ROWING (By "Scull.")

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1914, Page 14

ROWING (By "Scull.")

WELLINGTON REGATTA AGAIN. At the Wellington Regatta I was utterly at a loss to reconcile my estimation.' of Petone's ability with the result of their performances. I am no longer m the dark. The conclusion I have arrived at is that their weaknesses are lack of condition and bad judgment. They cannot score successes. That is the matter with Petone. They can row all right. Of that lam thoroughly convinced, but when it comes to tactica and scoring qualities they ava just about as bad as any crew 1 have seen this season and worse than ths (majority. j The rowing of E. H. Raweon at the Wellington Regafci.3. ~wae a striking illustration of what can Ims ajvampiishec^ by observation and perseverance. He had no experience whatever with rr>w ; ng boats until he became a member of the Star Boating Club last iea«Hi. P»at !io was always assiduous in. practice an>l keen to learn from more accomplished oarsmen, with a result that lie soon acquitted himself well enough to catch ' the eyes of selectors. H-e made his first appearance in regatta racing this year in the maiden four-oar crew whkh secured second prizes at Picton, Wang&m;i, and Christchurch. He also Towed ■•" the maiden pair-oar Tace at Wellington tv-ith success, showing that his rowipg haa greatly improved. He can always be relied upon to put up a creditable performance. C. Symonds and J. Hoare (Wellington Club) combined effectively in the Maiden Double Sculls, and for nearly the whole distance they had the whip hand of their opponents, but condition failed them at the finish. Tbe men sculled forcibly and with accuracy, but it was in vain at the business end of the race. Symonds rowed a capital race, and Hoare was conspicuous fo* good work. On the whole they did not deserve to be beaten, for their work by comparison was the better. Thus Wellington Club secured two second prizes, the result of smart, powerful sculling. Crews also started in the Youths' Fours, Maiden Fours, and Junior j Fours, but they did not do their work I so manfully as did tbe scullers. ■ The Youths made good progress in their race, but fell away at the half-mile. The maidens and the Juniors were rarely effective. It is plain that the men want pulling together. It is a pleasure to speak in terms of warm praise of B. E. Bird, who stroked the Star junior four-oar crew and junior pairs to victory, and he is to be congra- I tulated on the masterly way in which he controlled the former crew in its most j strenuous struggle. Individually. H. B. Tomlinson (3), C. H. Laurence (2),- and W. Findlay backed him up well, and displayed good lengthy . rowing. The combination of the maiden fouroar cyew (Star) was a very pleasant feature in their rowing. P. V. Hackworth (stroke) and C. J. Hurley (2) rowing finely, although a little ehort before the rigger, but withal they were' as sound as a rock. E. H. Rawsoo (3) and H. Lawson (bow) also did well. They rowed with plenty of length, and were always quite equal to the demands made upon them. The Wellington competitors, as a whole did not display ;my particular fitness as far as condition was concerned as oom[a»red with the majority of the visiting crews. This was the cause of Wellington and Peton§ Clubs' crewsl fauure throughout the programme^ Star had caught the infection, but in a much milaer form. slfcs Ifc ,is to be, hoped , that Star arid Wellington' will strive to secure branch sheds at Kaiwarra or Petone before next 'Season comes Arounc. It* has already been suggested by the Star dub that regatta crews might take boatsto Lowry Bay. and <amp there during the summer months, and it has been en- \ tertained as a good idea. Final club races are now being held by both the local clubs. They have had excellent water for training purposes, and as a, result there are some good crews taking part.