Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-09
Washington u. -Four
Wins; Yale Is Loser;
Wood Takes SOULS
By the Assooioted Press

HENLE -ON = THAMES, England,
Aug 9.-Two mighty crews from the
Pacific Coast-University of Cali
fornia's eight-oar shell and Univer-
sity of Washington's four with-cox-
| wain-rowed to Olympic champion
ships today on the Thames.
Slicing across the water under
bright sunshine, the Californians
beat out Great Britain and Norway
to retain the title held by the
United States since the regatta was
started in 1920
The eight-oar shells time was 5
minutes 56.7 seconds for the alb
breviated 1SO0-meter course-fast-
est of the regatta.
A comparison of Olympic records
isn't possible since the layout OF the
river this time forced reduction of
the course from its customary 1000
meters
The British, including most OF the
University of Cambridge eight. were
second in 6:069. Norway had 6:lo,3
Washington's four beat SWitzer-
land and Denmark in its final.
Yale University's tour-oared crew,
without coxwain, failed to match
Washington feat and finished third
in it's final race. The event was won
by Italy, with Denmark second.
Although trailing throughout,
Yale made up ground in the stretch.
Italy's winning time was minutes
30 seconds.
Turner Strokes Bears.
! Members of the California eight
are Stroke Ian Turner, and his
brother. Dave, of Oakland Jim
Hardy of Berkeley. George Ahlgren
of San Diego, Lloyd Butler of Wat
sonville, Dave Brow nof Concord,
Justus Smith of Burlingame, John
Stack of Sacramento and CoXWain
Ralph Purchase of Portland, Ore.
Faster off the gun. Britain S classy
eight, stroked by Chris Barton, led
for a short time.
Passing the 750-meter point. Brit
ain and America were dead level.
Then the Calitornians began to
assert the rowing supremacy that
has made them favorites to capture
the title.
At the halfway point they led by
Approximately 10 feet and increased
this advantage to length by l,250
meters.
After that it was only fight for
second place between fast gaming
Norway and Britain.
u. S. Wins Going Away.
The Americans whipped up their
strokes in a sprint finish and won
going away to cheers from a large
delegation of Americans.
The Yankees, members OF WASH
ington's Junior varsity, roWed the
abbreviated 1,900-meter course up
the Thames in minutes, SOB sec
onds.
Members of the crew are Gordon
Giovanelli, Robert Ide Will Robert
Martin and Warren Westlund, bow
to stroke, and Allen Morgan, cox
vain.
The Swiss crew crossed the finish
three seconds behind.
Yanks Overhaul Swiss.
The Swiss jumped off in front
with the United States crew second
AT the 1,40O-meter point, the AM
orleans forged ahead by foot.
1t was nip and tuck from then to
the finish, with never, more than
half a length between the shells.
Conditions were perfect for the
final.
Immediately after the race the
crews roWed down the course to a
. dock in front of the enclosures
where they received their medals.
This was the first United States
, victory in the fours with coxwain
in the Olympic Games. The 1896
winner was Germay.
Crowds estimated at $4,000 lined
the banks of the narrow Thames
Hundreds more watched the race
cunts along the shore.
In the best tradition of American
rowing, Coxwain Morgan was tossed
into the Thames by his four husky
mates. All are from Seattle except
Martin, who halls from Tacoma
Wash.
J, Standing dripping on the bank
!, Morgan said the Americans started
with IS strokes a minute, Their
dropped to 80, which allowed the
Swiss temporarily to go ahead.
We put the stroke uD to "a at the
| ,OOO-meter mark and that was gooc
enough to pass the opposition" Nor
gan said. We really didn't need tc
sprint at the final, although we did,
Great Britain won the pairs with
out coXsWain title, defeating SWitzer-
land and Italy easily. The Amerl-
cans were eliminated earlier from
this event.
The Britishers' winning time was
7 minutes 21.l seconds, nearly three
seconds better than the Swiss. Italy
was 10 seconds back of the British
Vet Pair Wins for Britain.
! The British pairs without coxswair
champions-StrokeJ John Wilson ano
Bowman William Laurie-rowed at
Cambridge together 10 years ago
After several years in military Serv-
i've, they teamed up again last year
Mervvn Wood, Australian finger
rrint expert, won the single SOULS
championship by more than foui
lengths over Edwardo Risso Of
!, Uruguay.
), Risso had eliminated America
John B. Kelly, jr, of Philadelphia
, in surprising seminal upset.
Romolo Catasta of Italy finished
third in the final race
The 6-foot-3 Australian, who
begged the coveted diamond scllli
in the Henley Royal Regatta E
month ago, crossed the finish line