ENGLISH ROWING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21330, 24 November 1934, Page 6

ENGLISH ROWING

j STYLES DISCUSSED ORTHODOXY AND FAIRBAIRNISM (SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR THE PRESS.) I By ,T. H. LASOELLES.] Every oarsman knows that there ar.e many opinions about style, and that the main line of division is drawn between so-called orthodoxy and Fairbairnism. The former is associated with the use of fixed tholes and short slides, and with starting the beginner on a fixed seat and trying to teach him to row by teaching him the correct body movements that accompany good rowing; the latter is associated with swivel rowlocks and long slides, and with letting the beginner have the use of his slide right from the start and teaching him to row by teaching him the correct movement of the blade in and out of the water. There is no room here to discuss the relative merits and demerits of the two schools of thought. They have each • something to be said for them, and the I extreme forms of each are both equally damnable. Good rowing is neither exclusively the one nor the other; it is both. Dr. Bourne and Steve Fairbairn never differed in essentials —they differed only in the method of approach. Dr. Bourne produced some very fine crews in his time, and Fairbairn has produced some equally fine ones in his. The real point is that in Dr. Bourne's earlier days, when he had his biggest success, you could afford to spend time teaching men to row by teaching them to use the right muscles in the right way. Now there is no time to do that, and men must teach themselves to a much greater extent. There is only one ideal to aim at, but there are different ways to get to it, and the art of coaching is to pick out the essentials and present them in words fitted to the differing mentalities of different crews and individuals. Fairbairn made two great points, which the rowing world, particularly the Oxford rowing world, had forgotten. They were, that the blade is the only thing that moves water, and that the legs are the most powerful driving force to apply to the blade. All the virtues and all the vices of Fairbairnism arise from the application and misapplication of these two points. Swivels Versus Fixed Pins The question of swivels versus fixed pins is one of method, and while I favour the swivel myself, as giving a man a smoother feeling when he is rowing, I can see that in the days when precision of movement was drilled into the oarsman the fixed pin may have been the better instrument. It is harder to use a fixed pin well than to use a swivel well, and I think that the fixed pin always leads to individualistic rowing—not feeling yourself as part of the boat, but always having to make sure that you are in time with the man in front—because of the noise and the jerk it gives to the wrist. With the smooth and oily swivel you can feel yourself as part of the boat, and that is why those who row with swivels are generally loose and- comfortable. If this year's Cambridge crew had used swivels, to which all except one of them were more accustomed, they would have gone even faster than they did. On the other hand it is easy to row badly with a swivel, and to forget that it is not a laboursaving device. But as a mechanical job it is the better proposition, and if all scullers use it, surely it should be used on an eight? There is no doubt that a long slide is preferable to a short one, and that a double-action seat should be used—it all makes for comfort. I do not like starting a beginner on a fixed seat, chiefly because it is so uncomfortable and unnatural for him, though you may have to put him on one later to teach him how to swing. But he must learn to use his legs right from the start, and he can do this only by having the full use of his slide at once. As for teaching through the blade as opposed to teaching through the body, it is clear that there must be a little of both. It is all very well to tell a beginner that he must do so and so with his blade, but if he gets into difficulties you will have to help him out by telling him what to do with his body. But it is certainly wrong to teach through the body without directing the attention of the puHl to the effect it will have on the blade, and impressing on him that the blade is the primary thing. Two Things to be Learnt There are only two things to be learnt in rowing—how to move the boat, and how to let it keep on moving. You move the boat by driving the blade through the water as hard and as far as you possibly can, and you keep it moving by rolling the blade round the turn on to the balance, feeling your blade in your hand, as it were, and feeling the boat run along under your feet. The run of the boat will bring you forward if your feet are firmly pressed against the stretcher, the slide moving fast at first, as the boat moves fast, and slowing up with the boat, until you are right forward, and then you gather yourself on the stretcher, feel your blade square in your hand, and drive again as hard as possible. Bradley, who stroked the Cambridge crew this year, was beautiful to watch. Steady as a rock on his feet over the stretcher, and yet poised quite loosely, he drove his legs hard down like a piston, and because he was loose, his blade took the water right behind the rigger without hesitating, and there was a mountain of water in front of it and a hole behind it instantly. Then you could see him drawing it through, apparently without effort, with his outside firm, his logs still pushing hard against the stretcher, and his back clastically rigid. Then came the turn, when all the machinery was reversed, and because of the enormous power behind the blade, it shot out of the water crisp and clean, and the reaction of pushing against the water was such that his hands nicked out past his knees like lightning. For the smallest fraction of a second he checked, to let his body follow, then up came his slide with the run of the boat, very fast at first—some people said he rushed, but he only seemed to. for a fast shooting boat demands a quick slide —then slowing up with the gradually decreasing run of the boat. Finally he was reaching out over his stretcher again, letting the boat out 'he last inch, loose and poised and controlled and ready to spring back again with those powerful legs. When he used his legs he took his body back with him, for his muscles were properly linked up throughout. There was no give in the back and shoulders, with its consequent shooting away of the slide and wavering of the blade in the water. All went back together m one decisive movement. Because of the speed with which he got his hands away past his knees, not with a stiff jerk, but smoohtly and easily, the natural result of a long and powerful stroke, he was able to row at 40. although he weighed more than 14 stone, with the greatest case. At the end of a course, in spite of the colossal puddle he put down from start to finish, he was always the least tired. Because of those quick hands he was able in Die boat race to raise the stroke from 28 to 3(5 as easily as a man might change gear in n car. all in two strokes; and when he did that it was the last Oxford saw of him. He was always on his feet and balanced, because (he hands brought the body over before the slide started to move, so that the body was always in advance of the slide, while the oar was held loosely in his hands and used constantly on the way forward as a balancing rod to aid the feet, lifted or lowered slightly to correct the smallest unevenness in the trim of the boat. A Natural Oar It was clear that Bradley was not conscious of doing anything in particular. He was ja&Tk natural oa^

with perhaps little knowledge of the finesse of the sport at which he was so adept. He just sat in the boat and rowed, and if he was conscious of anything, it was of the run of the boat underneath him, and the feeling of the crew behind him, and the cutting of his blade through the water. He probably did not know what it was to sweat and labour in a beat trying to do things the right way, or what it was to realise quite suddenly that one was doing something one had been trying to do for years. But he enjoyed his boating all right, for he moved as one with the boat, and the boat moved well, and even if the rest of us do have to labour to get there, if we get there in the end or anywhere near there, it is a great happiness.

I suppose the fascination about rowing is trying to feel what a perfect stroke is like, and we are so surprised when one does happen, as it does, very rarely, that we forget what it was we did to cause it, and the moment has tricked us and gone, and off we set to chase it again. But there is no "style" about rowing; it is just another natural movement like walking, only of course we do not start so young, and until we can acquire the naturalness that comes with long practice, it will be a bit of an effort, and we shall have to think consciously of what to do to make our b'nde do the right things. No coach can tell a man how to think, and no "style" will make him think better. So rowing is just applying brawn and brain to the fascinating problem of how to move a boat and how to let it keep on moving. If it can attract 130 keen crews to row for 20 minutes at high pressure, there must be something in it. NOTES FROM CLUBS CANTERBURY EIGHT Members of the Canterbury Club have been fully occupied for the last week or so preparing for the first series of the head-of-the-river race;; to be held to-day, and the inter-club eight-oar race set down for December 10. The sculling crews have not had a great deal of training, but that is hardly their fault, as the crews were selected only a little over a week ago. The eight-oar crew is in the hands of Mr H. Ayers, whom all rowing men are glad to see among the coaches again, and is showing good promise It must remember, however, that concentration by every member is the first and most essential step towards combination and that any lackadaisical rowing and straying of attention will retard progress. It should also keep in mind that the weight must be applied briskly and should be held on throughout the stroke, which should be a steady, firm motion from beginning to end. The recovery should also be a steady, firm movement from the backstop. There should be no pause at any stage and no dive just before the catch. The following brief notes on individual members may be helpful:— Stroke (Hervey)—ls setting a good even stroke, but should make his body travel over faster. He i 6 inclined to drive it along the slide.

Seven (Hunter) —A trifle slow at the catch. Body action good, but must stand on the stretcher at the commencement.

Six (McGiffin)—ls rowing a powerful blade, and his body form has improved greatly. Finish must be held in firmly and the hands should bo shot well out briskly so that they will .not foul the knees on the forward swing

Five (Rogers)— Being comparatively an old stager, is inclined to rest on his laurels occasionally. Must wore evenly all the way as uneven work upsets the rest oi the crew. Should steady up just before the catch as he is inclined to dive for it. Four (East) —Is inclined at times to let his blade rise. The blade must be kept buried until the finish. Three (Spence)—Must concentrate on his body and slide work. Lets his body work off half way through the stroke, and consequently gets himself into trouble for the end of his stroke. Improvement could be quickly effected by cutting out the pause on his backstop. This pause tends to put him behind the rest of the crew, and to catch up he has to rush up his slide. This makes him dive for his catch. If he will make this recovery firm and steady from the backstop until ready for the catch, he will find he is mucli more comfortable for the commencement and will then be able to drive his blade through without the double action he is inclineu to at the moment.

Two (McCormick)—lnclined to lug at the finish, so must draw the blade in firmly and evenly. A trifle quick off the backstop and then pauses at the perpendicular. Must make the recovery even and steady throughout. Bow (Graham)— Body swing good, but must get on to his work more quickly and stand on his stretcher at the commencement. University Club The Canterbury University College Rowing Club is very keen to buy an eight-oar boat so that it can be on the same footing as the Auckland and Victoria College clubs in the annual inter-University tournament. The cost of a new boat landed in New Zealand from Australia would bo about £l4O, and to raise this amount the club has opened a subscription list. If the amount is obtained, the cluo will be the only one in Canterbury to own an eight-oar boat. Union Club The Union club's prospects for the head of the river are considered favourable. The juniors, C. Cooper and R. Sutherland, should stand a good chance, although they will be hard pressed by Avon. The maidens, A. McKcnzic and A. Hill although light-weights, have often surprised when rowing against heavier crews. The youths. C. Smith and T. Harris, though they have been together only a week, have shown that they can fight out a hard finish. The light-weights. W. Cooper and C. Piper, are of unknown quality at sculling, but are rowing in good form, and may surprise. The Union Club's Life Members' Cup double scull race has drawn a good entry, and though some members arc having their first attempt at sculling [ they are showing good form, and the [ races will be keenly contested. The new members' race, to be rowed on Monday night, will see this club's future oarsmen in competition for the first time, and judging by form shown under capable coaching they can be expected to race well. The Union Club's eight-oar crew, ■ although averaging only lOst 101b, are showing that keenness may win the race. Mr R. H. Sutherland, a former Wellington interprovincial eight coach and selector, has the crew well in hand, and is quite satisfied with the progress made to date. Several minor faults have yet to be corrected, but as the crew becomes more familiar <vith the boat a more polished exhibition will be given. With two weeks to go before the race, this crew, providing they correct their minor faults, can be expected to row a good race, as they are probably the most active combination yet seen from the six clubs. Akaroa Enters A late entry for the inter-club eights has been received from the Akaroa Club. Avon Club In the first heat of the Avon Rowing Club's Lamb Memorial Fours. J. Rushworth (stroke). R. O. 'Thompson (3). W. J. C. Smith (2). and W. Pinman (bow) registered a win against C. A. Stiles (stroke). B. R. Walker (3), A. R. Kelly (2), and N. Barbour (bow). Soon after the start. Rushworth appeared to be distressed, but he was even with Stiles at Cowlishaw's. The first half-mile was rowed in exceptionally fast time. Stiles gained a slight advantage at the Stanmore road bridge, but Rushworth quickened and evened up. Stiles attempted to spring

but; received no support from his crew, and Rushworth won by inches. This was one of the most gruelling races seen on the river for some time. In lihe final —a race bordering on mediocrity—Rushworth's crew went down to C. F. Ebert (stroke), P. H. Thompson (3), G. A. Wright (2). and W. S. Prancis (bow. 1

The following crew has been selected to represent the club'in the inter-club eights' race at Stewart's Gully on December 8: —L. Paterson list. 71b (stroke). F. H. Thompson 13st 10ib (7). J. H. W. Lane, 12st 61b (6), K. O. Thompson, 13st lib (5), G. A Wright. 12st 71b (4), J. Rushworth, 12st (3), N. Barbour, list 51b (2), and L. A. Hampton. lOst 71b (bow). D. W. Mahony is Ihc coxswain. C. A. Stiles and W. C. Harper were not available. W. J. C. Smith is emergency. All the four-oared crews selected for the Akaroa regatta are in training, and it is confidently expected that the club will repeat its success of last year.

A>ssyslem of coaching for regatta crows is in the embryo stage, but with" the timely assistance of the selection committee there is no doubt that it will materialise. .

Regatta Club's Report An appeal for new members is made in the thirty-first annual report of the Christchurch Regatta Club, to be presented at the annual meeting on Tuesday. The report says the year commenced with 43 members and finished with 41. "A large influx of new members is greatly desired, and it is hoped that supporters of rowing will assist by joining up. Very few active oarsmen are on the list, and as the club exists for their benefit, they should make a big effort to become members. If they do not the future of the club will be. jeopardised." The gate receipts from the last regatta were £25 13s 4d, but enforces dropped from £22 14s, to £l7 14s. "The financial position is not very sound," the report concludes, "and does not warrant any increase in prize money."