ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 175, 18 April 1908, Page 9

ROWING.

<BY Memturi.)

For many reasons (writes "An Old Blue" ,in tho London "Times") English oarsmanship just now offers far moro problems than usual to tho experienced observer, alike in technique, in what may bo galled machinery, and ,111 organisation. A new ferment.has been' introduced into tho old brew, and no one can predict what-tho resulting vintage will be like 1 ; To anyone who knew what rowing was only twenty years ago, the conditions under which the University-crews are practising will be quite sufficient indication 'of the,changes in the air. Cambridge, for instance", row stroke on jjow side, as they, have 'done for the last year or" two,' and though ,tliis is quite familiar to the old-fashioned Tynesider," it is very'different from our usual practice on the Thames. There is no real reason'why stroke should row on one side mora than on the other, and any first-rate oar should bo able to row equally well on either, but tho stubborn fact'remains,that ninety-nine crews out of a" hundred; row one way; and that 50 per cent: of our. oarsmen are better on one'side of tho boat than'they aro on the other. '

.The "Marlborough Herald''- says that the idea 'of sending the successful Blenj.hejm quartette to'represent New' Zealand at, ~tho Australian contests in May is .'gaining •ground. The local'crew.would'have an 'ox-, cellent oha,uce, for their times'.aro'an average of a good minute or_Sb'.fastbr;'thaii 'the! .'best smooth water performances'dfthe.-crack crows on tho other side. 'The New Zealand representatives would reqiiire' to .doabout three -weeks'! training in Australia, \and : 'the; •total cost of .'the trip, it is .estimated, would' not exceed £120. It ie suggested'" that the Now, Zealand Rowing Association filid, half tho expenses.if the local eiiterprisb provides for tho other, half. i'• ■ Tlio I " Referee " has the; following about' tho Thorou'ghgood-Fogwelf ; ;match -for • tho Australian championships Ben Thoroughgoocl the other day .received v : a" letter from. W. Fogiydl,-- in <which 'the• latter.stated' that 1 ho expected to experience some-'difficulty'-in getting his stake-money, and,-asking - • tho Newcastle man not to be-in^a'hurry'to fix a date for their race for: - piqiiship. Almost at the ' same • time': Thorojighgood received a letter .'from;-Mitchell' asking for a match, and, acting :i 6h the re'quest made .in .FogwellV.letttsr',' Beh.''''ass'ure : d .'nio that he intended g;mng : Mitchell,';the;,first, race. 'It..will be r6m<pbered" fthat..Fogwell:;somo two Aveeks' ago ..posted] 'me -to; •'cover.iThoroughgood's deposit-,--and everybodyliSre regarded l it as! that lid.'.would got' tho first..- racer Sinco'.:\'3\iitchell;-/wr6te?:.t<) Thoroughgood, I-have .read that at a-meet-ing of Fogwell's friends, held jit Cor'aki, tho amount required for his stake was over-sub-scribed in the rooms, that; it looks J as, if, Tlioroughgood ; rwilliliavb^ : '"t6.' give' •him- the'first race aft^r„A'll;v:as t i£h.e#e ! is: no getting away from. thd r 'fact':th'at; , was tho first. in ,• tlie field,■ ;and ; : for' that reason hp is entitled to first' "y : .•>ii >• . : ■