ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1930, Page 22

ROWING

Sv "SrnOKt"

THE EIGHTS

RACE AT AUCKLAND

PROVINCES TO BE REPRE-

SENTED

In view of the.' race for the interprovincial eight-oar championship, to be held on the Whau River, Auckland, on 22nd March, preparations are now being made by respective local associations in regard to selection of crews-for their local eight races. ' Wellington's, interclub eights aro to be held to-day, after which the crew to represent the province at Auckland at the more- important fixture will be announced. From a spectacular point of view, there is much to commend eight-oar racing when the support of the public is desired, and from a rowing standpoint eight-oar rowing is the acme of tue sport. Additional interest attaches to this season's championship eights for the reason that there is a strong probability of New Zealand sending a crew abroad for tho Empire Games, which are to be held in Canada. Matters in connection with tho representation of New Zealand have not been settled yet, but it is probable that it definite announcement will be made shortly. The New Zealand Association has been acting in the matter, and has appointed selectors who are to attend the eights at Auckland. In addition, nominations have been called for from local associations for members for the crew. At time of writing the number of provinces to be represented at the eights is indefinite, . Wellington is definitely going, but Canterbury and Wanganui are- not to be represented. Marlborough is making an effort. In Otago. ....... The Otago Rowing Association spent a good deal of time at a recent meeting on discussing whether a representative eight would be sent to tho interprovineial championship (states an exchange). Correspondence was received from Auckland and Wellington with regard to the contpst, but the association was not definitely advised how many provinces would b© represented. .The Port Chalmers delegate (Mr. W. J. Wilson) said, that the championship was receiving fewer entries as tho seasons passed, and it was a great pity to see such a promising event going back. Tho secretary (Mr. S. G. Styche) reported that the position was very unsatisfactory here, especially as regarded finance. Wliat with endeavouring to finance an eight for Auckland and a regatta, the association would require a great deal of money, and only a few weeks remained to collect it. ■; Mr. E. V. Fairbairu stated that he had', hoard that in.tho event of Auckland not being supported tho race would go to Wellington, where he doubted if Auckland .-would compete. Auckland had only once before competed, and that was in the first race, held at Wellington in 1928. Last year tho eights wore held at Lyttelton, and'it was in fairness to the North Island. crews, and' also to keep . the interest ■ iii"." the , event alive, that Otago had allowed the race to go to Auckland this year. It' appeared as though tho local entry would bo the only, other outside of Auckland, and it would be'farcical to send a crew north to''compete, against ono crew or even two. If centralisation of the courso was brought into operation now, Otago had lost its only opportunity of. havingthe race on this harbour, through generously allowing Auckland to have the event this year. ' Wherever this year's race is held, Otago intends applying for the event next season, and then it will be in favour of centralisation. It was freely stated that if tho race is held here next year Auckland would not make the journey, and it was finally decided that tho secretary write to the New Zealand Bowing Council pointing out that to send a crew to Auckland to compote against that provine-o. /spending thus approximately £150) was farcical, aiid that the local entry only held good until advice was received from Auckland that the race would be a thoroughly representative one. If.is still indefinite where the annual Otago Rowing Association's regatta is to bo held. It' was reported at the meeting of the association, that tho Port-.Chalmers Committee would be unablo to offer any financial assistance if the regatta were to be held at Port, and on the motion, of Mr. W. J.. Wilson it was decided to leave the fixing of a place to hold the regatta for the next meeting. The Port delegates were asked to find out what support would be forthcoming from their district in the event of the regatta being! held there, and tho same applied to the Macandrew Bay. dele-gate with regard to his district. Tho delegates would be required to report at the next meeting of the association. . . The World's Title. \ Bert Barry, the world's professional sculling champion, has accepted the challenge of Alf. Burns, the Australian champion, for a match for the \vorld 's title and £500 a side (states a report). Tho race will' probably tako place on the Thames about June next. Burns, who was rccontly married, has not done much sculling in the last year, and is anxious to havo a race for the title, life staku money has been guaranteed by the residents of the Northern Rivors, aiul Burns should make a worthy, representative of Australia for tho'world's supremacy. Barry has been sculling almost daily and recently won a halfmile* and. mile events, in which he conceded considerable handicap's. Tho last race for tho world's titl.o was held on Boxing Day, ,1927, when Barry defeated Major G'oodsell. at Vancouver, three months.after a. match which was won by. tho Australian, . It is generally. understood in connection with the annual Oxford-Cam-bridge race that tho 'Varsity Boat Club's .president is in. charge of. the crew, being superior to the coach or coaches, at least in tho matter of altering positions: in..the boat (states an exchange). A cable message states that tho Oxford president fell foul of tho three coaches in this matter, with the result that the coaches resigned. A meeting of collego captains was called, and, by 12 votes to. 10, supported, the eoaehos, .whereupon.' the president resigned. For several years matters in connection with.the Oxford crew have boon unsatisfactory, though at this distance exactly' what has.' caused this_ is not perceptible. Possibly the successive defeats of Oxford by Cambridge have led this year to au attempt to introduce now ideas-iii tlio preparation of the crow for the big "race, either by the president or the coaches, and as neither would give way tlio clash and tho meeting of captains and their decision was the result.