowing ability but also for his manly characteristics in general.”

* * ♦ AUCKLAND’S REPRESENTATIVES

A. Ross is one of those fortunate men who has overcome the disadvantage of belonging to a club that is, as yet, unable to give its members a chance in the highest flight of rowing. The Auckland Club is a vigorous body with members, but it has not been able to boast a senior crew. However, Ross got his chance on Saturday and pleased the selectors. His selection was a popular one. It is another feather in Hamilton’s cap, as Ross was originally a member of the "Waikato Club, from which he came to Auckland in 1927-28. In the preceding season he had enjoyed a most successful season for Hamilton as three in the heavy maidens and bow in the maiden pairs. The four won the A.R.A. championship and the Dewar Shield from a field of ten at Mercer. In his first season with Auckland, Ross stroked the junior crew, which maintained a high standard through the season though not signally successful. Last season, with R. Mahon as bow, he won the Mason junior interclub pairs, and this season was two in Bygate’s crew which won at Tauranga. On the administrative side, Ross has been three seasons one of the Auckland Club’s delegates to the A.R.A. annual meeting, and was this year elected to the executive. He has been a committeeman of his club since he joined and is now vice-captain. G. St. Clair and B. Sandos (Hamilton) have many honours to their and were stroke and three of 1929 ”^ eW ea^ an< 3 champion four of