ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

(Bt "Meecdkx.") STATUS TROUBLE DEEPENS. Jan. I—Marlborough Regatta, Picton. Feb. 7.— N.Z. Championship, Lake Waihola, Otago. Fob. 17—Wellington Regatta. Ambassador Back from Sydney.

Mr. A. D. Bayfcild, secretary of the N.Z.A.R.A., returned from a holiday jaunt to Sydney last week, and brought back with him some interesting intelligence regarding tho vexed question of llio atnalour status of New Zealand oarsmen, on viewed through Australian spect.a'ilcn.

When Mr. Bayfcild left ho entortainod Dm idea that tho only stumbling block in Mil way of our amateurs being ac<.H>M a* Mich "on tho other tide" was Ili»> fju:t that, at New Zealand regattas tii.ih prize?) aro given. The fact that Hio money was paid to tho club and not to (lift oarsmen was hold in Australia t/> ht! br*ido the question—the opinion there being that competing for money constituted nn act of profossionuliim.

Representations as to tho circumstances had been made by tho N..Z.A.U.A. to tho N'.tf.VV.A.R.A. on tho matter, with tho result, that, when Mr. Bayfcild landed in Sydney a motion had been tabled that N'cw Zealand oarsmen should be admitted as amateurs in New South Wales. From this it appeared that the difficulty was in a fair way to being disposed of, anil the Now Zealand secretary talked the matter over with the Australian authorities, with very satisfactory results on this point.

The Point That Spoilt a Settlement, But thon anothor trouble cropped up. The New South Wales authorities learnt that the New Zealand rowing amateur definition did not apply to other branches of sports. That is, that it was not necessary for an amateur oarsman to be an amateur in all othor departments—or, as was said to Mr. Bayfeild, that it was possible, under the New Zealand rulo, for a man to engage in a professional boxing contest in tho _ morning, and an amateur rowing race in tho afternoon. On this boing confirmed by Mr. Bayfield, the whole difficulty arose afresh on this new point. Tho mover of the motion in favour of tho recognition of our amateur code withdrew it forthwith, and now there are the two difficulties to combat instead of the old trouble about the prize money. Mr. Bayfeild states that tho N.S.W, people are anything but antagonistic in their views, and would gladly admit New Zealand amateurs into their inter-State contests, if passible, and also that tho prize money matter is recognised as a technical point that could be disposed of without much trouble. But, in the other matter, they take a very determined stand. Their view is that a man, in order to be nn amateur oarsmen, must be an amateur in everything else, and that, unless wo in New Zealand can fall in with this view, all talk of a settlement is just so much waste time.

And New We Must Face the Point. The question arises now—and it is a wonder that it has not arisen before—as to whether the- Australian view is not the correct one. It certainly has both precedent and reason on its side. In other branches of 6port where an amateur code is considered necessary, no one is recognised as an amateur who is not an amateur all through. 'Thus a professional cyclist cannot be an amateur runner, nor can a professional boxei. Thus again no professional oarsman could be an amateur athlete, yet it is quite open for a professional runner, cyclist, or boxer to do an amateur oarsman under the existing rulo in New Zealand. Why should there bo this distinction with rogard -to rowing? It is, to say the loast of it, extremely illogical, and • now that the point has been .'raised it is' time that tho matter should bo gone into thoroughly with a view to bringing tha rowing code into line with that governing otlier amateur sports. "Mercury" understands that tho question will be' dealt with by the N.Z.A.R.A. shortly.

The annual race between crews representing the Wanganui and Wellington Colleges is to bo rowed on tho harbour on Friday next.

Notes from Petone. "Mercury" has arranged for a rogulai budget of notes from a correspondent in tho Fotone Club, and hereunder follows

the first dispatch from "our special";— "During tho week the final heats of the club fours were rowed with tho following results. In the semi-final, 11. Pnrrant (sir.), W. Clapsdn, F. Adamson, and W. Hume defeated W. Sharon (str.), 0. Haddock, J. Ingham, and J. Wilson (bow) rather easily, and in tho final row Parrant's crew was again successful, beating C. .Drummond (str.), J. Daly, R. Contractu, and T. Williams by a short length after a hard race."

The noxt raeo on the list is tho Novice Pairs, set down for next Saturday. This should provide some strenuous racing, as what is lacking in style in the novice division is fully made up for in earnestness of endeavour. It is expected that some soven or eight crows will contest tho trophy, which has been presented by Mr. Edmonds.

Little has yet been done by tho Regatta crows, wilh tho exception of tho youths wlio have commenced regular training, and who are begiuning to develop symptoms of combination, but they liavo a long way to go yet before they can bo classed with some of tho club's previous crews in this division. However, tho present quartet is an enthusiastic one, and as it was selected with an evo to the future rather than to the present it will have amplo tirao for tuition and .improvement during this and the next two seasons.

Last Saturday was too rough to permit of the proposed series of races, so club members had the plcasnro of seoing two really good cutter races. In tho first, tho Petono ex-Navals defeated the Weihngton ex-Navals by half n' length for the "White Horse" Whisky Trophy, and m the other tho present .Wellington Isavals turned the tables by defeating tho Petono "presents" by tho small margin of two feet, and thns winning tho cup presented by Mr. Mothes.

What Sort of Regatta Training? For the same reason as on previons occasions—the inclemency of tho weather -thoro is nothing (o bo said anont the doings of (lie town clubs. flegnttn training is going on spasmodically, and preparations for club racing are being got through somehow, but necessarily nil the crews in both divisions are backward, lho wonder is that all local rowing men arc riot broken-hearted at.the weather meted out to them this season by those in chargo .and unless a change comes very soon (hero will not be a crow from a local club sufficiently forward to warrant its being sent to a single regatta.