THE PROVINCIAL CREW

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 9 April 1924, Page 9

THE PROVINCIAL CREW

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —"Blade," in his letter published in "The Post" last Friday, refers lo my "criticism" of the provincial crew. There was no criticism of tho crew—merely an expression of surprise at Bright being made stroke. He states that I omitted Brisht's record. The simple reason is that, in open regatta events, Bright has not got one, isspite many attempts. Repeatedly Bright has done brilliantly in interclub events, only to fail in open regattas. Immediately after his fine performance in the Mothes Shield fixture last year he took the same crew to Wanganui, and did ,not win with it. The stroke of an interprovincial crew wants more than keenness and fitness: he wants judgment as well. "Blade" omits to 6tate that on the occasion at tho recent Wanganui Regatta, when Bright's crew finished second and Wakelin's crew third, the difference was half a length, and the race was started when Wakelin's crew was not in position at the post, a handicap of some 50 yards having to be made up. "Blade's" letter is full of inaccuracies, one being that tho N.S.W. interstate eight wa's stroked by a maiden oar. It was not; it was stroked by a man who, in tho same season, won a maiden eight, then a junior eight, and _ then a senior eight— a very different thing. There is no need for any controversy over the crew, but when a good oar's record is overlooked it is not a bad thing to call attention lo it.—l am, '. . ; OARSMAN. sth April. :