ROWING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 19

ROWING

(By “Outrigger”.) The bad weather of last week-end prevented oarsmen from venturing out on the harbour. But this spell will do ’ mure good than harm, for many members of clubs can look forward to a strenuous period of training prior to tho New Zealand championship regatta at Pieton on February 12. Hewing lias a strong hold in Otago and Southland. The Otago Rowing Club was strongly represented at the recent Bluff regatta. This was the - first time for some years that the_clu* lias been represented at the Bluff regatta, and those who made' the trip pay high tribute to the hospitality received at the hands of the southern rowing mon. The prize money at the Bluff regatta was shared a® follows: — Awarua, £65 (also the Sir J. G. Ward Cup, 'competed for for tho first time, and the Greenland Challenge Shield; Riverton Club, £29; Railway Club, £l9; Otago Club, £213. The council of the Now Zealand Rowing Association has expressed its very deep regret at the death of one of its members, Mr. J. N. Barnes, and has placed on record its grateful appreciation of his services in tho interests of rowing, services ungrudgingly rendered. The New Zealand Council has been asked whether an amateur oarsmen can officiate at a -professionals’ rowing gathering without losing his amateur status. The council has replied that it is of the opinion that the New Zealand Amateur Association’s rules do not prohibit members of affiliated clubs from acting in an official capacity at professional sculling contests providing that they do not receive any pecuniary gain, and do not transgress the amateur definition in any way. The council at the same time deprecates the practice, and does not think it should be encouraged. It may be news to t.’ie members of the New Zealand Council that amateurs in England and Australia at various times have been closely identified with the professional side of the sport. Of course their interest was purely honorary. “Argus” writes in the “Referee”; “At last week’s meeting of the Australian Olymnic Federation at the Sydney Sports Club much time was devoted to the question of Australian representation in rowing and sculling at the Eighth Olympiad. Mr. W. Ashworth (S.A.) spoke strongly in favour of sending the Murray Bridge R.C.’s famous eight-oar crew, but the chairman ruled that as the council had already decided on a scheme in the matter of the selection of any crew that might be sent (the matter had been left to tho various State Rowing Associations) the council could not, without stultifying itself, select the Murray Bridge or any crew Anyway, boiled down, the result of the debate seemingly was: (1) From tho financial outlook it did not appear likely that any crew could be sent; and (2) that if one was sent, it would be easier and cost less to secure the services of a club crew as against a composite one from all the States. It was finally resolved that if the selectors (appointee! by the various rowing associations) recommended any particular crew as being a representative one, the council would bo prepared to send same provided itp expenses were guaranteed. Mr. Ashworth, indicated that if the Murray Bridge crew was recommended he was of the belief that South •Australia would, single-handed, guarantee to finance it. I may add I am of the personal opinion that a club crew would have a far better chance of success than a composite crew.