VICTORIAN OARSMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 33, 9 February 1927, Page 7

VICTORIAN OARSMEN

TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND

CREW ARRIVES NEXT MONTH

Definite advice has been received by Mr. A. D. Bayfeild, hon. secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Bowing Association, that the Victorian Eowing Association has endorsed the nomination of the Wendouree Kowing Club to send a four-oared senior crew to New Zealand at the end of this month. The personnel of the crew is as follows:—J. E. Jopling (stroke), 12st 21b; W. K. B. Toda (3), lOst 101b; G. Hutchins (2), list'6lb;; K. S. Merriman (bow), list 41b.

Writing to Mr. Bayfeild, Mr. Mannix (the hon. secretary of the Victorian .Eowing Association) states that the crew should give a good account of itself, as every member is a tried man and has a good record. Three members of the crew, stroke, No. 3, and No. 2, were associated in winning the Champion Fours in the 1922-23 season, and Champion Eights for 1923-24, and they ■were also in the successful champion eights for the seasons 1924-25 and 1925----2.6.: As a pair, Jopling ana Todd have been beaten only once, and that was in the Champion Pairs race, 1924-25. On this occasion Jopliug had severe boils on the ankle, and was able to strap his foot in the.boat only after swathing his ankle in cotton wool. "The crew is a pretty versatile combination," writes Mr. Mannix, "Jopling and Todd being a good pair. Hutchins has won a senior sculls race, and Todd has won maiden double sculls ana junior sculls races. I feel certain that you will find the, crew an .exceedingly fine lot of sports. ;Toda-is "the most popular oarsman in Victoria."-

The crew will probably sail from Sydney on 25th February, and the present intention is that will compete at the Wanganui regatta 'on sth March, the Wellington regatta on 12th March and the championship.. regatta at Pieton on 19th MarchT*

It is possible that the crew will not bring its boat or coxswain, and an endeavour will probably be made to provide them accordingly.