ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 18

ROWING.

SEVENTY CREWS ROWING HERE. [BT "Mercttet."] February 17.—Wellington Regatta. 1 February 22.—Chri6tchurch Regatta, Lake Forsyth, February 24.—'Wanganui Regatta Matchcd at Last. At last a meeting between "Dick" Arnst and Ernest Barry on tho Thames is within distance. It will.ho remembered that, last week, cabled intelligence was received here that the meeting had been arranged,' and also, that, next day, the report was given a straight-out denial by tho champion. He then averred that nothing was settled, and that, in any case, he would not row unless he was allowed .E750 for expenses. Perhaps Mrs. Arnst Has Spoken. But apparently argument, or pressure, has prevailed with Arnst, as later advices state that he has accepted Barry's .£SOO proposition. It is rather significant that his acceptance of Barry's challenge has ' followed so hard upon the heels of his marriage. Can it bo that Mrs. Arnst' has already instructed her pleasure-loving spouse to "get work" ? This is merely a small joke, of course, but the news of tho clinching of the match will be well received by both the Australasian and English publics, for this is a.meeting that has been muchlooked for. The "Sun" Anticipates, The Sydney "Sun" waves facetious over the affair, and publishes a forecast, "writ humorous," of tlio race—a dangerous step at this early season, and one that may result in the writer having to swallow his words, which run-.—

"Being somewhat gifted with sec-: ond sight, or prophetic insight, or tho ability to guess well, or some other useful quality of tho kind, we ven-. ture to givo'a brief forecast of the face. Dick will laud in England, and get to work on the river. His stylo of rowing will come in for nioro than <£500 worth of criticism in the first week. Tho difficulties of . the course, the peculiarities of tho climate, the recent defeat of tho champion's brothejy.wiH,ijll be regarded as points iiit 'Barry's" favqur. ty.By ' tho day of the race English sportsmen will havo contrived to persuade themselves that there is really very littlo to choose between tho oarsmen, and any amount of money will bo laid iu support of the Englishman's chance. From-a good start the scullers will row an even race for half a mile, and then Dick will begin to draw s'cadily away. The usual procession v'ili bo witnessed, and when the champion has passed the winuing post a good quarter of a mile ahead of his opponent, ho will draw two or three panting breaths to show that ho was fully' extended, and assure the reporters that it was the hardest raco ho ever rowed in liis life. Simple persons <vho have watched Dick's mighty strokes as lie: drives his shell forward through the water, and have observed *the labouring efforts of his rivals to catch him,- lia've usually been hvaTil to express the opinion that tho champion could have won by about a mile if lie had thought such a victory suitable to the occasion. But mako no mistake about it. Tho raco on the Thames will be a hard one, for Dick Arnst wil ltell you so himself. Dick Arnst will tell you bo himself."

The Seventy Crews To-Day. Sincc the sudden drop in tho boisterousness of that bete noir of tho local rowing man, the northerly, the waters of the harbour have been dotted with racing boats containing many and divers uniforms strung® to the frequenters of tho local wharves and foreshore. This superabundance of the rowing: stranger in our midst is due to tho Wellington Association's regatta to-da.v, and as no fewer than seventy crews have entered for tho nine events on the programme, it will 1)0 seen that tho stranger is among us in force.

From Chiischnrch, tho West Coast, Kelson, Picton, Blenheim, and Wanganui he has come to give battle to the three local clubs and, in most cases, ho has como with a big reputation to live up to. Thus, with the single exception of C. 13. Stone, tho champion sculler, all the championship winners at the rccent regatta 011 Lake Waihola will be compet-

ing. The Picton champion crew will be opposed by Wanganui Union in the big race, the Senior Fours, starting at 2 o'clock. The Wanganli' men aro determined if possible to reverse the dedsion of last weelc, when it is stated they' were not so fit as they might have been owing to minor accidents and ailments. What this crew can do when fairly "up against it," the men proved at liobnrt, two years ago, on that momentous occasion when they beat tho elect of the Australian States by four or five lengths over a 3milo course in the Australasian Champion Fours. To-day's crew is man for man the same as the Hobart combination, and it will havo -a big try to-day to "even up" with Picton. However, m "Mercury's opinion, the Marlborough crew will prove too big and Husky tor the light blue quartet—but to-day will tell. For the information of the public the venuo of the regatta will be liotiiieil in the customary manner by means oi nags on the 6 .P.O. at. 9 a.m. tins ninruiV'. A blue flag will signify that the northerly course along the KgahaurangaKoro Kovo foreshore will be the convincing ground, and a red one_ that the town course will be used. Tho "follow-the-race boat will leave the l'ovry Wharf at 1 o'clock for the first race, and if in town, will call at the Taranaki Street wharf between the races. If the northerly course is used it will make one call at the Petone Wharf in time to pick up spectators for the S-snior Fours.

The Spectacular Race of the Day. Tho spectacular race of the day will undoubtedly bo tho Maiden Fours, for which 110 fewer than thirteen crews have entered and everyone is likely to start. What Can Our Men Do? As lo (he chances of tho local frews, (here is not much that can be written with any decree of surely. Except, for the l'icion regatta, none of (hem except (he Star Maiden Double scullers, who won at Port. Chalmers, have done any lacing, and, as is known, the weather conditions have been so bad throughout the season that steady work on the water has been impossible. and it is hard to gauge (ho true racing value of the combinations.

The l'etono Club's .representatives are dealt with separately by "Our Special" from that township. The chief hope of (lie Wnlliugtou Club senilis (o lie in its Maidon Four, with its Sonior I*bjr and

Double Scullers well up in tlieso events, and the Star Club is centring its hopes oil the Junior Fours and lairs ana Maiden Double Scull 6. Pitone Possibilities, Of tho Petono men and the Petono course, ''Mercury's" correspondent writes interestingly as under:— "Now that the chief event in local rowing circles is at hand, a brief criticism of tlio l'etone Club's crews and their chances may not be amiss. Although liono of the crows liavo had as thorough a preparation on tbo water as might have been desired, they will, I think, comparo moi'o than favourably with last year s crews, so that, should a northerly provail, compelling tho regatta to be held this side.of (lie harbour, one or two ot the local crews should at tho least havo a''winning chance.' There, is no. doubt that visitors witl find tho local c&ursc a tricky one. One minuto the wind is swooping along with one, and tho next ono is battling against an embryo tornado, due to tlio proximity of the hills. • "A great- deal will depend on ;tho. drawing ot positions. Take the case of tho Maiaeh Pours, with thirteen entries.'. The boat holding thirteenth, position'will bo an unlucky one. shonld tho Wind happen to bo in any way boisterous. . i "The local juniors aro a likoly lot, hitting the water together arid'with plenty of power behind tlio stroke. . Tliesa crows —both Fours and Pairs—havo put up somo very creditable 'performances, and their' chances aro, I think, the rosiest. The Maiden Fours and Pairs, who havo l>eon unfortunate in not getting in a great deal of work, have come on a lot, and as with the double 6cullers will bo found in the hunt at tho finish. If ever a crew deserved to win, it is the youths. These boys havo undoubtedly set. an example to the whole shod for consistent training. Though they may prove too light to win, 'hey w ill bo bound to bo plugging away at tho .finish, no mattor how hard tlio going is."