Eliot Crew Takes House Crown by Five-Foot Margin

The Eliot House eight-oared crew swept out of the Charles River maelstrom like a barrel yesterday to frustrate Winthrop's entry by five feet and to capture the inter-House rowing championship.

Stroked by Oliver Scholle, the Mastodon sweepswingers held an advantage for all but a fraction of the mile course, when an erratically driven Adams boat took the lead at the three-quarter mark, only to finish last about two feet behind Winthrop.

To Row Elis

The victory entitles Eliot to meet Davenport College, the leading intramural crew from Yale. Scholle said last night that the race will be run off either Friday or Saturday, possibly on the Charles on the latter of the two days, coincident with the Eastern Sprint Regatta.

Only a frantic closing sprint brought the title to the Mastodons, who had to buy back the lead from Adams and fight off a last quarter mile challenge from Winthrop. The Puritans, undefeated up to the finals yesterday, were the only combination to have beaten Eliot previously.

Sprint at Finish

Eliot's 33-beat stroke provided a comfortable margin until the Adams challenge, at which point Scholle responded with a rapid rise to 37 and his crew finished strong at 38. A seaut seven feet separated the bow of the winner from the last place beat.

Besides Scholle, the championship beat held Ronnie Dick at 7; Tom Willsin 6; John Ross 5; Roger English 4; Pete Stauford 3; Henry Gardiner 2; Khaigu Smith bow; and Josh Twilbey cox.