ROWING SEASON

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20954, 6 November 1939, Page 10

ROWING SEASON

THE OPENING DAY TRIAL FOURS PROGRAMME GOOD FORM AND KEEN FINISHES Encouraging form was displayed by members of the Hamilton Rowing Club when the season was officially opened on the Waikato River on Saturday afternoon. Trial fours for the president’s trophies were contested and some excellent rowing for so early in the season was displayed. A feature of the afternoon was the appearance on the river of the re-cently-acquired eight. The season was officially opened by the president of the club, Dr. F. D. Pinfold. There was a fairly large gathering of members and the public. The president expressed regret that the war had taken several members of the club, and stressed the importance of the younger members carrying on. Presentation to Official A presentation on behalf of the club members was made by the president to Mr A. C. St. Paul, who for many years has served the club in official capacities. Mr St. Paul is leaving Hamilton shortly. In the first heat of the trial fours a solid pace was set by the two crews which staged a good finish. G. Smith, Woodward, Wright, and Woodhouse beat Cook, Mac Lean, Pope and Reynolds by a length. A keen race was staged in the second heat, the feature of which was a great finish. J. Cusack, Clough, Wright and Fitzgerald beat Duncan, Southam, Holloway and Roberts by a few inches. The winning crew led most of the way, but the two boats see-sawed over the last 40 yards, first one then the other going to the lead with the dip. Keen Final The decision was more clear-cut in the third heat when a young crew, Herbert, Tanner, Knox and Wilson led all the way to beat G. St. Clair, Gunn, Corby and Claque by a length and a-half. Smith’s crew led Cusack’s quartet over the entire journey in the semifinal to win by a length. The final was evenly contested with Smith’s boat always a little in front to prevail in a fine finish by half a canvas over Herbert’s crew.