ROWING KERRS REACH PENNANTS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 9

ROWING KERRS REACH PENNANTS

LACK OF OFFICIALS REVERSION TO STAGGERED DAYS PROPOSED 1 There was a very great need to stir up enthusiasm among old rowers to act as officials, said Mr E. R. Lindstrom commenting on the shortage of officials at the Kerrs Reach pennant races on Saturday and Sunday, at a meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association last evening. “What is wrong with us that we cannot get men to act as officials for our events?" asked Mr Lindstrom. “We are assured of the greatest crowd when it comes to criticising things outside the province, but when there is some work to be done at home they are not about. I don’t think that one of them could have even been found behind a bush there at the week-end—if they were, then they were sheltering well out of the wind. The president acted as starter and had to tear up and down the bank to do jobs that should have been done by other men.” “I am glad that you have brought this up.” said the president (Mr W G Richards). “Part of the trouble may be that the association is composed mainly of active men and perhaps we have kept these positions to ourselves for too long. A panel of officials would help solve our problems." In other years there had not been any dearth of officials, said Mr J. Lennon and he did not think it fair that they should all be labelled parasites. A mistake had been made when the two days had been brought together in the one week-end. If the association was to revert to holding the meeting on two separate days, it might overcome the problem. It was not expected that the same officials should act on the two days, said Mr Lindstrom, and the association should be able to call on enough men to make separate teams for each of the days. As the events had been held in the one week-end for the convenience of the Timaru Club, it was decided to ask Timaru for its opinion on reverting to staggered days Interprovincial Eights For future interprovincial eights contests the association should make application to the club with most representatives in the crew for the use of its boat, said Mr Lindstrom, submitting the proposals for the Avon Club. The association should pay ten shillings a day to the club for the use of the boat for the period for which it used it for training Several speakers said that it was only fair to use the boat belonging to the club with the greatest representation, so that they would be able to contribute their best to the crew’s performance Better care would also be taken of the boat, as the club owning it would be in a majority. Two points had to be kept in mind tn making decision on the matter, said Mr E. McCalman They were the varying quality of the boats owned by clubs, and whether a boat should be chosen to suit the course and the crew. The matter was then deferred, so that other clubs could give the matter further consideration. A report on the Olympic Games was given by Mr S. W. Cox, who said that he had ordered a 16mm. film of the rowing finals, and that tfiis would be available for film evenings.