ROWING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 77, 30 March 1912, Page 14

ROWING.

(By "Scull.")

Though the Star maiden crew, selectto go to Napier at Easter includes a new stroke oarsman, its constitution should satisfy most .people. The new stroke is T. H. C. Bedford. He has rowed" with success in club races this season, and there is no valid reason why he should not have equal success in his new positiohj for he possesses plenty of resource and courage. The crew now is: Bpdford (stroke), Tomlinaon (3), Carr (2), and H. Lawson (bow). One- cannot help thinking that their condition, strength, and ability should enable them to hold their opponents. A few observations on the question of the style of local oarsmen as compared with that of visiting men were made- in these columns two weeks back. Since then '"Mercury," in a morning contemporary, has dealt afc length with the samesubjeot. He concludes by saying that it does not matter which method is the correct on* (English or Belgian), so long as its elements ar© instilled into our oarsmen. IV this end, it is hoped that the N.Z.A.R.A. 'will institute an investigation of methods, ft would moat certainly be a good thing if tho investigation could be made general, but when we- consider that the styles of rowing adapted to fresh, water and tho sea arc al direct variance with each other, ifc seems almost an impossibility to bit on a uniform style that would 'suit everyone. I would like to impress unon local clubs, however, the importance" of finding put. the- style that best suits local conditions. It ie possible wo keep too closely to dogma, or perhaps there is a want of perseverance and attention to .practice on the part of tlie oarsmen. It may be one; ib may be both. I am inclined to think our weakness lies in the former, and a departure from orthodoxy would be refreshing and beneficial. The Picton champion four-oar crew possessed the best boat work seen this season, and that t* enough to. go by. Anyhow, it is enough for me. Their rowing may not have been so attractive to the eye a* that of any other crews, but it had •the superior merit of b&ing more effective. Although they rowed with a short 11 body swing and short blade drive, they displayed combination, dash, and power. They worked 1 the biicli. and leg muscles into their stroke, without the necessity of a long body swing fore and aft, which appears to be an advantage. Much interest was manifested in the first heat of the M'Lean and Bethune Fours of the Star Boating Club, which was rowed last Saturday. . Taking the race right through I-may say that W H. Brewer (stroke), Abercrombie (3), Hulbert (2), and Wallace (bow), fully deserved their victory of one length from Craig (stroke), Hackworth (3), Stewart (2), and Gibbons (bow). It was a great encounter, for both teams were desperately eager to win. Brewer was conspicuous for energy and pluck, whikt Abercrombie, Hulbert, and Wallace distinguished themselves. The latter, though a' beaten man, stuck manfully to his work, and had his reward. Turnbull's crew rowed with good combination, but they owe their defeat to their inability to find openings. The Parramatta River on Saturdays and Sundays possesses (recently remarked a Sydney paper) a, very animated scene owing to the fleet of scullers afloat endeavouring to get into form fop tho forthcoming £100 carnivaL The race is organised by the Kemp Professional Sculling Club, and takes place on the Parramatta River on 20th and 27th April. The Olympic crew (says the same paper) continues to train daily 'from the Sydney University's boathouse in. Rozelle Bay, and can be- seen ai any hour from half-past 5 to half-past 6 in the evening. Steady but buccessful progress is being made, and, although criticism comes from some quarters as to the way in which the crew is chopped and changed about, yet in these early stages the practice is rather to be commended than deprecated. The coach 'is bound to get the best final result in this great struggle, and he is fully ustified at this distance of time in endeavouring to see the best position for each man in the crew.