ROWING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1912, Page 20

ROWING.

(By "Scull.") i Eyes in the boat! More mistakes at rowing are the result of the neglect of this little rule than it would be possible to imagine. But we all know it is not such an easy thing to k^ep the eyes in -the boat as they ought to-be kept, for the more anxious the rower the more liable he is to err in this matter. To obtain 'harmony among the several movements fore /and aft the golden rule of "eyes in the boat" must be closely observed. While the stroke oarsman is. looking for the 'cause of faulty rowing, how often does the coxswain remind him and the crew of the non-observance of this little, but fundamental, rule of the game? "Eyes in the boat" is no mere stock phrase, and coxswains know it. Every rower experiences the almost irresistible desire to watch his oar or take a glance' at another crew, but every rower ought to appreciate the danger' of yielding to that desire. The eye makes the connection between the mind aud the physical system, and if it is distracted is not quick enough for the task, and inaccuracy follows. As it is some time since a regatta crew has been seen racing in the pink of condition, perhaps it would be worth while enquiring what it means to be at the top of one's form. I should say it means when, individually, the crew surpassed themselves ; when everyone rowed boldly and well ; when weak -points were at a minimum ; when everything the crew did or essayed to do succeeded ; when they rowed as if rowing was absurdly easy. Rowing at Gisborne has been full of interest and keeuess thb season, and I believe it is the first time that, it has been so for years past. But the opposition amongst club crews is not testing enough. They would have harder nuts to crack, and learn more about the game, if they travelled and took prfrt in regatta honours. lam positive that there is a. great deal of enthusiasm for rowing lying dormant iv Gißbome, only waiting to be roused by successes away from home. Club fixtures have proved that they have got together workmanlike crews fit to hold their own on foreign waters. To-day, the Star Boating Club will decide the race for the M'Lean and Bethune fours. Five crews are taking part. TurnbulTs crew should show a pretty strong hand, and, unless "Dick" Brewer's team dUplays a remarkable development, should just about win. Crews in training for the Hawk** Bay regatta have been favoured with excellent weather, and much good work has been the result. lfrom the Leader : — On Tuesday evening last, a largo gathering of scullers and supporters of sculling assembled at Bateman's Hotel, Sydney, to wish the champion bon voyage and succe£s. If Arnst succeeds in defeating Barry, a match will doubtless be made between Durnan, the Canadian champion, and Ariist. It is Uie champion's deshe to equal, if not excel, the record of William Beach, who won «eveu championships in succession, and retired .unbeaten. Argjafc will find

Barry a toujjh opponent on the Thames, but if the champion succeeds in getting fit and well he ought to be able to repeat his victory on the Zambesi. As to Durnan. the came applies. When in good condition and in good sculling form Arnst is truly a world's champion, but if out of form he may be.beaten by a sculler who is not in the first flight. At a meeting of the committee of the Union Rowing Club, held last week, Mr. H. tsellais, district secretary, attended and explained the objects of the New Zealand Sports l'rotection League. After consideration it was decided to affiliatewith the League and forward a subscription. The Wairau regatta takee place at Blenheim to-day. As no invitation has been received by local clubs, it is presumed that the races are confined to the Marlborough clubs only. Three members of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club were treated to an" unexpected cold douche the other evening ,(says the Poverty Bay Herald), fortunately with no evil effects. Two doublescullers, being steered by another rower, had proceeded a short' distance past the beacon in the river, between the two molea, and in turning, the skiff overturned. Tfce incident caused come excitement, but, with the assistance of a line thrown by a passer-by from the breakwater the rowers were not long in scrambling on to solid ground again. The 6kiff was picked up later. CRICKET. (By Half -Volley.) Central's defeat of East A has made the position in the senior championship a most interesting one. At present these two teams are running level, and a win for either in the final match will carry with it premier honours for the season. In the Junior championship, Central are leading St. Mark's by one point, with Catholic Club three points further back, ihe leaders are at present engaged in a match with St. Mark's, and on appearance* defeat seems assured them, St. Mark's having scored 233 to Central's 54 runs for four wickets. If St. Mark's wm they will carry off the championship. Templars have won the third | grade championship with ridiculous ease, the team not being debited with a single lose. The most interesting topic among cricketers during the week has been the proposed tour of a Dominion team to Australia. The Poet has already expressed its opinion of the. action of the delegates in turning the scheme down, and consequently it will not be necessary for the writer; to again return to the subject. However, just to show that the proposal has other strong supporters in the- Dominion, the following comment by "Long Slip" in the Otago witness, is appended. "Long SHp" says: — "The principal business to be discussed at the meeting of the Otago Cricket Association on Friday evening ie the proposal of the New Zealand Cricket Council in xc the suggested New Zealand team for , Australia next year. This matter was raised' a fortnight^ago, but it was decided to defer consideration to a fuller meeting. At the previous meeting one of the members of committee stated distinctly that htt'Was not in favour of the council despatching a. team to Australia iiext year,, on the ground that no benefit would aceru* to New Zealand cricket generally— better, h» thought, that the council should arrange for teams to visit New Zealand. I Certainly do not agree with the foregoing argument, and if it 16 the only one that can be advanced ' for opposing the New Zealand Council's proposal it should be passed over. The benefit* New Zealand cricket has derived from the visits of foreign teams have not been so infinite that such -can . be advanced as a reason why a New Zealand team should not visit Australia ; and, if it is so, then all the more reason why, in order to ensure further visits of these teams, a New Zealand side should be despatched to the Commonwealth. It ib 13 years since the first and only New Zealand team toured' Australia, and Australia has pretty well forgotten that New Zealand exists so far as cricket is concerned. When- the Dominion drops out of Australia's sight and mind altogether in cricket circles the day will be an evil one for us. The game is struggling along now as well as may be, and must still further languish if efforts are not made to keep more in touch with Australian cricket. I wish oil© might import the Australian \ cricket atmosphere to New Zealand that those who do not know might realise what charm it has and what incentive to play the game and produce men worthy of selection in a test 'match. Almost every cricketer in Australia has it before' him ' that he may one day achieve test match honours. *No such feeling pervades in New Zealand ; and the pity it is so. Were New Zealand more in touch with Australian, cricket and its atmosphere of ■ enthusiasm our players would be imbued with, a spirit' of emulation that ' would go far to raise the standard and spread the growth of the game far and wide. To' say that no benefit* would be derived to cricket generally in New Zealand by despatching a representative team to Australia is merely to confess oneself it).' capable of realising the true value of the proposition. "For my own part, it would be enough I that our representatives wero brought on the field of play directly under the [ eyes of the cricketers and cricket legis- ' lators of Australia that they might know how, why, and wherefore the national j game is played in New Zealand, and that on their part the men representing New Zealand return with enthusiasm lull upon them in measure to overflowing, every I point well grafcped, and every phase of the game well studied. If New Zealand cricket generally would not benefit by this, and if 'the value was not enough for the despatching of a Dominion side on such a mission, pray us for lack of. faith and grant us grace in our ignorance. "It matters little, or not at all, if the Ne\Y Zealand team ie turns trailing it« bat— beaten to death by every side that lines out against it. The honours lost or won: are of no moment compared with the benefits the men individually and the team in general will receive from such a tour. The value is infinite, and ten-fold what it will' cost in despatching the side. Over all and above all are the benefits that should be derived for the good of New Zealand cricket generally. The team will be playing not in one'isolated match, as would be the cate if a foreign team were touring New Zealand, but in a series of matches (each one of which would be a test) for six or eight weeks. Could 1^ of New Zealand's representatives having such opportunities afforded them of meeting Australia's best" on Australian wickets return without showing a trace of what they had learnt and would euch knowledge not be infectious? A lot of money has been expended by the Otago Cricket Association in importing couches whose worth our cricket has not yet revealed. It were no mistake that the association countenance the despatching of a New Zealand team to Australia which would be coached for six or eight weeks by ' Australia's best, and each man return a coach in himself to impart what he has gained for the beiefit of New Ztaland cricket and cricketers generally. I hope the members will regard the New Zealand Council's suggestion to send \i representative New Zealand team to Australia in a biotid light and from no parochial viewpoint." fcs. E. Gregory is the oldest member of the Australian team, viz.. 41. .W. Cur-,

keek is the only other man ovei' 30, and he is 33. Then follow E. R. Mayne and W. Bardslev 23, C. B. Jonninge — , S. H. Emery 26, C. G. Macartney, C. Kell«way,"W. J. Whitty. and E. 13.* Minnett 25, J. W. M'Laron and H. Webster 24, and G. ft. Hazlitt 25.