ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10307, 17 January 1927, Page 7

ROWING.

GISBORNE CLUB DOUBLES SEMI-FINALS Two good races were witnessed on Saturday afternoon, when the semi-finals of the Gisborne Rowing Club’s T RJ. Gordon double sculls Sere rowed off. In both contests, scratch pairs were engaged, and were giving substantial handicaps to their opponents. The winners of Saturday’sraces will meet .this evening in the final of the senes In the first of the semi-finals, R. Hanna and G. Horne (scr) met W. Dent and C. Ricketts <ssec). The, handicap pair did not get away too well hut. once started, showed surmising dash, and Hanna had to Kert tremendous efforts to draw level Over the second half of the 5U Hamm Mi..**' margin only and, m the. finish, he beat his rival by a length only. , Tlie handicap of 4see granted to ' S. Brown and A. West caused some

surprise when first announced, but riie handicapping committee was justified by the issue of Brown’s race with G. C. Jones and D. Blackburn who were on tho scratch mark. Sprinting strongly, the handicap men went out to a long lead Horn the start and, about halfway over tho course, had a lead oi iour lengths. From this point on, however, Jones improved steadily, until at Derby street he had cut the lead down by half. The run home saw him further rapidly reducing his disadvantage, but Brown just managed to stall him off to win by a quarter of a length. Had the scratch pair kept more in touch with their opponents in the early stages, their chances would have been materially increased.

To-night’s final, between Hanna and Brown, should prove highly interesting. The entries received for the next event on the club’s programme, one of tho ma;or series of tiie season, aro excellent, and about a dozen crews will contest the trophies allocated.