ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 12

ROWING.

(Bi Mfbcdbt.) ' _ ;FIXTIJEES. Ufobruary 24—Australasian Tour-oared Championship (Hobart). 'February 26-Chnstchurch Eegatta, Lake Forsyth. -, * March.—Wanganui Regatta iMarch 26—Hawke's Bay Kegatta.

i?Mij!?;^:h)hg:and;sbmewhat ; heated cdmmuni-i£vK<Crompton-Smit]v refuting ; .the-strictures ; S ! *ppearing.> : infthis';columnilast;;week;:re-.; SSficJgarding '::the - ;circumstances.-V;surrouhding K^jfthe'parr-oar 'championshiprcontest''at.;the: Sf : §?lrecent.'regatta 'at'Ticton.',' Mr:;, Smith; is, S'"^.; I ,.(secretary ■ of: : ; the:. Marlborough; : -Bowing k|s writes r '=Viii;;.his;:private |i!y!i|;!capacity.-: : fStripped;.of;:; av;masso,;:of;;.ex-'. letter' ''■ "V;* foS fei-"The>; salient:■ f aets which "formed; the fei-.iETouhds' on '.which'": the - protests'.of - the P@iSter ; ,;Clubs'; : ;prodisallowed- :are' r : these,:— .-,;.;;,";'', K^#;f"(i)jThe''double sciUte'racewastimed to |§';-?»tart at : l2 o'clock on'TuesdayVthe .second i'Mf't'- dayYof h thb'regatta,Hthe'pair-oar ..race, at P'l«'ft 12.30, "and the Marlborough Plate at 1.30 j>h l/iv-v the same'dayg-Tbere-is ho'suggestdonthat l|,o any of,tiie. : competini; orew3'were ignorant p?'a ,; flf;these.''times.;, : V,.;]':;:;^'?';. v ':;■•' iUfr': ';:-"2'. ; ;,'Therb'is^nb' i onicial statement "as f»fl> :to;the'itimb: the double-Bculls race' started; PjJ'.- y ; ; tut ;I J accept; ''yduripstate'ment.i ihat .it ptrt »t^d: ; at J l2.2s.';,;The;official'.time;for.the: ff;-:-ft rowing^of■• this .race' .was,9min.:-.ssed., so. P'& that'-'iftfinished,. ph.'.these;. figures",; at 26 $-:oi minutesi;to'ohe. /':^ c p#» ;;;^3;:The:if aiwiar?'race;;actually„ started, | : l'i"j>.£t;l9' : minnfes"past one; 'giving; 45' minutes t?^>.'heWeeh'the'finish'Vofi , f3ie'':,double sculls. Vo;6'•'■ andi the' start -of; the:;p'air-oar-iace. : -;■ The pi'.v: time"at'which>the\race;started.jwas-,'rioted; f^s'lw?;.6ne?-6£' ! :tKd'"dfficialsV ; becaTiSß:!isom"e'ol; pr^-ltte" i -crws''-had?to^'.il^'?starter."';T?aiting; iM?^°J;?W:^*'^--^' ;:^; :i'^;,S

:M"i.f: Allow ; :s' minute 3' for. the\Stat, boat ~^i *y(the'?Wangahui .'.TJnioni was rnot engaged ftsSlinithe /double -round ;%fS;-trom:'thovn^hihg'''port^;toHheir'alied7l ; an: tim'e.-;;.That' made ■■ it 21 minutesJo ; Si;*fone a .were;ieady pff# the'- Star -:pair<ar > stroke; stated, 'when- the, fef-J-Hprotest was:"-beingconsidered,ytnafc'it-'tpok' P^fenim^actually'ls-minutess'to' convert' his; That' ; made-it;6 f^SiVbefore^he-was;- ready;.'to;go;'Out-;tp; ;.the, &i3j*tartii&™qu^ (Kir <ki&'&. % ;;The vi>air-oar>' race;.; started..;. at: 19 t 3 B-w'iSo-minntes'lb row from'their,'shed' to.tae BiWjVstarting post;': They; could have,rovteLont miM to'ithe-starting post in':is ■ minutes.-:,'il,' ?;;i &«:£:■: ;-<^^ minutes'tb;unrig!thoir ;boat: and.' pSfc'get -,tt)'-the; starting ■, ;oin-: k%fj-iciiliMTeirtise'd\tim"e';between.tM'.BtaTt;ot R&S-the^re™^ K'Sfbarlracewas'SO mihutes:'., ,: p^oi i^PAsJ - a matter of iftcti, I. am informed. .the- 'officials', in-.the, starter-s: teWboatHhat ;wnen r the- pair-oar ;rac'6';startedi thoughat,vhadileft Ppjiasthe-'she'di :w'as' : at; such-, a. distance :that; it &;;%^6uldi;have a'^delay/of least, W%s beenfstarted:??So -that' ,what-the. protesting; seem '.to' have required-was that they; have s^; minutes nn; pS^SwMch'ito'unrig their: boat' and 'get .'.started-' W'&'-ivii the vinbxt■• race;»' although.:; they;_knew. K&feit^d6^it".inV;A:sv^.:\^;V;y''':-£if^-'^CY! ; y fe#P^"B: ; iln : ';the /meantime,; -the :Ficton ,-bpat feS'SWas'Sn exactly -the same" position;-as; the except -that it' bad .not W&vW'W" round ' the iwharf... 'after,;: finishing raceYtfor;; .which ;libaye |i?*¥*alloweaithe" SterYcrew:five-minutes}, art K^.??svtbi'K4ton''. : cTew 1 'wa3'.w^ting- : rt.-tne' start-. r& 'Jtting'. point.'.fifteen' .minutes.,befora : the; race p^aetually'.started. : ':' r ;That'-' is,':: at-"least ;25 P'?'#--minutes'-beforeHbe iSt'ar; Club.'-boat" could P||si#]iave ; E#r?W fo> their -.'own 'devices ■?■.?:■•; '-*?■'•& '■-%'■■&*). |¥s : ---w"9^heYßtarter , t£ ; .fe : _v! vr&iltwp'"- / had"-piti'in;;aia; 'app'earoDca/.tliei K"/'« face S -was i exactly..,- r 45 ■•;: minutes Vnnished.f and W: J&forty-iineVlniinutes v after' the;-: appointed fe;j-.'^time|: What;grounds 'the IWanganui'Xlnioh SfJfcl;-'brew/'-Whb''.were',n6t; engaged .in.'the jdouble ; |S.V.y.oii : -these'; figures, v difficult. : to?see;-'-?..'■'-.;;; ■ffi ; M'&"V£&<xfc' state..- that'SMr.'-; Guthrie,"; the ffeKPJCanterbury ?:; stroke,^'objected: Y strenuy ;itarting';'of ;t thei : pairroar - '&( f?iacV-?Thb''bmaals;in"';the-starter's boat tei#deny.positdvely>that'be c di(l'anything'of SMthe;^nd;itb:;them;;;br; ; ;if "he:;did;j.they *Sr=svYwerev-unable i'tb ;;hear; it.:/.'He,.may;;haye ;toX the'.boat '< sent; ■ to.; call-; him f;;vifesi;tdrthe , star9hg.;pointi , -'but,.of;;tiisi:l' and K^;:;:the';otncials.:havo:nb; -knowledge;;.;; i .->..■ 0- ; -:S W'li! ; -The t Union; ■ : Company ■•; had; -been 'p.;.v5;;.:-ba^ered^bn; : aU';.sideslro''-ma^ ; !suohV ffiSfc^'irangements. '-'as'.-'wotild-v fall'.'in,;-with;, the S'-sSSwisfies' :qf ;>visiting : oarsmen; to.: get ■ away j£f ; K''as .'ebbn-as/possiDWs'l.'he had K;'ft-accbrdWly.;&pt:back:the.Flora;oniMon-£;c;";Stlay;v.mgntr;fbr:' their iter ;--i;.V:f'aep'aitbre, bn : 'the S : '-&v,'gaW-'was' t pos^ ?%;'•' -till;finaUyi'.at about 10. a.m.;Vit\.wasi fixed lA'Vti'i lor.;?: o'clock "on ■>, tbojafternoon;; 6t;,.!Ew» ;-> ; fei'fiii evening;:.boat;.on ''.Tuesday^could";take;no ■i;.'-&»,b'oatsj.< so'v; that '*; it ";.be v came : : a..'': mattjr. : ;Jif ':i ; :?-Sisomeit-importance.•■to.'jteet I '.'the;-races, byer; p;;:&>fSpossible,;;-bef6retsEe:;went,:-:othem ;SSi'':s'tnosß :crews',thatiwe'ra left v by-r;thejHora fißiSycoul^Fnot;get' ; away/on;toesday i 'night-as ;i-(jy'ithey i .-haa< anticipated.";;;; W';''^' : ' -:'.'.'.'.'--v i ff.j/'&BAlthough'. not.. onamp-qred'Of .Mr.: Smith's »i^K^ e 't^ hfl; Vw-'sitte-^thit;tffi. i - J -SiMffi;:('will j|;Ji,V-j.'regret:it 'himself' in.'his' cooler-, moments— fe'wii.'-'Merpury'--: is; extremely'glad ito.vhear the pilS; bliipial :side ;bf' the * case; \chiefly fsbf; peiS -i;iaos,' ; because "it '.sb ; ;'strongly 'justifies'" the ijA'Kv'attrtiide: taken ;np'i in;:thesb; notes, last BiS'i'^eek/ ;first',:paragraph.; about iftob£tos/: respective .times.;; set '.for;the. starting Sii'+vibf- the .'double'scnUs.'a'nd pairs,; gives the M ! :;L;;.;tim^';-as::l2:;b'clocli, ; 'andYl2.M;j;jThisyn )S£i\ J ; ; itselfVgiyes'-ample ivi?';ifplaint'.:th'at'has:been:made-oy;CT ; «;Thej;,; committee k'-'KK must;-have'; known/'thatvthe.'. same, boats | /<:w:Sare'.used -'for both •. these;; races,'; and .that H;;'^|it;''is;a r .-physical' impossibility. for .'a: boat te.i..-'':t6'i:be Taced'over ■ one';and; a?: half; miles, bSsYVtheYrig';! altered;'Yand :;the .'-boat;.;paddled gii'fift back -ready ;tb.'- start .'again in; 80 fi-Si• particularly; 60. if j* rudder has. to., ; be ; .fit K;:-:<;itetl.;as'.;ih,;the;present.'.caseMUorebver; and is;* a'Vglaring A injustice,l- v the\Chrisfc rv:c'.'■ Xchurch; Union: crew: (the: then'cha'mpions] ti^r'were absolutely' debarred :by."the Commit f ;V.V,;;'.r. tee's ' action.' '.in' this: respect -from' ever P^o. attempting:;to:. ; ;TJiit $%::■£# is; another ifact ;which : :-must'; have: beer g:;*s; i ;-k n own':;to';'the executive/; '■:v : ;>'■;;: '■■?'■':■'■' .- ;V Ej •?.;;/,';-'-As to;the -time, taken- by the -Star crew ; .;:.-,;in'.riggibg their, boat; TheVdoublo;sculls uA ;':-';.race.-; was -,finished,',;-by -actual;; timing.-'bj fe.M-i.- iklercurj's''.)- informant,:;'at 12.34 :o'clpck t*g-?:Thp' Star; crew'; finished:; some' time' late 7, paddled: the boat>rouud to'the goods' '^.ehed,-:.fpr;which;;.Mr^.:Smith-allows;;fiv( '" i.iYXvminutes.■-,; Here .the disembarking 'was'.de fcV.'.-.:iV.;.'Jayed-:';for.Vsome : minutes]';because th< p ; .:l; : t'*fl n ! on : (Wanganui) -crew was using thf ?-:V*s:;pnly skid;available. ■;Then-the- boat wa: .■•■;.but- \; of:' : -the.. . water,., ant fi>:?V:;::.laid ';.::bn:,:.;-;.the ;; -: dumps '.''!;• preparatory i;?:;;;:-};: : to;;;;being-: / unriggedr:':"For ;:aU•: ; 'of:' thii ! t v;;xrtMf,j Smith;-allows ;nb;:timo : at-all,' ali;];fi:;:'; :though;:he'must.'know: that tho'handling Pj: '-'jt'indUiftin'f about of - boal Eji-fe-"~;wlls''-'foria'f.lot.v'bf.'ca're., .Theni" (as-Mr .|i':3T«*:Smjth; says): Little,' the. Star- stroke; statec pfe;g;'>hen"-the .prptest.S.was-'being-.'consideret it', would''take; 15. minutes'to-con verl

fr^ : ; 'l^hVboat:by altering the riggers; but—and IWrfetW?. is .the crux/of/the. matter—Mr;' Smith" • iSK;J;?fofgets JhafoLittle: Expressly '", told : : tho HfiMt'meeting; that,'this, time,'! was exclusive .of 1 ,'tinie.'taken.to.'nt;'on"the rudder. This,

['••'.';;-. ; 5f .V; delicate '.task,;.and/one; that cannot v]'--:A;h, be.', hurried; at-any. ..time.'. /Necessarily, be&h/.;;vfore /.'a.' 1 championship; race ijt /would/be ':?';'S'iiS.atterided to ~with vhibreVthan-:■ Ordinary I;*';;-;; care,;so-that'another. 15 minutes .'could be ;"',•;/> accounted-, for "here easily. ■;.Mr. i. ; vv,:';.>.'fcnith' has left this out, ofjhis 'calculation entirely;; but he. will;how.;..see; that the f>.:-jj ! >;.'tijri« M which .'.theVStar'.'crew., was .ready. ',-..•''.•:'' to; leave .for .'the starting, post (allowing, iW'!;;'.; eay, five minutes for launching,the boat; f:,' ''/':-'-. embarking and'getting:away), would have K;s,.:'l)eerir'at,the lowest computation; io:min : : SSiM-'ri'. Btes after the,finish of the previous: race Sjv,';.;•'•';— that is, at I.G o'clock,. or .thereabouts.. jS; : i? '{'■ 0° Mr.;,; Smith's". own showjn? the pairs $$'*.%'■ was started; at. 1.19 o'clock, .which would f/i : f;«;:. ; leave'/13 minutes,, roughly, for' the crew g;';vS; L tc,getto the post—not.nearly enough. ■ ' fi:'','' 1 ''In, Paragraph. 8 Mr. Smith states that Sj'i-2-hythe:Picton ; bont.:wnS'in;exnctly;the same fts.£ F /.position /as"- the'. Star, Club boat, 'not. siv'' .The--Picton'.hour, did j£?KsS'jidt require.to be':'fitted: with a rudder— p!'.V;fti'i:V."iafit'-tnatvwas elicited ;at .the' inquiry:

Moreover, ; the;,'Pictoh,boat was taken; to'.its f.own: shed,', where all .'conveniences; were at hind, whereas the Star.;boat,.as:stated,.had to be taken up and down a; steep: skid, which -was al:; 'ready occupied when it arrived. ■ • 'As. f or-Paragraphs 10 ;and ■ 11,";- they are quite' I .side • issues. -":"Mercury"' (has Mr. .'Guthrie's; statement that; he did.jobjeot to starting;iWithb'ut.':the:other:-crewß,-:; and the ' steamer'-arrangements do ,nbt enter into;;the .'(.The; championship regatta:should .'.be. run,,to ,6uit.,the sport and ,■; the: .competitors, '.'. not>■. the;' steamer time-table."i; >; v. V;;:.- v .;,:;, ': : ; : ; ;■ '■'■.;•' ■.;;■.,

.Moreover,' there.'is a .point.',in; the matter, of theiprotest'lthat: .calls for fatten-. tion'.Y" TKo. meeting.'; whioh' ■' adjudicated j upon' the protest was apparently a meeting; of the .Committed;,;; By .Rule :14 'of 'the N.ZlA.A.A'.'"members of the Council of .'the; N.Z.A.R;A.. are : :ex; officio, membersof >tbis -'committee,;'.:dnd : yet Messrs. Hammond and Widdop, who were present.: in'-,; their ..'official capacity; as ■ re-, presentatives .of the; counoil, received no notification, of this;■ meeting. I/This .being so,' it : is a'■ moot '•"' point ''as' to' ;; whether the meeting;was not' out of order as being improperly;convened., % .,v ■';-..-■;-si;;7: ;;'-' ''The Star' Club.'has very rightly, laid the. facts befo're..the ; Wellington Rowing Association; with; therequest that "the mat-. :ter ho 1 brought.before:the;N:Z;A.E.A.'for . a'■;. thorough. sifting:;, This ;is;ito; be;.- done, so more; will- be heard of: the; matter. x- latelyyfof.' ;the! ;^Star : Club,-is rowing,'bow. in 'the Canterbury 'Club's- senior:'four''fdrY'the-'Christchurch Begatta; on. January; 26/ andjWill.also re-, present"-.the ;club in,.the;senior.'double' sdulls, '.with -H:-SvHobbs; ; another,.ex-Star oarsman.; V,'..'.; .;,;-' ;'..,;;; <■:■•.',■•■ ..'■•.'/- : , ;. ■:■ '■■-■' ■•"'M'Kenzie,-who was recently.,transferred 'to -Christchurch, is ? also '.rowing for.;'the' C:E.C.', andjis' to make his an<M-inVfegktairowing as-No/>:3..in. tho at .the. same; regatta:, ■ The'.';Star'- Club's sports':'are. to ;be held .dff.,the jboat-house ;;.;; ;:£?£;?; :^;--:«\..ry