Selection of Oarsmen

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 147, 18 March 1937, Page 13

Selection of Oarsmen

Sir, —I read “Impartial’s” letter in your issue of to-day criticising the selection of the rowing crew which is to represent New Zealand at the next British Empire Games. One question he asks is: Were all the selectors on the spot when the champion eights and Akaroa Plate were decided? As for the races mentioned it does not make much difference whether they witnessed them or not, as the eights were rowed in semi-darkness, it being impossible to judge a rower’s ability under these conditions and. in addition to that, the field was considerably reduced on account of the postponement. The race for the champion fours could not have been of any great value to the selectors as the condition of the water was so bad that several boats swamped after travelling less than half the journey, and the rest were more or less halffull of water. Summing it up, it looks as if the selectors’ trip to Akaroa to view the form of the rowers was in vain. This leaves them with the interprovincial eights on Easter Saturday to witness the form of the rowers. If every province is represented there will be eight crews starting, meaning 64 oarsmen. which the selectors will have to select the New Zealand crew from. Asking the selectors to compare 64 rowers' ability in a space of about 20 minutes is undoubtedly not asking a fair thing of them; so it may not be surprising if they adopt the wise suggestion of

“Impartial” and decide on the winning provincial eight to represent New Zealand at the Empire Games, and in the writer’s opinion, the great amount of training a provincial crew could get would prove it a far superior combination, which is undoubtedly what counts in all rowing, than a crew selected from various provinces.—l am, etc., OARSMAN. Wanganui, March 17.