WITH THE OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 942, 8 April 1930, Page 14

WITH THE OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER"

SPLASHES

W. Bridgart, who came to the Auckland Glub from Australia at the beginning of the season, leaves for Canada by the Niagara today. St. George's held pair-oar races for first-year members during the weekend. J. Biss and G. Biss were the winners after some good racing. It was a great race between the crews of Gilligan and Albrecht in the A.uckland trials on Saturday. It was practically a neck and neck go all the way. Both crews, with that of Stacey, who won the first heat, will race again in the final at Saturday’s At Home. *N « * A new chairman to fill the position left vacant through the departure of Mr. V. Dunne will probably be appointed at tomorrow evening’s meeting of the A.R.A. executive. St. George's will also hold a meeting when the question of the appointment of a new captain will be considered. NEW ZEALAND’S EIGHT It will be welcome news to rowing enthusiasts throughout the Dominion that Mr. IT. Ayres, of Canterbury, has been appointed coach of the All Black

crew which was picked in Auckland after the inter - provincial eights. Mr. Ayres is a good coach and understands his work thoroughly. It was his advice that had a great deal to do with the success of the last New Zealand eight to visit Australia, and Canterbury also

owes to Mr. Ayres its victory in the first race for the Hallyburton Johnstone Cup. It may be safely said that New Zealand’s crew could not be in better hands. It seems fairly certain that the training camp for the crew is to be at Wanganui and the men will assemble early in June. The crew sails for Canada by the Aorangi on July 1. AUCKLAND’S AT HOME The Auckland Club will close its season next Saturday with an At Home at the Clubhouse, King’s Drive. As the presentation of prizes is expected to take up the greater part of the afternoon, the rowing has been confined to the final of the president’s fours, the heats being rowed last Saturday. Mr. G. Hogan, president of the club, will present the trophies. The crews to meet in the final of the fours will be: —R. Stacey, S. Scott, A. Coutts, R. Foote; R. Albrecht, G. Cleal, J. Goodsir, R. Woods; H. Gilligan, A. Andrews, H. Duck, C. Battley. "PRESIDENT’S DAY” West End will wind up the season with President’s Day on April 26. There will be the usual refreshments and entertainment, and the following, crews will race for trophies presented by Mr. A. M. Paterson, president of the club:—V. McFarlane, F. Conway, F. Bryan, R. Collins; O. Felton, A. Norden, R. Woodside, L. R. McDonald; W. Bloxham, E. M. Taylor, M. Conway, N. Jerrome; C. Wright, F. Baker, R. Witten, M. McCarthy; J. Haylock, E. Such, A. Dalton. A. Clark; emergency, W. H. Conway. PUBLICITY AND ROWING As these are the last rowing notes of the season, “Rigger” thanks all club officials for the help they have given him in making the weekly column an accurate and up-to-date chronicle of Auckland’s rowing news. Since the advent of The Sun three seasons ago, rowing hate received more publicity thafi ever before in Auckland and club officials are now realising the value of it. This season club secretaries have been more than ready to supply news and the sport has been much in the public eye. Next Tuesday there will bo published a comprehensive review of the season.

SEASON NEARING CLOSE

The 1929-30 rowing season is almosL over. Waitemata and North Shore races are over. Auckland will be finished after Saturday's At Home. St. George’s has finished Saturday trial racing, but still has to decide the Tewsley Double Sculls and the concluding stages of the singles for the George Cup. These races will be completed on week-ends and during the week. West End finishes the season with an At Home on April 26. It is rather unfortunate that April 26 should also be the date for the opening of Rugby, but that should not greatly affect the attendance. All inter-club events are also finished and there remains the University eights, which are to bo held on Easter Saturday. WAITEMATA RACES Waitemata is to be congratulated on the efficiency with which pair-oar trials were rowed on Saturday. It is rarely that pairs or double sculls with eight crews racing are decided in the one afternoon, but Waitemata finished comparatively early by racing both up and down the sheltered course behind the Hobson Bay embankment. Unfortunately, with the -falling tide, the water became rather shallow when the semi-finals were rowed and the final had to be decided across the bay on the outside. The winners, N. Hunt and G. Howard, had a handicap of 2Ss, but fully deserved their victory. In the final even W. Eaddy and G. Barker could cut the start down by only half in three-quarters of a mile. St. George’s, using the same course, finished trials for the Dingley Memorial trophies well up to time, and Auckland rowed the heats of fours for the president’s trophies. UNIVERSITY EIGHTS The Auckland University eight is training steadily for the inter-Univer-sity eights which are to be rowed on the Waitemata on Saturday week. There is a comiyiendable enthusiasm among the members of the crew and they are doing their best to become really fit under the expert guidance of C. Fearon, captain of the Waitemata Club, from which shed they train. As far as is known, all four colleges will be represented in the race, which is being rowed for the fourth time. Victoria College, Wellington, has won each season and, on paper, has the likeliest crew again this season. Last season the race was rowed on Lyttelton Harbour and Auckland was rather dogged by misfortune. B. McCallum, the stroke, is setting a lively time for his men and the boat is running well. If the weather permits the race will be rowed over a three-mile course from Mission Bay to the Akarana yacht sheds. The appointing of officials for the day has been left in the hands of the A.R.A. WAITEMATA AGAIN Waitemata has finished the season with a flourish. After winning the Caro Sculls last Saturday week the club again came to light during last week-end, winning the last two interclub events of the season. These were no-class fours and double sculls, both for trophies presented by Mr. W. G. Mason, president of the Auckland Rowing Association. Both’ races were decided on the course inside the Hobson Bay embankment and there was a full tide. Officials for the day were: Starter, Mr. R. Pooley; judge, Mr. C. Hunt. In the fours six crews started: Waitemata, Auckland, two from St. George’s and two from North Shore. St. George’s took the lead from a perfect start, but were soon caught by Waitemata and Auckland, who fought out the greater part of the journey between them. Waitemata won from Auckland by three-quarters of a length, with a St. George’s crew three lengths back, third. The winning crew was: C. Fearon, L. E. Brooker, W. Eaddy, R. Smith. Four crews started in the double sculls: —Auckland, St. George’s and two from Waitemata. W. Eaddy and C. Fearon captured the event for Waitemata by two lengths from Auckland, wtih Waitemata No. 2 third. Eaddy and Fearon had a particularly successful day. Not only did they romp home in the sculls, but Fearon stroked the winning crew in the fours and Eaddy was rowing two.