ON THE RIVER

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20734, 18 February 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

ON THE RIVER

OARSMEN OF THE WAIKATO | (By “Stroke”) Major interest to oarsmen on the Waikato River during the past week was the New Zealand championship meeting at Pic-ton last weekend. Although no Hamilton. Ngaruawahia or Mercer crews competed the event was of interest to oarsmen throughout the Dominion. Squally weather and blinding min completely upset the conduct of the regatta on Saturday. Only three of the five champion races were decided on the day, the other two being held the following morning. Saturday's races were remarkable for the fact that last year's cham-pions repeated their sucess in all three events, Clifton winning the fours, R. B. Smith (Auckland) the single sculls, and Union (Wanganui) the eights. Clifton’s Triumph In view of the fact that Clifton have won twice at Hamilton in the last two years and that a great deal of their racing has been in the Auckland province, the success of the crew in retaining the New Zealand fours title was interesting to Hamilton oarsmen. Clifton rowed a very fine race under conditions which have probably never been worse at a championship regatta. Clifton's success was outstanding as it is a river crew unaccustomed to heavy water. To have battled against a strong head wind that was remarkably cold and torrential rain and still clock 11.57 for the two-mile journey, Clifton proved itself a crew of real championship class bearing out the supposition that its true form was really not seen at Hamilton. From End to End It is not often that a championship race is won from end to end. Clifton, however, was never headed. In the champion fours all the crews went away to a good start. Clifton soon took the lead from Union and Aramoho. A quarter of a mile from home, Clifton strengthened their lead and it became a duel between them and Union, who fought all the way to be beaten by three-quarters of a length. Star, who lost two lengths by going inshore, had calm water over the last part of the race and came up well to take third place, three lengths behind Union. Rowed as the race was, against a head wind, it took a good crew to win. All three place-getters rowed attractively. The field was the largest to contest the champion fours for many years, possibly for all time. The standard of the rowing was excellent. Won the “Boas Roster” The donations to winning clubs at Picton totalled £252, a record for any New Zealand regatta, but the biggest prize of all was the “Boss Rooster,* 4 most honoured and coveted of rowing trophies, awarded this year to Clifton. The champion fours have been rowed since 1888, and it was in the third year of their inception that this unique trophy made its appearance. On that occasion Picton w-as also the scene of the championships, and there were two camps, one supporting the Port Chalmers Rowing Club and the other the followers of the Queen’s Drive Club. The Port Ghalmers men were responsible for the making of the rooster out of scrap iron, and they painted it with their club's colours—blue and white. Not to be outdone, the Queen’s Drive men managed to gel hold of it, and added a red spot in the middle to make their club’s colours. When finally Queen's drive won the race their jubilation knew no bounds, and ever since the rooster has been the most highly prized of all trophies. Four On End One of the highlights of the championship meeting was undoubtedly R. B. Smith’s fourth consecutive win in the single sculls. Smith is a member of the Auckland Rowing Club. The

victory is the fifth that Smith has attained in the Dominion title race)

By winning the singles again Smith equals the best records in New Zealand history. He always had something in reserve and turned the tables decisively on P. Abbott, of Petone, who had beaten him at Wellington on the previous Saturday. After his loss to Abbott at Wellington a week ago before, Smith’s chances were thought to be dubious, but he produced his best form for the championship and won witli something in reserve. It was the most interesting race of the day. There were five starters, Abbott, C. Campbell (Aromoho), of whom great things were expected.

Great Judgment The race, which was started in choppy water, was remarkable for the great judgment shown by the winner. Smith jumped out from the start followed by T. Hegglun, Wellington. Smith kept the lead for a quarter of a mile. Being then satisfied that he could afford to drop back a little, he looked for better water closer inshore. The result was that at the mile he was in fourth position behind Hegglun, Abbott and Campbell. It is not usual to see a champion sculling in fourth place with half the race gone, but once in good water Smith quickened to 30 strokes to the minute and started to move up fast. He-gglun was left behind and so was Campbell With half a mile to go the race had become a duel between Smith and Abbott, with Smith having the better of it. Abbott in the outside position was unable to

cross over as Smith had done, and ha to make the best of the water cond tions. The result was obvious ha a mile from the flags and Abbott lb ished within a length of Hie wintm Third position was tilled by Heggiu who sculled a fine race. Hegglun young and his showing led many <* perts to believe that he is a com i champion. The most notable fealu of the single sculls was Smith's rh . acteristic finishing spurt, in whirl with powerful measured strokes. I overcame all opposition. The oil . Aucklander. A. Morey, had a mishap his boat, while Campbell’s steering w erratic. Ripe in experience and sou in judgment, Smith rowed a \\<] judged race. Qther Events In the doubles. Smith and M (Auckland) lost their title fo Petone men, P. Abbott and K. Bosv It was this combination that beat Aucklanders at Wellington last Soto day. One of the best performances ! i Auckland provincial crews was T I ranga's second placing in the champ i eights and Auckland’s second in ‘ i championship double sculls. The ch i pi«.n eights as expected was a gift f Union (Wanganui . Because of a m understanding Petone did not an out in time lor the start and only tin crews jumped out at the gun. T! shnV'to* Union Yu- a few' bundj yards, but could not keep it up ami j was not long before Union estidd *di | a dear lead which it held for (lie n of the journey, increasing it t . tT I lengths before crossing the line, pi i tori were even rui-ther behind To • ran fra. This is only the third time t' champion eights .has been rowed a Union has won each time. Jt entered j >o llll d crew, which gave the other tv I starters a lesson in stylish rowing.