Rowing. (By "Scull.")

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1909, Page 14

Rowing. (By "Scull.")

Tho first groat professional sculling handicap instituted in New Zealand takes place on the Manawatu River, near Foxton, next Thursday and Friday. Tho race is to bo rowed over a course two and a quarter miles in length. Those who have finally accepted are : — William Webb, ex-champion of the world (scratch) ; Georgo Whelch, champion of New Zealand (osco) ; F. S. Hagnoy, N.S.W. (lOsec) ; J. Mitchell, N.S.W. (14seo); R. Green, Sydney (18sec) ; E. Larsen, N.S.W. (20sec) ; A. D. Folton, N.S.W.^ (24soo); Byd. Kemp, N.S.W. (24seo) ; A. S. Green, N.Z. (30sec) ; Frank J. Green, N.Z. (35soc) ; J. Ellis, Sydnoy (45sec) ; Te Rewiti, N.Z. (30sec) ; Ogilvie, N.Z. (55sec) ; and Lawson, N.Z. (60soc). From tho above, it will be observed 1 that the ovont brings together a rare collection of sculling talent, and those who want a real boating treat should make a point of visiting Foxton on one or other of tho regatta days. Quito apart from the enjoyment usually found in boat racing, there is also tho educational sido of suoh an important meeting, which should be of some value to the careful p.nd painstaking observer. To see how the top-notchers of the game handle their soulls, to note their swing, thoir reach, their recovery, thoir slidework, their blado-work, their special methods and tactics, their demeanour in the presence of ill-luck, and the many other things studied by a wall-trained oarsman, is a liberal education in the practice of rowing, nnd ono that should influence tho boating ability of all those who may bo privilogod to bo present. But one wjll not pick up points by lolling leisurely along in tho wake of a stream of people watching results. It is tho_ oaiiso of thoso results, the means by which they aro effected, that roust be j marked, learned, and digested. Thoroughgood, N.8.W., with Kseo,' or about seven lengths' start, looked to have a rosy chance of winning, but, as he has not accepted, I look to S. Kemp or G. Whelch to turn up trumps. W. Webb can always bo relied upon to row a good raco, but twelve lengths to Kemp looks a bit too hnrd for him to 'make up. Tho following aro tho officials: — Mossrs. S. Messona, F. S. Easton, B. G. Gowev, B. R. Gardiner, W. E. Barber, W. J. White, J. O. Wilson, and Geo. Coley (committee); Mr. William Boach (Sydnoy), umphe; Mr. John Blackman, Sjdney, handicappor ; Dr. O'Brien, judge; C. O'Connor, starter; N. Galbraith, deputy-starter; Wm. Bock, lion, sociotary. The match between Thoroughgood and Mitcholj, which took place on tho Clarence River, N.S.W., resulted in a win for the former. Mitchell maintained a lengths load for about tuo miles, when rhoroughgood, without putting forth much demonstration of action, passed him and finished a winner by one and a half lengths. STAR BOATING CLUB. With hardly sufficient timo to cultivate combination, -the club's selected ro- ?, at A a , maic l on fou i— Pye-Smith (stroke), Butt (3), Stansell (2), Dudley (bow)— havo been requested to defend "their title against a ohallengo crew composed of S Cowles (stroke), Abercrombio (3), Olive (2), Bedford (bow). Tho club's choice 19 composed of oarsmen who, individually, are fairly good rowers, but in the matter of training thoy havo done little, ,Aiid it takes weoks nnd months to pick up perfection, no matter how smart one may be. It is like" learning a profession or a business, one cannot, grasp everything all at onco; success comes with patience nnd practice. Catching this crew unfit and unprepared, tho challengers (who are more experienced rowers) should attack with confidence. Still 1 ye-Smith s crew is sound, and quite clever enough to put up a sound and buccossful defence. If if crew bo selected by the Match Committee it may bo challenged by any other club crow, tho members of which aro eligible. This little rule raises the question of W. R. fj. Oswin's eligibility as a member of a senior challenge crew. Oswin, it appears, gave tho committee to understand that lie could not spare tho time to row. The rulo provides that no member who has refused to row may bo a member of a challenging crew/ This seems to bo only reasonable. It is refreshing, and interesting, howover, to see tho appearance of challenge crows. It not only oalls attention to the doings of the challengers, but it gives a fillip to tho work of representative crews. The ladies' four-oar race, which occupied all last Saturday afternoon, finished up by E Johnston (stroke), Butt (3), RobV 180"V 180 " < 8 ' and Hackworth (bow) meotinff J. Kerslake (stroke), Stansell (3), Ward\°l (2 > Newbold (bow) in tho final heat. Johnstons crew claimed victory by their outstanding merit in attack. They were faster and merrier at the business end of the race. Johnston did great work, whilst Butt, Robinson, and Hackworth held out well to the end. In the second crew the several men rowed with varying degrees of success. Korslake and Stansell were pillars of strength; Wardrop, too, was sound, but none were masters of»the niceties of tho game. WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB. The first and final heats of the Wareham Fours were decided .last Saturday This fixture provided spectators with a whole afternoon's racing. The two crewa to reach the final heat were S. Shilling (stroke), Redding (3), Wilson (2), Oairna (m( m W L an v W ;J- Gaudin (stroke), Hannan (3), Maslm (2), Player (bow). Superior combination in the closing stages won for V,l. , ng s orew the much desired victory. Without any undue roughness, which ia often distinguishable in mixed crews, the winners kept Gaudin's crew at bay with some very serviceable rowing. For the losers Gaudin was the best of a crew that had plenty of muscle, but, nevertheless, in the final stages the crew never seriously troubled Shilling's. Regarding affairs at Petone, my correspondent "Rowlock" sends the following notes, for which I am indebted: — After a hard fight J. Bonner (stroke), A. xMay (3), S. Bland (2), W. H. Sharon bow) had tho best of B. B. Tremain (stroke), C. Drummond (3), J. Canty (2), P. Brunettoe (bow) by a few feet in the race for the trial fours. A start for the senior fours was made on Tuesday evening, when A. Whito w w )f t D - , Byr ,£ c ( . 3) ' C - H - Burridge .(2),. H. Inghs (bow) defeated B. TruJp{"w (s oroo r0 ko V L . Drummond (3), J. Canty (2), X Parr (bow) by a bare canvas. Tho race was chiefly remarkable for the spirited dash of both crews. Trumain's crew's chances wero very hopeful, but they just fell short of the required condition by a small margin. Further heats will be continued throughout the week. The race for the junior fours will be decided this afternoon. Juniors should get in all tlio rowing they possibly can as the club looks to them to fill tho places of senior oarsmen in regatta crews as tho older members fall out. The club has plenty of material, and it is for the members themselves to merit recognition. I

A meeting of creditors was held in Auckland lecently in the estate of a bankrupt whose financial trouble was caused by speculation in mining shares. Mr. Pullen, who appeared for the bankrupt, said that that was only the first of a number of cases which would be likely to come before tho Official Assignee. Numbers of young fellows had been tempted to gamble in mining shares which was the worst form of gambling, and the amount of credit they were able to get from shar-ebrokers was probably the worst feuture of the business.