Eliot Triumphs in Crew Competition; Winthrop Runner-Up, Quincy Third

The Eliot crew glided to an easy victory in the final house race, held yesterday over a mile course in the M.I.T. Basin. Senior stroke Lowell Johnston kept the beat at an even 32 as the Elephant shell finished two and a half lengths ahead of any competition.

Winthrop, considered the boat to watch for an upset score, had trouble maintaining its second position from a dogged Quincy eight that was smarting for revenge after last Thursday's preliminary round. Puritan stroke Rick Burns finished at a 42, squeezing ahead of the Quins by two seats.

Lowell took fourth place from Adams, which made a bid at the half mile post, but could not maintain its effort. Sixth finishing Leverett was never in serious contention.

The Eliot boat raced with an "Italian rig," having the number four and five men both rowing starboard. This rig is designed to reduce the torque in the middle of a shell resulting from the time delay in the starboard rowers; the world champion German Ratzeburg crew has also adopted it.

A heavy forewind sweeping the course at the start favored the Elephant oarsmen, who were in better shape than their competitors. The victory puts Eliot ahead of Dunster in the Straus trophy tally.