Rowing.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 112, 7 November 1908, Page 14

Rowing.

(By "Scull.") In two important particulars che Work towards the end of the Star Boating Club's races, and during the firs; heats of tho Wellington Club's fours fell short of the form exhibited early in previous seasons. Her© and there rowers, young and old, could be observed moving in a niauner which indicated the ibsence of intelligent coaching — indeed, of coaching at all. This is to be regretted. Tho ignorance of young oarsmen regarding the elementary duties of rowing — as the handling of the oars, the erect and rigid posture, the feather ; and the recovery — • is lamentable, while as to details in the art of rowing and sculling — the possibilities of shallow blade-work, tke lift, the leg drive, the steadiness of the recovery, an.l uniformity of swing — are sadly neglected. There are also other resources without which no rower of ambition can ever expect to become first-class. it has always been our boast that we a-re a Dominion of Athletes, and although we had a slight 6et-back last sejaon in rowing, we hare no overwhelming reason for reversing that boast. Bat, nevertheloss, season 1907-I9OS humbled our pride somewhat — that jg cerbmrn — 'and it may be that our active rowers apply themselves to the business of life more closely than do our friends in other parts ol New Zealand, and thus treat thoir rowing as a hobby — a leisure-timo recreation. In rowing, us in cricket, or any other sport, members, look forward to be taught — they are averse to any test of skill that requires trouble in addition to business worries. Ask a recruit why 'he does not set about improving his row- , ing. He says be is never told of his : faults, and how can he learn without a teacher? The health and strength of every athletic club is measured by the amount of raw material in its ranks. Where there is material in abundance, no better sign can exist, but clubs' responsibilities do not rest at increasing the list of members ; they must provide for the moulding and the erftntual finish of those whom they encourage to swell their membership. Tho duty of enlinhtemmest, thorelore, must be skoulderfrd on to those who are thonsserres enlightened — not actire senior and junior oarsmen, bah past tried aad trailed rowing nn. L»«Vidual and personal coaching is the erring need of rowing. In the interest of the sporty I would impress upon local rowing oftciais ih*ir responsibilities in this important matter. The second okftttor under this heading is that of "steering." Good coxswains are greatly priced by ail rowing men ; but the unwary and bad I ones are looked upon more as a euro© them a blessing. The helms-boy who studies the wind and water, and eventually brings his charge | 6traight home without fault or foul, is i worshipped, but tke bey who indiscriminately ports and «tarbo««<ls kis rudder — , turning a straight course into' a zig-zag 7— or who does not watch what ke is doing, _ becomes unwelcome, and receives nothing but condemnation from ail qua-r--j ters — rowers and spectators. Club offi- ] oials are respectfully iivited te devote , a little time and atoientibn to these weak I points in our rowing, jl would suggest I that a stereotyped set qf instructions be I presented to new coxswfins, setting out, j amongst other informatibn, "the rule of the way" ; this might help to remedy the evil, ana enhance tho pleasures of boating, j — — — j STAR BOATING OLUB. By H D. Bridffo (Btroke). Gledhill (3), Dudley (2), Olive (bow), aid R. M. Brewer (stroke), Turner (3), H. Sniith (2), and PyeSmith (bow) winning the J semi-final he*ts, they were forced' t» try coneiusio*s urn finalists en M*nd»y irtin|, wken Brewer's crwr won by t. lenjWi a>d a half. The winners quickly w»nt to ike front, and at half a aule from kome ljad established a lead which w*s held without a struggle to tka finink. It was * popuW win, and the »4rmb«rs of tke crew aid! tkemielTei credit; yet the stroke o*nmj»n wm not gettanf tk« (!»m» l«ji*th of] water with his blade v hie mea forward were. Bridge's or *ff wad* «, disappointing finish, and did net a4>p»»r at tk«ir besf,. 1 Bridge's rowingwas nikeertftm, Gl^dkill 1 waa toq^ eager in getting forward, wkiist Olive .brought his hands i»U> kis l*p, a»d finished with his body act t>f petition. Rag»tt» fonr-otr crews have been chosen, a*d t»k» «eV»c*ioni will be considered in this column later. Norieo Pairs —^Holmes and M'Caw re peated th»ii earlier successes in this raco, and finally won the event outright from G. Smith and Moffatt, hut not without some disappointment beiag caused through tho occurrence of several fouls. With tho happe»lnr of gtieh misfortunes Smith and Co. h*d tl»flir chances of winning diioounted. Hoimvs Hid M'Cftw rovt« a lively stroke, tuid l«d from rirurb to ftitish, but the raargin of dUFvrrsoe wm» RBrrerwed down to hVlf c. le&gih at iha finifk. fOaXINGTON ROTTING CLUB. Tho date fixed f»r fchs deoirion of tti» W.R.O. Fours wm morsd baokward a day, and the first heat was Towed on Mondwy evening under very favourable conditions. The remaining heats had to be postponed owing to rough wator on Tuesday. There was a good gate to witness tho raco, and although it was anticipated that Hulbert (rtroke), Percy (3), Dean (2), and Cooke (bow-) would win, it was also expeoted that 0. R. Furness (stroke), Lampriers (3), A. 'Kieman (2), and Meok (bow) would make c. good bid foi victory. Tiiey did so, and in a very determined manner. Hulbert's crew %von by a length and a half, after some vigorous attacking on the part of the losers. Though still behind at a quarter from home, Furness made- a supremo effort to score, but it was of no avail, owing to the spasmodic outbursts of No. 3 and the } deep rowing of No. 2. No. 3 in Hulbert's ciew was also rowing deep, through not gnttinij his oai into the water squarely