DATE FOR ROWING OF EIGHTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22590, 21 December 1938, Page 8

DATE FOR ROWING OF EIGHTS

INDECISION OF OTAGO CRITICISED

DISCUSSION BY ASSOCIATION

Advice that if the intention of hold- [ ing the inter-club eights on January ] 14 was adhered to, it was improbable that a crew would be entered, was received from the Canterbury Rowing Club at a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Rowing Association last night. The letter suggested that the matter should be given further consideration and recommended that the races should be held on Lake Forsyth on March 11. This date would give four clear weeks in which to train the crew. Further, by holding the eights at the end of the season not only would better rowing be seen, but the selectors would also be able to see the actual eights in action before making their final choice. ;

Mr J. M. Steeds, representative of the Canterbury Club, said in explanation that if the races were held on January 14 insufficient men would be available to provide a crew. Mr D. G-unn supported the move to change the date, and said that from a selector's point of view it was not much use seeing crews row two months before the final regatta, as would be the case if the eights were held on January 14. While several others spoke in favour of the change, it was held that the indecision of the Otago Rowing Association as to what date it would fix for the championship eights made any final selection impossible. Mr B. R. Walker, representing Avon, contended that Otago had no choice in the matter, the New Zealand executive having agreed to the date of their selection.

After some further discussion, it was agreed that the secretary should wire the Otago Association asking for the dato on which it was intended to hold the championships, and requesting an immediate reply. The choice as to whether the Canterbury eights should be rowed on January 14 or March 11 was left to the next meeting of the executive.

The merits of Kerr's reach as a training course for eights were emphasised by Mr J. B. Taylor (Canterbury). Kerr's reach, he said, provided a straight stretch of water about a mile long. He suggested that a shelter should be built to house the boats on a nearby plot of land. After some discussion a committee was appointed to investigate the matter.