AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 129, 30 May 1908, Page 14

AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION.)]

BOWING. Auckland Rowing Club's annual smoker last week was a decided success. A very pleasant feature of it was the large attendance of members of sister clubs. A special word of praise is due to their untiring secretary (Mr. R. B. Young), whose artistic work on the programmes and the cards attached to the various prizes, was much admired. The photogravure of the first "Eight" on the programme was a capital idea. The association's annual smoker on Saturday was also a very pleasant function, and perfect harmony reigned throughout. One gentleman threw out a suggestion that oarsmen should give the visitors by the American fleet a right royal welcome. He did not, however, offer any ideas as to the form of the welcome, but the suggestion is one that might well be followed up. Perhaps, a ,regular aquatic programme, including naval cutter races, in which the visitors could participate, would be as acceptable a method as any. A Canadian paper publishes the following: Toronto, March 3. —"Will you row for World's Championship and 1500 dollars side bet, in New Zealand, Novem-| ber, or Toronto, September? Give or take £150 expenses, or on Thames, each man pay own expenses." Such was the challenge Eddie Durnan, the Toronto oarsman, who defeated Tom Sullivan here three years ivgo, and was defeated by Charles Towns in Australia, last March, cabled to William Webb, the title-holder, immediately upon receipt of the news of the latter's victory over Richard Tresidder, the challenger. "I'll race Webb any place, under any favourable conditions," said Durnan. "I think I earn beat him either in New Zealand, England, or here. Webb is a good vasai, but he isn't as good as Cburlie Towm, and Towns did not beat vu> kjr ivul-a, despite my illness. Of e*osa% X weeW sooner row him here, but PR row any jOMtst for the purpose of C"£**>C * *Mfi at the title. I cam** nrie « Orn -fri. I ohmOtaged

both Webb and Tresidder in letters sent <R{6 a month ago, hoping to get a go with the winner. I want to race, and will tackle any man in the world at any distance." "Victor," of the "Wanganui Herald," commenting on this extract, says the •writer evidently is not too well acquainted with happenings in the sculling world. It is scarcely necessary to point out that Charlie Towns never defeated Durnan; it was George Towns who rowed the Toronto sculler. It is nice to hear from Durnan that Webb is ' T a good man," but after telling us that he proceeds to say—for fear -we should become too enthusiastic over Webb—that he "is not as good a man as Charlie (no doubt George is meant here) Towns." Durnan did issue a challenge to row Webb on the Thames or at Toronto, but it is news to learn that he is willing to come here to row. However, eevn if he is agreeable to visit New Zealand, his chance of getting a match yet awhile is very remote, though, as "Nautilus" in the Sydney "Referee" iSmarks, Durnan would probably be the "softest snap" amongst those desirous of meeting Webb. CAMBRIDGE OXFORD BOAT RACE. The "Sportsman" given the following interesting details concerning the race between Oxford and Catibridge on the Thames on April 4: — THE RACE AT A GLANCE. Cambridge led By Time m. sCraven Steps .„ i leng v .h *. 211 Mile Post 1$ leugiW.. 4 10 Harrod's Crane . 2 lengtLs_ 614 Hammersmith Bridge .. 2J lengths.. 7 32 Chiswick Steps „ 2 J lengths.. 11 51 Barnes Bridge 22 lengths— 16 0 Finish 2* lengths.. 19 20 THE CREWS. CAMBRIDGE.

Height. Weight. Age. ft. in. st lb. F. H. Jerwood (Oakham Jesus) (bow) 22 6 0 11 10 2. G. E. Fair bairn (Eton and Jesus 19 6 0 11 13 5. O. A. Carver (Charterhouse and First Trinity) 21 6 2{ 12 10 I. H. E. Kitchtag (Uppinghani and Trinity Hall) 22 6 31 13 2 1*J. S. Burn (Harrow and First Trinity) 23 6 li 12 10J i. E. G. Williams (Eton and Third Trinity) 19 5 lli 13 OJ r.*fE. W. Powell (Eton and Third Trinity) 21 5 10i 11 6 *D. C. R. Stuart (Cheltenham and Trinity Hall) (stroke) 23 5 9 11 2 •R. Boyle (Bradfield and Trinity Hall) (cox) 19 5 7 8 10 •Rowed in 1907. fRowed in 1906. Spare Men: G. L. Thomson fjniversity College School and Trinity Hall). OXFORD. Height. Weight. Age. ft. in. st. lb. Hon. B. Stanhope (Eton and Magdalen) (bow) 23 5 9 9 10 2. C. R. Cudmore (Adelaide Magdalen).. 22 5 11 13 0 5.*E. H. L. Southwell (Eton and Magdalen) 22 6 0 12 3 L A. E. Kitchin (Tonbridge and St. John's) 20 6 0 12 7 5.*fA. G. Kirby (Eton and Magdalen) .. 21 6 4 12 7 5. A. M'Culloch (Winchester and University) 20 6 0 12 9J r. H. R. Barker (Eton and ChristChurch) 21 6 0 12 OJ •f A. C. Gladstone (Eton and ChristChurch) (stroke).. 21 6 0 11 3J •A. W. Donkln (Eton and Magdalen) (cox) 20 5 64 8 7 •Bowed in 1907. fKowed in 1906. Spare men: J. R. Somers-Smith (Eton and Magdalen) and G. E. Hope (Eton and Dhrist Church). AGGREGATE WEIGHTS. By the appended table it will be seen iat Cambridge had an advantage of nearly lwo stone iu weight. This is accounted for tiy the bow iu the Oxford boat being unusuuily light and just two stone less than :he man occupying that thwart in the Light Slue craft. Aggregate Average weight. weight. Oxford 95 12J 11 13J Cambridge 97 12 12 3* Brewer, Robinson, and Charles Cobb were in charge of the stake boats from which the crews start. UMPIRE AXD DISTANCE JUDGE. Mr. F. I. Pitman officiated as umpire, and Mr. Fred Fenuer as distance judge. THE COURSE. The distance of the race was four miies two furlongs, the course being from the University Stone at Putney to a post just above the Ship at Mortlake. From the start to Hammersmith Bridge is li miles, to Chiswick Church 21 miies, and to Barnes Bridge 33 miles. THE BOATS. For some two years past Sims Bros., of Putney, have made the eights for both crews, but this year the Oxford eight was placed iu the hands of Rough, of Oxford, and it has given the greatest satisfaction. Cambridge are to row the race in the boat built for last year's crew. The dimensions of the two boats are as follows:— Cambridge. Oxford. (By Sims) (By Rough) ft. in. ft. in. Length 63 0 62 0 Beam 0 233 0 23$ Depth 'midship 0 9J 0 9J Depth forward. 0 6J 0 6i Depth aft 0 53 0 5J THE OARS. Ayling, of Putney, has again supplied both crews with the oars. This year they are lined inside with aluminium, which, it is said, causes them to be light without becoming whippy. The dimensions are.— Cambridge. Oxford, ft. in. ft in. Overall 12 3 12 3 Inboard 3 8J 3 81 ♦The strobes in both boats will row with 5Jin blades. Blades 6 6