ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 15

ROWING

[By Coxswain.]

FIXTURES, December 26.—Macandrew Bay Regatta. December 26.—Riverton Regatta. January I.—Broad Bay Regatta. January I.—Bluff Regatta. January I.—Akaroa Regatta. .January 21.—Christchurch Regatta, oh the Waimakariri. January 22.~Wanganui Regatta. January 29.—Hamilton Regatta. February 7.—Otago Regatta, at Port Chalmers. February 21.—Ravensbourne Regatta. February 28.—Championship Regatta, at Wellington. February 28.—Burkes-St. Leonards Regatta. March 7.—0.R.A. Regatta, at Port Chalmers. March 21.—Interprovincial Eight-oar Championship, at Dunedin. April 4.—Queenstown Regatta. INTERPROVINCIAL EIGHTS. REQUESTS TO ALTER DATE. The decision of the Otago Rowing Association, at its meeting on Monday evening, not to alter the date of the eights to suit the requests of the Wellington bodies that asked for the date to be put back_to March 28. has been favourably received by local oarsmen, It is a pity that other big fixtures in Wellington are destined to interfere with the championship regatta if it is held earlier in February than the 28th, but it is also unfortunate that the day settled for the eights should be only a fortnight later. The O.R.A, was requested by the Wellington Regatta Club • and the N.Z.A.R.A. to retard the eights until one week later in order that the dates would not be too close. However, the matter received full consideration, aUd the local association’s decision was really all that could be expected under the circumstances. Wellington is not alone in having fixtures surrounding its regatta, for there is a likelihood of the eights clashing with the Australian cricketers’ visit should the date be put back to March 28, and by going in the other direction the association mas its own regatta on the first Saturday of the month. The association also had to consider the effect the change of date might have on the much-looked-for-ward-to Queenstown regatta. It was felt that this popular fixture would have to suffer, and it was not _ the wish of Otago rowers allow it to bo interfered with, for it is one of the favourite events of the season for the local arid Southland clubs. Although Dunedinites would very inuch like to have assisted the northern centre out of its difficulty, there appeared no way of doing so without some effect being cast upon something that concerned Otago, and by leaving the date of tlm eights at March 21, as was originally decided, the O.R.A. has probably made a wise move. BURKES-ST. LEONARDS REGATTA. Further discussion over a date took place at the meeting. when the secretary (Mr S. G. Styche) advised that the Burkes-St. Leonards regatta, to bo held on February 28,, had allocated £lO to be divided amongst four rowing races. It was immediately pointed out that the date chosen by the authorities of this regatta was the same as that of the championship regatta, and the day on which the. New Zealand athletic championships and the appearance of the American athletes were to take place. The matter of the date could not have been given serious consideration, or those in charge of the arrangements would never have thought of holding theif regatta when they found that such big counter-attractions were likely to spoil the attendance of the public and also the support of rowing and, perhaps, vachtmg men. • It is quite possible that a few of the oarsmen, as Mr E. V. Fairbairn Stated, would like .to see these sports. Still, there is' time for alteration if the authorities teel inclined to make one. Concerning the prize money it was mentioned that owing to lack of finance the regatta could not see fit to devote any more than £lO to the rowing. Or course, the yacht racing and launch events will have their share first, and the rowers—well, they do not mind having their prizes cut down. As one member at the meeting said: ‘ Rowing men have been the chopping block for too long, and it is time we spoke out. The clubs always rtin the risk of having oars broken, while there ivas a possibility of having their craft damaged, and racing for small prizes did not warrant the great amount of training put in by members of the clubs for races at a regatta of this nature. It can readily be understood why the meeting decided to cut down the number of races from four to three, for £lO would not go far in prize money for four events. The association should not regret its step in including a race for seniors on the programme this year. The Burkes-St. Leonards rowing races will be for youths, juniors, and seniors. NORTH END CLUB. The crews to represent the North End Club at the Macandrew Bay Regatta (reading from stroke) are as follow:—Senior four: F. Eggers, J. Mitchell, E. Mauson, and H. Eggers. Senior double sculls: F. Eggers and H. Eggers. Junior four: H. Livingston, W. Marriner, P. Verngreen, and J. Hurrell. Junior double - sculls: H. Livingston and H. Eggers. Maiden four: W. Walker, J. Anderson, C. Butterfield, and G. Gilchrist. Maiden double Sculls: P. Verngreen and W. Marriner; Youths’ four: C. Barton, J. Rdirdan, N. Kennedy, aiid J. M'Millan. Youths’ double sculls: C. Barton and J. M'Millan. QUEEN’S DRIVE CLUB. All the crews are now training hard in view of the Boxing Day regatta at Macandrew Bay. The youths’ fours are improving with every row under the capable hands of H. Pritchard, who has moulded them into a good crew, ami they should row* prominently on Boxing Ray. No. 3 (D. Clark), who

has just started rowdng this season, has shown marked improvement, and with good coachipg should prove hipiself a good oarsman in a few years.; No. 2 (R. Anderson) is rowing a strong oar, but is liable at times to let one of his shoulders drop, and when ho, gets out of that fault he will find it an improvement. The Macandrew brothers are rowing well again this season, and with the reversing of their positions in tho boat it seems to have made a decided improvement, as one has a longer reach than the other. This: pair will also represent the club in tha maiden fours on Boxing Day. Tho junior fours have not been together very long, but are rowing fairly well* The stroke should try arid reach further out, and not cut short. No. 3, who is rowing a powerful oar, wants to try and remember to keep time with, his stroke at all times. No. 2is rowing, a better oar this season, but still has: that fault of letting his oar touch the water when coming up on his slide. He wants to shoot nis arms out stiffly,, and keep them stiff before he starts to come up on his slide. Bow is rowing perhaps the best oar in the boat, this season. The senior fours are training hard, and hope to be in the forai, on Boxing Day. Although the weather conditions during the last week have not been very good for long row’s, tha seniors managed to get two rows in on Sunday, one of them being about, six miles. During the earlier part of the training the stroke was liable to rush a little, but he has lengthened out now, and the crew is going in gobd style. All the sculling crews for tha Macandrew’ Bay regatta have beeii get-, ting out as often as posible. Either, to-morrow or on Sunday all crews will commence using the racing boats as ai finishing touch to their training. OTAGO CLUB. Last Saturday the Wilson Fours club race was rowed off by the regatta; crews of the Otago Club. This is a sealed handicap race over a distance of two miles. Mr L. L. Kirkcaldy acted as handicapper.- Mr S. G. Styche as judge, Mr T. Wheelwright as timekeeper, and Mr W. B. Robinson as starter. The youths jumped away at the start, but after half a mile the seniors led by a length from the juniors, with the maidens and youtns level two lengths further back. At Waverley the youths had passed the maidens by about a length, though both crews had fallen back a few lengths. The juniors, then settled to a hard slow stroke and overtook the seniors, while the maidens gradually outdistanced the youths. The last half-mile saw the juniors leading by a length, the maidens some distance behind the seniors, and tho youths about three lengths in the rear of the maidens. The juniors were firsu across the line, beating the seniors by two lengths, and about half a minute later the maidens crossed,. w’ith tha Sjths over two lengths behind them,' e judge then consulted the handicaps and the times between the crews at the finish, and declared the juniors the winners, the seniors second, arid the youths third. MACANDREW BAY CLUB. Members of the Macandrew Bay Club are keenly preparing for the Boxing Day fixture, although the rough weather has prevented a great deal of rowing*. Trie maiden fours and double, sculls are training very systematically, and deserve good positions in these, events. , . - JOTTINGS. ; * In again asking the O.R.A. to consider having the Edmond Shield race reinstated this season, the Southland Association’s letter, dealt with at the meeting* said that it was understood’ the Queen’s Drive senior four was going to the Bluff regatta on New Year’s Day, and it was suggested that that crew be allowed to represent Otago,' It -is hard to believe that the Southland pepole would call the race an in- , terprovmcial one without a selectedcrew from here, although it is not doubted that Drive would worthily Up-; hold Otago’s end. However, Drive does, not intend journeying south, for if theclub sends a crew away at all this yeay it will be to the championships, but what that crew will be is at present undecided. Evidently the lapse of the Otago regatta last season awakened Port Chalmers residents to the fact that this event was to be looked upon more seriously in the future, for the special meeting called to make some decision in regard to this year’s regatta was very well supported. It was unanimously decided to hold the regatta in the Lower Harbour,, the date being fixed for February 7, and the keen.interest displayed in this first move should assure a most successful day. It was stated that at the last regatta the rowing entries were the only ones accom-i----panied by the full amount of entrance fees, with the result that the regatta had lost money. However, there is £BO credited to previous events, arid this is helpful for the 1931 fixture. Tha committee this year may not be in a. position to give as much in prizes as in previous regattas, but tho programme will not bo curtailed. A committee of men who will not take part in the actual racirig was appointed to control the fixture, which should be given welldeserved support. Past Otago,, regattas have won favour with aquatic sportsmen, and the latest one should be no exceptiou. Good rowing entries have been received for the Macandrew Bay regatta, the respective numbers beingYouths*fours 7, maiden fours 5, junior fours 3, senior fours 4, youths’ double sculls 6. maiden double sculls 6, junior doubla sculls 5, senior double sculls 5.