ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 21347, 27 February 1933, Page 5

ROWING

OTAGO'S EIGHT-OAR PROSPECTS PROMISING AND LIKELY COMBINATION [By Coxswain.] Much the same Otago eight-oar creAV that captured the Hally burton Johnstone Challenge Cup for the fourth y’ear in succession last season at Picton should defend the province’s title at Wellington on April 1. If there are any alterations at all they Avill bo very feAA r —“ CoxsAvain ” picks one—as every member of last y’ear’s champion combination is again available for selection. From the sixteen oarsmen to appear in the Upper v. Lower Harbour eightoar race, to be put on specially on March 9 for the benefit of the Otago selectors (Messrs W. J. Wilson, T. F. Mackie, and W. G. Glengarry), there is material offering that should Avithstand the onslaught of any challenger. Picking the most attractive oars from both creAvs, “CoxsAvain” Avould say that out of F. Brough, W, Wergcs, F. W. Eggers, G. Clark,. J. Solomon, L. R, Fountain, C. Neilson (stroke side), H. G. Stiles, G. B. Johnson, W. Marriner, H. L. Pritchard, T. Porter, D. Matheson, and P. Verngreen (boAV side), the folloAving eight Avould do the job about as Avell as any other combination ;

Brough (Otago) stroke, Stiles (Otago) 7, Clark (Drive) 6, Johnson (Otago) 5, Fountain (Drive) 4, Matheson (Drive) 3, Solomon (Port) 2, and Pritchard (Port) boAV. Doubtless the selectors will have to find a seat for Stiles, ex-Canterbury “ rep.,” and the only man “ Coxswain ” can sec being dropped to alloAV for this is Nelson, who sat No. 2 last year, and Avas one of the lightest men in the boat.

As a boAV-side oar, Stiles is a topnotcher immediately behind ktroke. On tho other hand, Solomon, the 7 of all previous Otago eights, proved by roAving boAV at the Olympic Games that ho is equally at home Avith the oar on either side. So ; by placing Solomon for’ard —and this may be done Avith comparative safety for the reason just given—Stiles could be appointed as 7. Then it Avould be unnecessary to alter any of the other positions. Every man in the eight suggested by “ CoxsAvain ” has done his Avork at regattas this year, and should not let the province doivn if finally chosen. HoAvever, the selectors have their job to do, and tho earliest that the ‘‘ rep.” eight’s personnel may be expected to bo announced will be on the evening of March 9, soon after the roa’ing of tho Upper-EoAver Harbour event. FEAR ABOUT THE BOAT RACE. MAY LOSE ITS NATIONAL INTEREST. If Oxford lose in 1933 it is not rash to prophesy’ that the boat race Avill cease to bo the great national event it has been in the past (says tho ‘ Isis,’ tho Oxford undergraduates’ magazine). If Oxford lose in the next boat race aa - o shall be the only university that has lost ten times in succession. And even A\’e ourselves could not blame tho public if they gradually ceased to look on an event AA’hich happens with such calculable regularity as a “ race.” After nine years’ experience of defeat anyone Avould be justified in prophesying some radical, even inspired, revolution to a better state etchings. .So far it is true that all that lias happened has been some controversy on tho topic of swivel roAvlocks, and an assurance that the trial eights slioav more promise than they did last year. But there is plenty of tinjo yet for a great effort. So long as it is realised thta Oxford roAving stands this year on the edge of a precipice avc believe it may be made. We are prepared to admit that the public is apt to leap to conclusions Avhen they see the annual proof of Cambridge’s superiority in the sport. We are not, hoAveA’er, prepared to yield to the argument that if Oxford continues to Avin in the majority of sports roAving may he left to look after itself. Either Ave make a bigger effort than avo have ever made before or Ave go under. The boat race is to bo held on April 1 or April 8. We have a terrible suspicion it may be April 1. [This suspicion avos confirmed by nn official announcement that the boat race Avill bo roAved on Saturday’, April 1, between 2 and 3 p.m., Avhen the tide serves best.] The ‘ Isis ’ does not speak for official roAving circles at Oxford, hut it reflects a great proportion of the opinions ol Oxford men. ,

OTAGO CLUB’S THOMSON FOUR

During last Avcek-end the Otago Club decided its Thomson Fours event, three creAvs competing. From an even start in the first heat, Greig (stroke), Jacobs, Arlidgc, and Martin roAved level Avith Hunter, Picldord, Richdale, and Dennison to hallway, Avhci'c the former four took the lead and Avont on to Avin by a couple of lengths. An exciting race Avas Avitnessed in tbo final betAvcoii Greig, and Petrie, (Houston, Cruickshank, and Potter. Greig again Avon, but only by 2ft on this occasion. The result could quite easily have been reversed if Potter had concentrated more cm his own roAving than that of other members of the creAV. There Avas a false start, Greig shoAving good sportsmanship in Availing for a second start Avhen an oar came out in the other boat. At halfway Greig had a length’s advantage, but Petrie quickened and made up much leeAvay. In turn Greig quickened and opened up a length’s load again. Ho could not hold it, hoAvcver, oAving to faulty timing. Tho ctcavs then raced on even terms for a distance, and 100yds _ from tho tape Greig sprinted to gain half a length. The race Avas nearly 7 lost when practically at the post the leading creAV caught a crab. Managing to get in another couple of strokes, the creAV glided over to victory by 2ft.

TWO CHAMPIONS PASS. RoAving men in general and members of the Wellington Rowing Club in particular learned Avith regret of the deatli of Mr E. J. Rose, one of the oldest members of the Wellington Club. Mr Rose ranked with Messrs T. Sullivan, W. Bridson, and R. J. CraAvford (also

of the same club) as one of the foremost oarsmen Wellington City has produced. The late Mr Rose won six championships. He rowed No. 2 in the famous crow which carried all before it in 1888-89-90, and in 1891 stroked the Wellington Club four which won the championship for the third successive year, winning outright the Young Cup. In addition to this he stroked the champion pairs for three successive years from 1888 to 1891. Right up till the time of his death he took a keen interest in the doings of his old club, of which he was a life member and vicepresident. The death occurred at Detroit, United States, on December 11 of Mr Charles Stephenson, a former sculling champion of New Zealand. Mr Stephenson was born in Auckland in 1866, and as a young man soon gained prominence in rowing circles. In 1890, at Wellington, he easily defeated Hearn in a race for the New Zealand sculling championship. Shortly afterwards Mr Stephenson left for the United States, and was prominent in various branches of athletics in Detroit for over thirty years. He competed with success in many notable sculling races, although he did not

succeed in winning the world’s championship. He is survived by a widow, who resides at Detroit, and four married sisters —Mesdames T. Kneebone, F. Jones, W. Byrne, and J. M'Gregor—all of Devonport.

CLUBHOUSE CHATTER. “ Coxswain ” learns with much regret that the Port Chalmers Club has decided to bother the Rowing Council With the matter of the disqualifications in the senior fours at Waihola. No overseas contests being in prospect for this year, it was decided at a recent meeting of the Rowing Council that it would not be necessary to appoint New Zealand selectors this season. Crews all round'the harbour are, now working at full strength getting into form for the O.R.A. regatta next Batday. The personnel of amended crews will be given in next Friday’s Further inquiries are to be made as to the condition of the Avon Club’s pairoared boat, which was damaged at the Olympic Games, the club having refused the council’s offer of £lO as a settlement of the claim.