WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1910, Page 14

WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB.

The commencement of the season brings active rowers face to face with club racing. North, south, east, and west — races abound at all quarters of the compass. From this wealth of sport, whaj> shall be the choice of each rower— rowing or sculling? That is the difficulty. Many rowers like four-oar rowing, whilst others prefer to vary their work. Increased membership and the popularity of rowing is sufficient warrant for us to expect that there will be forthcoming rowers numerically strong enough to make the entries for each of these events satisfactory. Entries for the "club fours" closed last Thursday with good booking. Mr. W. J. Nidd has once again been unanimously re-elected president. Mr. Nidd is a man of many parts. He enjoys the reputation of being a good oarsman, but he has also other qualities which make him one of the pillars of the club. Despite the fact that in his active rowing days his prize list was a light one, his official record shows much useful work. Members were so pleased with tne lone and useful services of Mr. W. J. Gaudin that they persuaded him to accept tho responsible position of captain. His record shows him to be one of the most consistent rowers and most conscientious workers in the club. He achieved nothing very brilliant, perhaps, but never did anything very bad. He has placed several regatta and many club -aces to his credit. In 1897-8, when he figured in the successful maiden and junior regatta fours, he was /owing such a strong oa.r that it was freely stated he would oe the "surprise of the season." When at his best he is a capital oarsman. STAR BOATING CLUB. Although Star members had last year what must, for them, have been re garded as a very poor season — they were second amongst the local clubs — they received convincing proof in the shape of a large attendance at the opening of the season on Ist October that they are still attractive oarsmen, and still have some staunch supporters. A reputation gained as the result of fine rowing spread over a couple of decades is not to bo lost as the result of lack of success during a couple of seasons. Crews engaged in the senior and junior fours and novice pairs are to be seen in action, doing morning and evening work. A,t the 1909 cham,pionship regatta members were decided in the opinion that a great wrong had been done to the Star representatives in the pair-oar race by the decision of the regatta officials in deciding to start the race without them. The "clearing of the air" has been partly accomplished by a reference to the incident in the New Zealand Rowing Association's annual report. If this note of warning takes effect much will have been achieved. Still there remains a weak point in not having the future securely protected against a repetition of such a mishap.