AKAROA REGATTA

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21989, 13 January 1937, Page 5

AKAROA REGATTA

UNFAIRNESS ALLEGED STARTING AND FINISHING LINE OF RACES The opinion that the pairs race at the Akaroa regatta was rowed under conditions that were unfair to the rowers was expressed by Mr C. A. Stiles at the meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association last evening. Mr F. D. Kesteven, who was in the chair, said that the races at the Akaroa regatta finished too far out from the jetty. It was quite impossible for the spectators to distinguish the rowers at that distance—they all looked black. Mr Stiles agreed that the finish should be at most 100 yards from the shore. It was not fair to the spectators to have the finish further out, as it did away with the excitement properly associated with regattas. The rowers were quite unable to see the blue flag at the distance. He, however, had a much more important complaint to make! The starting line and the finishing line were not at right angles to the line of the race. It was a considerable moral advantage for a crew to start with all the other crews in i full view, and an equal disadvantage for others to have to look back. It was impossible to know how one was | finishing. ' Mr R. E. Nightingale agreed with the previous speaker, as to the distance of the finish from the land. The judges had difficulty in picking the colours of the crews. The finishing angle, however, he considered to be not far out.

Mr R. J. Hobbs said that the regatta committee had been unwilling to shift the starting point farther out on account of the roughne'ss of the water. It was also too deep out there for a buoy. Mr Nightingale was appointed to consult the surveyor concerned about the angle of the race. Mr H. Ayers was appointed the Canterbury nominee for the position of selector of the oarsmen to be sent to the Empire Games in February, 1938. Mr Stiles, who had been previously nominated, withdrew on the grounds that he might possibly be one of the crew selected. SENIOR RACES BEST-AND-BEST AND CLINKER BOATS DISCUSSION BY ROWING ASSOCIATION The question of the desirability of senior races being rowed in best-and-best boats was brought up by Mr L. C. Byers at the meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association last evening. At a previous meeting of the association it was resolved that all senior races should be rowed in best-and-best boats where this was practicable. The New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association had written stating that the Canterbury Association had the right to decide what boats should be used except in the case of maiden races, which must always, according to the rules, be rowed in clinker boats. Mr Byers moved that the resolution be rescinded, as there was nothing in the rules which stated that a parent body could dictate to regatta committees. ! Mr F. D. Kesteven, who presided, said he agreed with Mr Byers, who added that- in spite of the resolution the association had at its last meeting approved of senior races' in clinker boats at the Akaroa regatta. Mr C. A. Stiles was of opinion that the associations should take a stand on the use of best-and-best boats. He said that there was practically never an entry from outside when senior races were rowed in clinker boats. He himself had not rowed last season because of the use of clinker boats. It was not fair to men training for racing in best-and-best boats. He thought the motion should be adhered to. . . , .. Mr W. G. Atack said that he had examined the rules, and could not find anything giving to associations the power of dictation. Mr R. E. Nightingale said that the New Zealand Association must have some grounds for its attitude. Mr J. B. Taylor moved as an amendment that the original motion requiring the use of best-and-best boats should stand, will, the addition of the words, "unless permisison is obtained." „ Mr Byers then withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment, which was put to the meeting and carried. Thus amended, the motion read as follows: "That regatta clubs be instructed to row in best-and-best boats, unless for any special' reason permission to do otherwise is obtained from the Canterbury Rowing Association." Mr Atack then moved that the New Zealand Association be written to and asked under what rule it had decided that the association had the power to dictate to regatta clubs. The motion was carried.