THE DOMINION TITLE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 6

THE DOMINION TITLE

CONTEST AT DUNEDIN

"WHOLE REGATTA A FARCE" A scathing criticism of the manner in which the New Zealand Interprovincial Eight Oar Championship, held in Dunedin in April, was conducted was contained in the report of the manager of the Wellington crew (Mr. C. J. MacGibbon) submitted to the New Zealand Rowing Council last night, "Altogether," said the report, "the whole regatta was a farce. There seemed no organisation, and crews were left to fend for themselves. The biggest mistake was in allowing the championship race to be rowed in water that made launches buck against it. I cannot understand what the crews were thinking of to allow this race to start without protesting." On the night before the race, continued the report, there was a meeting of the Otago Association and managers of the crews, at which it was decided that if the water was found to be too rough at the starting time there would be an hour's postponement. The water was far too rough for the race, but that did not seem to worry the officials, who took no notice of the agreed postponement. None of the boats arrived dry at the starting line, and there was a bitter south-west wind. At the beginning of the race it was seen to be disastrous to row in such water. Waves were breaking right on to some of the boats, and a. continual spray drenched all the rowers. : NO HELP FOR SWAMPED BOAT. The Wellington boat led at first, but fell behind, he continued, and threequarters of a mile from the finish it sank and turned turtle. The Canterbury boat, which was nearby,' almost came to grief, but rowing was stopped and the boat was taken to the shore before it was: entirely swampied. . "The official launch following: the race made no attempt to stop until one of the Canterbury crew called out that some of the Wellington crew were unable to swim," Mr. MacGibbon stated. "Only one of the crew and the cox were picked up, and the launch then speeded on to catch up on the race." The others were in the water for a considerable time, an official calling out that'they would 'be back later.' "It was a most disgraceful act on the part of the officials to leave the crew in the water, and they seemed to be more interested in the finish; of ihe race than in rescuing men ; in grave danger." When the crew arrived at the Otago sheds they /were not in a fit condition to handle their boat; no officials came to assist them or to inquire after them, and the boat was taken out of the water with the help of spectators. HARM TO SPORT. Mr. MacGibbon added opinions voiced to him by members and officials from other clubs at the regatta. Two hours later, he said, the water was in excellent condition for the race, but before that there had been white-caps of' U to 2ft high. It was felt -that the sport in Dunedin had been done a' great deal: of harm by what happened on that day. ■A letter to the council accompanying his report was received from Mr. MacGibbon, who is also'secretary of the Wellington Association.' He.wrote ! that the association tbdfc /a' very serK ous view of the manner in-waich'thd championship event had been conduct ed and trusted that steps'' would be taken to prevent a similar occurrence. Also there was enclosed a xopy1- of a letter sent to the Otagb umpire, Mr. W. G. Glengarry, by the Wellington coach, Mr. A. E. White, who wrote; "After months of training and denial— to say nothing of the expenses-it is only natural that we are bitterly disappointed—not at being beaten, but at; being given no chance and left, to sink or swim." OTHER OPINIONS. A report on the regatta,was also received from the council's representative, Mr. H. Paton, who made little reference to mismanagement of the championship race, and who in his comment at the meeting said he considered the race had been reasonably fairly conducted. He mentioned, however, that he had not been invited to attend the meeting of the Otago Association and visiting officials held on the preceding night to discuss details of the regatta, had not been invited on board the official launch following the championship race, and had been given no opportunity to confer with the starter and the umpire on the suitability of the weather'conditions. The council decided to ask the Otago Association for an explanation of what a member called "this gross discourtesy." "It is a very scathing report to make," remarked Mr. Paton. Asked whether he thought the conditions were suitable for the race to be rowed fairly to all contestants, he said he did. The,swamping of the two boats might have been due to factors additional to the weather conditions; for example, lack of fitness in the crews. Conditions became gradually worse after the start. There were no objections raised at the beginning of the race; the question of whether the water was getting rougher was not thought about. He was not aware that any of the crews protested after the race. To this a member objected that he had heard the crews were too cold and numb when they landed to think about protests. A photograph was produced to show the roughness of the water at the start. . "We should at least protest against the gross discourtesy to Mr. Paton, the highest representative at the regatta, in being given no invitation to attend the meeting and to join the official party on the launch, and given no opportunity of discussing the conditions at the start," said Mr. R. G. Duncan. The council decided to send Mr. MacGibbon's report on to the Otago Association so that the council as well as the Wellington association might receive a reply. The Otago Association will also be asked to report on the reasons why the North v. South Island race was not held.