ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 February 1908, Page 9

ROWING.

<Br Memory.)

COMING EVENTS;

To-day,—Wellington Regatta!" "- " V. March 12. —Wangamii. Regatta. March 23.— N.Z. Championship Regatta, at Napier.

1 -Looking back oil the;big race;on.Tuesday several points strike ;one that were overlooked in the oxciteiuent.-.bf..'tlie.- occasion.; A comparison and of.v-thli ■'tinics registered then and:;in'the race against Charles Towns on August 3 last brings forth several of course on Tuesday was 120 yards longerthan the ParraTiiatta course, and tliQ ! ' t'inie registered on the latter occasion was 20mtn..;45sec;, as against -Omm. 2Ssec.—a difference of 17sec. in favour Tuesday's race for .the whole distanco. let_the first milo against Towns was covered in oniiu. 40sec., as against'6min. lsee.'Nat' ' n anganui. The second;:'mile.:hg'anist; Tresidder was reeled off in 6mih\;s.sec.;:aiid against 1 owns in Gmin. 12sec;,,showing conclusively t.iat the'paco of tho".last' mile and a quarter was a cracker, and it was,'for'it was covered in Smin. won-of tho previous raccT^^O-yards-shorter, remember took Slnin.,-,s3sc"v;' to " negotiate, more,than half a minut'e;l.o;ngcri,.'.'.This shows I conclusively ,how bitterly, and determinedly lresidder stuck- to -his-., heart-breaking -"sterncliaso, and yet there .arc :; those-. ( to ; .be found who say that Webb lvpn'-any- old- way,- and was-not asked to go,. ; efc; etc...--Well, my opinion at the tinio"\rSs;ith'at' the champion,' though not right out'-at:.the finish,/was extended,, and extended pretty., folly ;t«o:.:.:This. opinion was confirmed,., by. - , a..conversation 1 had after the race wjth»Mr:-Gummins,' the judge, when, m answer- to- a -query'offline on tho point, ho said mo'sfcdecidedly that his view "That Vv ebb Was.;, mighty glad to Stop This 'Of coursepiso in no.ivay:derogatory to Webb s sterling .performance.. On the contrary,. I consider.;itJs;a'great; tribute to his - - judgment of: pace *;and'knowledge'of ins condition.- He -knew -the amount of energy, required, to in. tho shortest time, and he ..expended exactly .that amount, with perhaps\"just';a; '-"trifle'-. UV-:i'S-; servo for a contingency:"";--^■ i : However, to come ta'eveiits .nearer-home," I ftr.v a valued '.correspondent ."in the' '» el ington Rowing Club v for : the following .remarks on his: Club's representatives "in- tlio local regatta to-day:—."The following-crews will .represent the Wellington Bowing Club at the regatta to-day: /Maiden Fours—A. Jackson (stroke),.E. Gharma'n• (3), -W; Hul--5 (2). C.-Furnoss '(bow).. ■-.-Yoiiths' 'Pours r-H, M'Vay, G. Cairn's,.; Schilling,: -P. Da r e &:.^"° r , Do »We:§cais^WrJ;rGaudia r> ™ Kniley. Maiden-'Double E. and W. Hulbert. Junior Pairs' J^je?n ,'- and 'o- Furriess; '-Senior Sculls —4- MfKinloy. The Maiden and Youths' '® r ß.ws have been doing, sonie,. .fast work lately. Both crews are in* fine fettle, and are improving with every row. They should both bo handy in thoir respective races when the gun fires, especially, the Youths' uiew, which, under Air. Crawford's 1 care, is now showing, excellent form and; should give the redoubtable Star crew a hard race. ' "One bad point-1 notice about the Maiden crew is i tho manner in. which 1 stroko rushes his • slide forward between, his . strokes. 1 would; impress upon him .the necessity' of °v J reo ' ln S ™.is fault, as it will make a great .difference in a race, :especially in the light boat which -the crew is..using., ; • , "Tho-maiden scullers, : Charman;and Hulbert, are shaping fairly well. Their stroke, however, seems, to me .to lack that dash • and .ensphess- which .is essential. to a . first-class .crew, a lid I should : adviso them'to liven up a bit. Bow is inclined to use his arms too ? much in. the first part of tho*stroke and,-his catch is weak. There ,is uo questioning their condition and'staying power, and'. I fancy, their competitors will find them'hard ,to beat.'. ' ■ ~:V -- ... 'n* a,lt !' 1 , 1 ant ' M'KiiJey, vthe senior double 'scullers, 1 havo -not r^jeeir-'dbin'g; very much lately, the latter having been troubled with a. ■ severe nttnck.of rheumatism .in his .shoulder, which prevented him from sculling. I understand he . i 3' steadily, improving and expects to brf well, enough to race." This is rough luck ,on .this crew, as the men have been, training very solidly sind were showing, excellent form, and. combination, rowing a stroke that,'."though short, was c r is P ( l)"d .cloan. Nor is this the sum . total of,,itl Kinley s bad ■ luck, as on Thursday, whilo doing a, winding-up spin in his training for the'single sculls, he-had the misfortune to strike, a buoy .and completely shattered his racing shell. ' Tlio result 'is-that unless ho can borrow a'boat he will be unable to start;. ■ I understand that Gerald Fell, of the 5.8.C., has : generously offered him the use of: one of his boats,.but even/tlien-th'ero. is liq time for him-to get suited to. tho new conditions. M'lvinlev, * however, is, resolved to start, if possible, and : ho has my sincerost sympathy, for his run of bad luck. 'Strokes of crews in'i'' today's'.'regatta- ar<s advised to study the .circular issued by . the wowing .Association for their guidance'as to (loading boats on, the train .and tho. conduct of.,the meeting generally.--.; -.. ; * The Christclmrcli-Regatta Club's annual regatta, which. was'begun at Lake Forsyth a week earlier and postponed on'account of ; tho roughness of the 'water, .was continued at the Lake last Saturday afternoon. A fresh south-west breezo-iwas : blowing, and when racing started -at- four, -.o'clock tho water was rather rough.' Three of the four boats' that competed in'.the first- race shipped "a lot of water, but calmer, and tho remaining' races were rowed under more favourable conditions. Most of the events were keenly ..-contested, and interested a fairly large, gathering of spectators. The following;.are;the results: —' - Senior Fours.—Akaroav -Boating Club (L, Ditely bow, F. Westeiira-2, IV Clements 3, M. Kearney stroke), 1; Union 'Rowing 'OJub, ■2;. Canterbury Rowing;.\Qhib 3. Lyttelton Rowing Club also started.".

Maiden Fours.—Canterbury Rowing Club (W. J. Ross bow, H. Walla'ce"2,iT.'"o.-Fox 3', L. Hopkins stroke),o.l^Avon. Rowing Club,. 2; Union Rowing;: Club, 3.- : Amateur Rowing Club also started.

* Junior Double Sculls;—Abaroa - Boating Club,- (F. West'enra bow-, '-B.V-.W. Henning stroke, F. Hemingway :cos);?I f"Christcliiirch Amateur Rowing Club;"; 2;' •.Union VRowing Club, '3. . Avon Rowing;jolub -also " Senior Pairs.—Akaroa*; Abating. Club (L. Ditely bow, M. Kearney 'stroke), 1; Union Rowing Club, 2; Canterbury, Rowing Club, 3. The only : starters. Youths' Fours. —Canteflju'r-y Rowing Club (L. B. Ross boiv, R. A\'Tiuis\2j R. E. Fitzer 3, L. A. Dougall stroke, H.:.Porter cox), 1; Uiiion Rowiiig-Club K 2:;I ■ Maiden Double Sculls.—Union Rowing Club (F. Allan bow, H.. Bliss .stroke, H; S." Elford cox), 1; Christchurch. Amateur Row-

ing Club, 2; Aknroa-Boating! Club, 3- Avon, Lyttelton', and Canterbury also started. Senior -'Double Sculls.—Akaroa: ' Boating Club (G. ,Wbelch bowv. J. Woodill stroke), 1; Union Rowing ?■ Club, V. 2. The" only starters.' •' ;

A correspondent writesWheji'daylight broke on Wanganui, on Tuesday morning it was raining hard, and .'continued to do so until 3 p.m.,: but. this did 'not in anyway upset tbe'ciithusiasts who, had. mado up their minds'.'to; the'great- ;race. ; At. .7; a.m. the Jiris't.'.'boat. was'.despatched for the scene of tho .■■'contest',''-.well laden with passengers and was followed at "intervals : by other steamers .'.all'; loaded, the - river was crowded with all. sorts and conditions'"of boats,'- not the least conspicuous' of which. was a Maori canoo flying tho Irish flag. Two police launches patrolled' tho. courso, so' that, everything was clear- before the race started,: and no difficulty was experienced ,iii this matter, as tho.; huge, crowd afloat-" was ■ most orderly and gave.no trouble. . At to ,4 p.m. Webb was seen.,to emerge from his camp at Kaiwaiko (about half a mile from tho starting point), get - into. . his', skiff''and strik'o 'out for tho' starting, point; Tresidder was there before him. ' Tho'" weather conditions were-perfect, the rain had ceased, not a breath of wind was blowing,'and tho water was like a sheet of glass. After .con-siderable-delay over tossing for position's' both men "toed tho - mark'' L and.exactly, at 4.25 p.nu both oarsmen ■ ■ caught*the water together and tlio/raco"for. tlm' World's "championship had,begun. Webb was on the inside, Tresidder on the outside. Up to the mile post both men were on level-terms,, but at a mtlo and a quarter'Webb's boat- was perceptibly drawing ahead, and at a "'mile

a, T^'i a i f'■ . had a.clear length's lead, which lie increased to about two lengths at the bend (about two miles). Webb negotiated tho bend in splendid'style, while Tresidder kept rather far out, thus allowing Webb to gam about another two. lengths lead, and tho - fight ..for homo, began in earnest, Webb pulled across from thoeastern towards, the'western bank, thus giving Tresidder tho insido course. Tresidder kept straight 011 and this enabled him to reduca .the JN«w Zealahder's < lead.. - by about two lengths. "The .hugo. crowd stationed in tho vicinity ,of .the, wiuiiing post .woro now shouting _ themselves"; hoarse, and' tho din was deafening. Tresidder mado' a gallant attempt to overhaul his opponent,. hut .failed, and-Webb crossed, : tho; lino" nearly thrca lengths to .tho 'good,' amidst a sceno which . c . all "Pb ; : be; adequately described. Tresidder and sat once made oil- down the river ,at a good pace for Wanganui . !\> ebb, and'lus. stiff were lifted into tho policeI 'launclr;and a start was made for -Vyanganui. > v How do you - foel" was tho lust question put by an -admirer, "pretty .tired.was,tho..;fhampioh's : reply, and: he ~ceitainly. looked,it ;.Jio.further. stated ,it was a ray hard race, and ho had very, little left m, mm at tho -finjsli. , -Webb was landed at hi.3 shed at Aramoho, ; had a rub .down, and .with , his.- wifo- walked - down.' to Wansanm to. all appearances the least concerned' of the hugo crowd, returning .from the seeno of tho ™cer, - When 'Tresidder arrived at tn-a Wan- : g a nui" : bcatshed--ho..was"asked. "Well, what r ou «™ lnl , : . p n6w," to which ho replied, Oh;, ho.'is too good.'" .Mrs; .Webb race,yfrom . tho - polico launch -jtlw scullers, ;■ - but- Mrs. • • F-P • • riot an o.ye-witness. . . - • v'\ fa afli'ioes from Sydii'ey anhouiioe that' ,«eu Ihoroughgocd,-/who was beaten, bv a short length'- by- I residder some font months : K?,l match, and'liaa to , '-•*■ otters. Should Ti esi&ler accept - the challenge tlie race, is likely :to-'tako placb shortly on tha Hunter River,-but,'as lie has. announced that Wvfliff 3 ! 0 - S M.' a Pl»earanoe it is; not AWiv. men-..wj11-como- together again.