WITH THE OARSMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 4

WITH THE OARSMEN

NOTES ON WELLINGTON REGATTA

Wanganui clubs recorded outstanding success at the Wellington regatta last Saturday, winning six out of the 12 events on the programme and finishing in second position in five other races.

Union registered some really highclass performances, the light blues securing four firsts and four seconds out of nine starts, and capturing £45 in prize money. The senior eights and fours, Youths and lightweight fours, were all won by Union, and Aramoho was successful in the maiden fours and pairs.

The Wanganui Rowing Club did not secure a win, their chances in the open maiden fours being early ruined by a collision shortly after the start. They staged a great battle with Union in the youths’ fours, but the light blues again had the edge on them, winning by a canvas after a particularly thrilling exhibition.

Conditions were well nigh perfect for rowing, and the only complaint that could be made was in the actions of the starter who, in the opinion of the competitors, was too strict in the matter of starting races to scheduled times.

Aramoho was particularly unfortunate in that in three events —the junior welter fours, the senior singles and the . doubles, —the field was despatched without them. Owing to a breakdown on the Hutt Road the lorry conveying the Aramoho and Wangaui boats was delayed. Although word of the hold-up was sent to the officials controlling the fixture, it availed the two clubs little, and Wanganui counted itself lucky to reach the post in time for the open maiden fours. In fact had it not been for the action of the members of the Union Club, who rigged the boat while the oarsmen were getting into their racing togs, the red and blacks would have had to play the role of onlookers also.

It is easy enough to criticise the official concerned, who in starting the events to the times set down on the programme was simply carrying out his duties, but it is necessary that he be consistent. It was his failure in this respect that caused much heartburning among the oarsmen who were denied a row. Tn the senior singles Campbell was only 200yds. away when the field was let go. But. the starter delayed the start of the senior pairs for 18 minutes in order that the Star crew could reach the post and take part in the race! His action resulted in Aramoho again being penalised, for they had to row one and a-half miles in the race, and then proceed to Petone foreshore, unrig their boat and lit double-scull riggers, after which they had to row back over a mile and a-half to take part in the senior doubles. This was timed to start less than three-quarters of an hour after the commencement of the pairs race! The general concensus of opinion was that the starter was too severe and this view was not confined to visiting clubs alone. The surprise of the day was the defeat of R. B. Smith, national champion, by P. A. Abbott, who, with his club-mate, K. Boswell, also accounted for Smith and Morey in the doubles. Abbott showed vastly improved form to score a narrow win, but the writer is of the opinion that Smith will turn the tables at Picon. Boswell is a sculler of exceptional promise, and it

will not be long before he is knockin. at the door for championship honour; The senor fours provided the spec tators with a great thrill, the field be ing bunched together, till the mile an a-half post was reached. Here Unio: went into the lead, and were no troubled to win by a comfortabl margin. In the eights Petone raised th hopes of their supporters by leadin; the light blues by nearly a length a the mile but Union who were ratin) much slower than Petone, were a'l ways handy with Clarrie Heale; keeping a watchful eye on.his rivals His men responded when called upor to win in handy fashion. Both the Aramoho maiden four, and pairs showed considerable im provement on their Wanganui form and won convincingly. In the light weight fours Union maintained its unbeaten record, but they will fine much tougher opposition at the championships next Saturday. The executive of the Otago Rowing Association decided at a meeting las week, to advise the New Zealand As sociation that it was prepared to holt the interprovincial eights on Olagt Harbour on Easter Saturday. The decision was arrived at following ; discussion centring around a previou: proposal by Otago that on account o the unsuitability of the Easter date an endeavour should be made to hav, the date of the race altered to Marei 25. Mr. T. Mackie presided over th: meeting.

Correspondence was received from the Marlborough Canterbury, arid Wellington associations, disagree.ng with the Otago Association's suggestion to hold the interprovincial eights on March 25, and expressing a desire that the race should be rowed at Easter. The East Coast Association wrote stating that it could not send a crew, and Wanganui was doubtful. Auckland agreed to the date in March providing that its crew could secure the loan of a boat at Dunedin. From the New Zealand Council came advice that if the Otago Association were not prepared to stage the event at Easter, it might be necessary to offer the race to Canterbury.

The chairman said the position now appeared to be that unless Otago wcie prepared to hold the eights at Easter, it would not get the race at all. He was very sorry that the position had arisen, and it seemed a pitv that Otago, which had done so much in the past to keep the race alive, had now done so much to kill it. It was beyond his comprehension why local clubs and oarsmen should consider a local fixture against, the interprovincial eights. He would like to find out whether the meeting wanted to have the eights or not. Unless it came to some decisio.n. it was not being fair to other associations.

Mr. P. Vallis said that his club (Otago), while not satisfied, was in favour of holding the race at Easier soccer than lose it. Mj . G. Thorn (Port Chalmers): We have made fools of ourselves, and people are wondering what sort of a crowd we are, and whether we know our own minds. We cannot support rowing by chasing the eights away. We should go ahead at Easter and make a job of it. ♦ ¥■ * * Mr. J". Turnbull pointed out that there had always been an endeavour to get away from the Easter date, but no one had ever said that Otago would not hold the race at Easter. Mr. F. Brough took exception to the remarks of the chairman and of Mr. Thorn. It had always been understood that the Otago delegate went to the New Zealand conference to try to ■ get March 25. If his were not possible, be was to accept Easter. Too much importance had been placed on a letter which had been sent away 1 conveying suggestions why the race : should not be rowed at Easter. On the motion of Mr. Vallis, ' seconded by Mr. W. Glengarry, it was decided to write to the New Zealand Council, advising that the Otago Association would hold the eights on Easter Saturday. A letter was received from the secretary of the Queenstown Regatta Club advising that it would be holding its annual regatta on Easter Saturday, April 8. The club was willing to include the Otago v. Southland eight-oared race for the Edmond Shield in its programme. It was decided to advise the Queenstown Club that the holding of the interprovincial eights on Easter Saturday would preclude the holding of the Edmond Cup race on that date. The entries for the New Zealand amateur rowing championships on Saturday at Picton, probably constitute a record, totalling 108 crows. The championship events have drawn exceptionally large entries. The list of entries is as follows: Champion Fours.—Clifton, Picton. Napier, Blenheim. Star, Union (Wanganui), Petone, Wellington, Wanganui, Wairau, Awarua, Aramoho. North Shore. Champion Single Sculls.—Auckland Nos. 1 and 2, Petone, Wellington. Poverty Bay, Aramoho. Champion Pairs. Clifton, Auck-j

1 land, Blenheim, Union (Christchurch). i Star, Union (Wanganui), Petone, t West End, Wairau, Avon, Tauranga. ? Champion Double Sculls.—Auckland, West End, Union (Christchurch), Petone, Wellington, Avon, ■ Aramoho. > Champion Eights. Picton, Tau- - ranga, Auckland, Union (Wanganui), J Petone. Marlborough Plate. Picton, Clif- ’ ton, Napier, Blenheim, Union (Wan- • ganui), Star, Kawatiri, Petone, Wellington, Wanganui, Wairau, Avon, Tauranga. Awarua, Union (Christ- ( ' church), Aramoho. Light-weight Miden Fours. -Picton, . Auckland, Blenheim Nos. 1,2. and 3, Star, Union (Wanganui), Wellington, Nelson, Wairau. Maiden Fours, open. Picton, Kawatiri, Blenheim Nos. 1 and 2, Arapawa, Star, Wellington, Nelson, Wanganui, Wairau, Avon, Canterbury. Junior Fours, welter-weight.—Pic-I ton, Blenheim Nos 1. and 2, Ara1 pawa, Star. Union (Wanganui), Weli lington, Nelson. Junior Fours, open.—Picton, Blenheim, Union (Christchurch), Star, Petone, Wellington, Avon, Tauranga. Youths’ Fours. North Shore, , Kawatiri, West End, Blenheim Nos. 1 ! and 2, Star, Union (Wanganui), Wcl- . lington, Wanganui Wairau Nos. 1 and 1 2, Canterbury.