ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 22199, 29 November 1935, Page 5

ROWING

HOME-AHD-AWAY EIGHTS ARRANGING RAGES AGAINST SOUTHLAND [By Coxswain.] Destined to be long-delayed, the first eight-oar race between crews.representing Otago and Southland has never lacked interest by the promoters. Already four attempts to stage the event during the past three seasons—since Southland obtained its boat in 1932—have failed, but not through any fault of the rowing authorities, which on each occasion have been dogged by misfortune in the form of unsuitable weather. Each time, that is, except when a suggested arrangement last season was rejected almost as soon as it originated. Nevertheless, sustained enthusiasm has followed every proposal to hold an OtagoSouthland race, and it is to be hoped the current season will witness at least one such eight-oar competition successfully decided. Actually, the only time both provinces have clashed in eights was in the interprovincial championship held here last Easter. Then Southland, after performing anything but creditably, fell by the wayside before reaching the finishing line. Looking back, one finds that it was in the early months of 1932, when Southland was granted its boat, after much agitation, that the first attempt was made to bring representative provincial crews together for the first time at the Invercargill regatta on March 5. No Otago crew was available, but a boat was lent, and races were staged among Southland clubs to test the superiority, if any, of their newly-acquired boat over the other standardised craft in the possession of other associations. ADMIRABLE INITIATIVE. During the Easter of 1933 (April 15 or 16) a race was to have been held at Queenstown, and then on January 1, 1934, another was fixed to be rowed at Bluff, but bn each occasion the weather intervened, and the only reference to the matter last season was in February of this year, when the Port Chalmers Regatta Committee refused to consider including such an event on its South Island championship programme.

Exhibiting its customary initiative; Southland has, as it were, “ plunged its oar ” for another opportunity this season to beat the weather and settle a difference with Otago oarsmen, who have a flair for heading off most challenges in eight-oar boats. Having been promised a trophy for the race, the Bluff Regatta Committee, which previously arranged one of the abandoned contests, has forwarded to the Qtago Rowing Association an invitation for a crew to be present at its New Year’s Day fixture. GIVE YOUTH ITS CHANCE. A decision in the matter is now awaited, but it may yet bo a week or two before a meeting of the association is called, as this will not be done until the minutes of the New Zealand Rowing Association’s annual meeting come to hand. Meanwhile it can only be hoped that association members will consider representation jn the same favourable light as on past occasions when confronted with similar proposals. And, in'view of the probability that club crews will be travelling to Bluff to participate in the regatta, it may be confidently expected that some arrangement will be made. Perhaps similar interclub representation to that selected for the previous Bluff race in 1934, will be available this year, but it is sincerely to be hoped that some of the promising younger oarsmen will receive the encouragement they rightly' deserve. This could safely be given a trial, for Southland is only in an experimental stage as regards this branch of the sport,) and it would be a

splendid opportunity to fit for bigger things junior rowers who must sonic day take the reins of resjKmsibility in the Dominion boat race, The_ winning of the race would be something of a secondary consideration to the uplift that might be reflected in the future performances of the young men given recognition by selection in such a crew. CONTEST EDMOND SHIELD HERE. Furthermore, it is suggested from Southland that the Edmond Shield competition for Otago and Southland oarsmen should be reinstated this season. It was last held at Invercargill, and won by Otago in 1927, when it was competed for in four-oar boats. Two seasons ago it_ was decided, after the necessary permission had been obtained, to make this an eight-oar event in future, but for reasons partly referred to above no race has yet eventuated.'

Southland has now decided to ascertain from the local association if it would agree to have the shield rowed for down there, but “ Coxswain ” urges that if one race should be held at Bluff, the other should be retained by Otago, whose turn it is to stage the shield event. It might be suitable to arrange similar conditions as outlined for

Otago’s representation at Bluff, so that Southland- oarsmen, who may possibly be attending one or other of the big local regattas, could' row for their province in the Edmond Shield race after the set programme or at another satisfactory time.

REGATTA CREWS IN TRAINING. Combinations selected for the initial Christmas regatta at Macandrew Bay are now engaging in regular training, though windy weather has been an adverse influence on the good intentions of oarsmen right round the harbour during the past week. However, a full month remains in which thorough preparations should be completed, and enthusiasts may confidently anticipate several well-contested races among keen, fit crews when Boxing Day comes around. ,

The trial race among maiden rowers of the. Otago Club, which was to have been field for the selectors’ benefit last Saturday, will now in all probability be cancelled, and maiden crews for the Bay fixture are expected to be announced during the .week-end. The Port Club’s President Fours, tjrhich were also called off last week, are to be rowed to-morrow afternoon. North End will also hold its Committee Fours to-morrow afternoon, when crows will be picked from the members present at 2 o’clock. The second maiden and youth fours for the regattas will then be selected. Steady training has been done recently by the club’s juniors and youths, but the maiden crew has been on the water only two or three times. The seniors are evidently out to make every post a winning post, for in their few practice spins they have shown impressive form. As anticip ;ated, Drive have boated a likely senior four, including three of last year’s performers, with M. Jackson replacing Lyn Fountain. It was first planned to have L. Olsen in the crew, but his acceptance of work at Gore upset selections in fours and sculls. Other crews have required very little change, except in the case of the youtli four, in which J. Treloar is the only member left under age \>ut of last year’s combination. Only one maiden sculling crew has been announced, this being M. Jackson (stroke) and D. Sutherland. CLUBHOUSE CHATTER. Presentations were made during the week to the departing Port Club members—Bill M’Connell, who has been transferred to Auckland, and Tom Anderson, now en route to a position in Siam. Best wishes are extended to both young men for success in their now spheres.

For the past three weeks Mr Tom Mackie, association delegate, ' who recently attended the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association in Wellington, has been confined to his bed, but it is now pleasing to learn that his health has improved so that he is able to move about again. _The abolition of the interisland oight-oar race was advocated by the Canterbury Association at the recent annual meeting of the New Zealand Association. In view of the fact_ that the holding of the race was optional, and depended on the association running the- interprovincial eights, the Canterbury ‘Association was unsupported. The single sculler given to the Port Club by its president (Mr J. Y. Love) has been launched (but not officially), and some members have acquainted themselves with . the strange and, at first, unsteady “ feel ” of the boat, the value of which will he more appreciated as this class of sport develops, as it is bound to do. ’’ One. of the trophies to be competed for at the Wanganui regatta on Boxing Day is that to commemorate the long and enthusiastic service to rowing for which the late “Wally” Sharpe was

responsible. The event will be the senior fours. The design will be a mounted replica of a four-oar boat, engraved “ Wally Sharpe Memorial.” This regatta’s programme offers donations to the value of £IOO. There is £ls for the senior fours, £l2 of which goes, to the winner, and in the other events maiden fours (£lO, £2), maiden double sculls (£5, £2), youths’ fours (£B, £2), junior clinker fours (£lO, £3), ladies’ champion fours (£6, £1), with £1 for best turned-out crew, light maiden fours (£B, £2), senior handicap sculls (£6, £2), junior double sculls (£5, £2), junior welter fours (£B, £2). Auckland’s national championship regatta last season resulted in a decided Slip to club memberships, which were increased considerably in a number of cases, according to Mr C. G. Herdman, delegate to the recent New Zealand Association meeting. ,