ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 645, 23 October 1909, Page 12

ROWING.

(By Muntunt.l

It is reported that tho Wellington Rowing Club's executive is contemplating building a now club-house on tho club's present site. Tho proliminaiy heats of tho throe Star Club's races mentioned in tho "Fixture" list above are to be rowed next Saturday (weather permitting). ■'■.'..'.'.

I'artieulai's are now to hand of tho recent match between ox-Champion 13en. Thoroughgood and 1\ S. Hagney at Newcastle. Artioles. wero signed for n.staito of-JSO a-side, but as l'horoughgood could not raiso this amount tho soullers agreed to race for .£25. Contrary to expectations, the event received but little support from-the public, which was perhaps accounted for by the fact, that it Was known that IhorouglißoOd had not trained ,too seriously for the affair. The. "EeferoV report says-.— ''Thoroughgood started off at 35 'to the minute and Haghey 31. At the end of the first quarter of ■a, inilo tho Newcastle lilan had a slight lead, nnd, at the mile, rowed in Gmin. 4sec., ho was half a length in front. The wash from a passing 6teamer at this point interfered with tho soullers, Haghey losing his stroke, but almost immediately he spurted 'and drew up level. There was no dash on the part of cither sculler, but at tho H mile post, Hagney accounted for tho first spurt, and.passed his .opponent. At 1$ inilo the ei-cyclist led by two lengths. Ho was pulling a long, easy stroke, nnd did not appear to bo exerting himself, while Thoroughgood's rowing was tnulty, his stroko being short and jerky. Heiwas.pulling 25 strokes to Hagney's 22. Tho two-mile post saw Hagney two lengths in front,' the distance being covered ia 12uiin. (Ssec. From this out Hagney ooiitinUed to increase his lead with apparent eace, and eventually won by ten lengths in 18min. Usee. Tho time was very fast, assuming, of course, that the full distance was rowed. Thoroughgood says th« full, three miles WD yards was rowed; but residents of, tho Terrace, who, know every inch of the course, assert that the men started'fully 300 yard 6 short of the usual distance. Hftgney showed plenty of pace, and created a favourable Impression, but Thoroughgood was never 6een to Worse advantage. He had no' excuses to offer, beyond sayiiig that Hagney was the best man. ho had ever mot, and he predicts that it is only. a matter of. timo when ■ tho ex-cyclist will be right at tho top,"- , Tho following scullers liavo noti- | tied their intention of making the trip to-'AW Zealand to competo in' tho Foxton and Wanganui handicaps ;r-Hany Pearco • (Australian champion),!). Thoroughgood, and i'.' S. .Hagney, while it is.expected that G, Day and W. Mitchell will hlso be ■ present. With these and Arust, Webb, and Wholch, all of Svhoin have expressed their.ifttentibn of starting, the events promise to assume, classical propor-hon-j in. sculling annals. , '- Tho' Auckland Rowing Association has de-> oideJ to protest, to, the N.55.A.R.A. against tho enforcement of the now "colour" scheme, as tho northern clubs resont' very deeply the proposed alteration in their uniforms. Tho protesting body, however, will have' its trouble for its pains, and would bis - well -advised to eavo its protests for weightier matters, Unless it etui propose-S&ino alternative arrangement that will not conflict'with--tho intention of the now Scheme, The decision of tho council was arrived at < only after months of serious deliberation, and the mouibers thereof-mako no ecoret of their intention'to adhere to the. proposed adjustment except "in cases where any objections'can be mct : without fear of bring, ing about h reversion to tho old state of con> fusion: "In: any case tho- alteration only -ap. plies to club '-uniforms at'regattas, nnd, if any: of tho Auckland-clubs have any sentimental ob' jection to the change—and wlmtover objections there,may be can only bo' sentimental,ones— thore ~is nothing to- prevent them retaining their present- 'colours- for everyday use aud club events. ,!..-.'■

. .Soma perturbation, has been felt locally over a report from, I'icton that the tawing authorities there, had decided to forego the usual an. nual regatta:,on New: YearVDay in favour of the championship regatta.. This has. variously been takon l to.mean-that tho usual. Nc\v,;.Ycar'; regatta is «> be cancelled, and.tho eliaiiipibnship, fixture,held -at some later date,, and, alternatively, ,that tho' bigscr CVeut is to. take ploCo. on.January. 1. . ; .Tho'latter, of, these readings, is, tho/correct one, but.tho |.decision.cannot .yot.ba taken As final. "Mercury" is convinced that luoro will boiheard on tho subject from other hssOciV tlons. Owing to. the prevailing weather con-, ditions up till January,, it is noxt . to impossible for Wellington -Crews to turn out properly tuncd-up so early in. the season. An - objection on,these grounds from the Welling' ton' Association for one, is bound.to.be filed. Jforeover,; the date has. to-be endorsed by tho N.Z.A.R.A.;., arid, 'although tho governing executivo can do no inoro than arbitral*, in tho matter,'it h considered likelv: that sufficient cprssuro can bo brought- to bear to induce tho obunoil- to-throw, tho weight of its influence against tho date proposed. ■ One ctm quite- and sympathise with the motives of the, l'icton people in en' dcavouring to arrange for a time that wduld benefit, tho regatta; mast-unanciallv,; and no doubt the New Year - holidays would suit ad* mirably from this'viewpoint.'' Still,'the foot remains,' and-, it cdnnot ,b'c controverted* that the--rowing hspeoh of the is. the'fac-' tor-most lo bc-considercd.; The object Of the Championship ntfattK is to- : ascertain •.where' tho best actual: rowing of the v affiliated clubs is to, bo fotimli and (his object-can only bo attained by giving'the, Competitors tho tests under equal conditions.'that id at a time when they are all at their best form. Previous ex--perienbe has shown that January 1 is not this time.-: ■; ■' '

The'programme, submitted by'the Marlborough Association' for the championship regatta colisis's of the usual four championship Fours (confined to . crews uot successful 1 in Champion Fours), Junior Maidon, and Fours, Juuior Pairs; and Maiden Double Sculls, ;; ' '.- ■■■,>■'■. ■■:■■: !'•:■!.