ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3693, 30 November 1912, Page 11

ROWING.

GISBORNE CLUB FINALS.

SOME PINE RACING.

The finals for the Buseke (A grade) and Pettie (B grade) fours, rowed for by the members of the Gisborne Club, were held last evening on the Waimata course, and the former race provided as stirring and close a finish as has been experienced on the river for a long time. The weather brightened towards the starting time, but although the drizzle cleared the oarsmen had to face the retarding force of an incoming tide. Enthusiasts were dotted along the course, and Kaiti bridge accommodated a number of spectators. A Sensational Finish.

The*A grade fours were: J. J. Quigley (stroke), Gardner, Peacocke, and Yardley, and McConville (stroke), Wyllie, Donovan and Sweet. Quigley, being fortunate with the coin, chose the inside course, and both crews got away well. McConville started at a speedier ...stroke, but his strenuous pulling did not draw him much away from his opponent’s long and steady swing, who was slightly ahead before the bend. At the turn there seemed to be no difference from the bridge, McConville, however, controlling the steadier boat. As the bridge, was neared, both were coming hard at it, and McConville had little more than a “nose’’ to spare as the skiffs shot beneath. Interest ran high, as the crowd followed the boats and barracked wildly from the water's edge. Quigley’s followers urged him on, but the quick and persistent stroke of the others was difficult to overtake. At times it seemed that the crews were even, and the final “dozen,” two lengths from home, saw the boats slip through the water after the manner of a pair of torpedoes. McConville notched a narrow and well-deserved win by a matter of inches only, and both fours were cheered to the echo. It was a great race, with a capital finish. 'Both teams were hard pushed for wind when the post was passed. Winter Wins.

The final for the B grade has been anticipated with unusual interest, and each of the competing crews had its full share of followers. The crews wore: J. Winter (stroke), McColl, Coates and Mossop; and G. Pollock (stroke), Solvander, Sargison and Hennessy. ff’he creditable rowing of both and the rumor that in a trial spin Pollock had proved too speedy for the others, attracted the attention of the followers, so that the sight of the crews as they rounded the bend silenced the crowd on the bridge, as it was a mere matter of speculation as to who was leading. A few lengths from the bridge, however, and it was plain that Winter, on the inside running, could stave off Pollock’s onslaughts and still have something to spare. The span of daylight between the crews became greater as the race" proceeded, and Winter was accorded an ovation as he led his first crew home, easy winners. Entries close to-day for the B grade fours for Cox’s trophies and for the A grade double sculls.