THE UNION "REP." OREWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6987, 14 February 1894, Page 2

THE UNION " REP." OREWS.

[to th« kditob.]

Bib, —Some curiosity having been evinced as to what constitute the "glaring 'anomalies" in the ten-stone crews it might be of interest to endeavor to famish them. Aβ stroke has the teat of honor it is only right that he should be criticised first. He has all the qualities that go to make a gocd oarsman, bat somehow or other he ie not a good stroke, although, perhaps, no better could be got. He lucks both judgment and experience—especially the former —and will have to put in a lot of hard rowing to come down to the weight, to the detriment of the other members of the crew. The selection oommittee have been unfortunate in the choice of the two's in both junior crews. The No. 2in this case has not displayed any form at all this season. He has been stroke of two four-oar crews, and in the first instance took his men along so fact that they got stale, and were not fit to row on the day of the raoe; in the second oase he simply " busted " himself and orew long before the event came off, and waa compelled to scratch. However, he may do well enough behind a good stroke—a man very difficult to get. A pleasanter feeling comes over one as the bow side is reviewed. No. 3 has fairly earned this most important seat by his consistent pulling during the season, and will row a very game race on the day in queslion— that is if he is not "busted." He should remember that he is young yet, and not go in for too severe training for a few years. Bow should fill this position with credit to himself and to the club. Unless some responsible coach takes this orew in hand it is probable that they will be either overtrained oi out of form on the day of the race.

Just a few words in passing regarding the " rep." orev?. It is apparent that as at present constituted the stroke side is much stronger than the bow. To remedy this it would be a good plan to alter the crew to the same positions as the season before last at the same time closing a breach, and thushave a crew that would put down anything that came before it. In conclusion, I might state that theoe notes have been writtea with a genuine desire .that the members interested may profit by them, so the eeleotion oommittee will take more interest in the members than they have done in the past and bo that universal satisfaction on the part of the olub may result. As an instance of picking crews, I might mention ihat a member was asked if he would pull before the oommittee had even a ohanoe of seeing what form he would display in the club raoea. It is thought that had the premier light-weight stroke of the club been given a free hand in the selection of the ten-stone crew, ha would have pioked a crew stroked by himself to down any similar crew in the North Island —I am, etc., Puzzled.