ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 23100, 28 October 1938, Page 5

ROWING

NEW ZEALAND CREWS CLUB OR COMPOSITE ? [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. The moot question of the respective merits of composite and club crews for overseas competition was discussed at the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association at Wellington to-day, when the following motion was brought forward by the Wanganui Association:— “ That because of the most unsatisfactory results achieved by composite crews and after carefully reading reports of Mr Ayers in 1930, Mr Healey in 1932, and Mr Ayers in 1938, and having given these considerable thought, we are of the opinion that our representatives do not give of their best because of differences of opinion regarding methods of coaching and style of rowing, as a result of which they become .a team of individuals m place of being a unit. We strongly recommend that in future New Zealand should be represented by a strong club crew, or, if the council is of the opinion that there is no club crew good enough, then an approved interprovincial crew should be selected.” Mr E. J. Crotty (Wanganui) said it was the considered opinion of his association that it was practically impossible for New Zealand rowers to be successful overseas unless club or approved interprovincial crews were selected. The only success with a composite crew had been in 1925 in Canada. New Zealand had beaten one or two club crews,'but at the Empire Games had been beaten by the Leander Rowing Club. New Zealand was the only country in the world which sent composite crews overseas for big events. The English crew at Sydney was a composite crew only because a club crew was unable to travel, and before the race they were so dissatisfied with their form that they obtained special permission to include in the crew a former stroke of the London Rowing Club. Mr C. Healey, coach of the 1932 New Zealand Olympic eight, had been quite satisfied that the Otago eight and not a composite crew should have represented New Zealand. Mr T. Porter,(Otago) spoke in favour of composite crews. Mr A. M. Hale (Marlborough), manager of the New Zealand rowers at the 1938 Empire Games at Sydney, said that when the council decided to send a crew overseas again there would be an alteration in the method of selection and training, “From what I saw on the Nepean River.” Mr Hale added, “I am satisfied that, as far as discipline and boat drill are concerned, we don’t know the A B C of rowing, and we should learn much from the Englishmen, whose boat balance alone is wonderful.” Mr Hale said he preferred composite crews because of the wider choice.

Mr A. D. Bayfield said the Canterbury Association approved of composite crews, and he also held the same view. What was wanted was the necessary time to train men together and thus obtain proper combination. To attain any degree of combination, a crew needed three months together. Mr Crotty said. The council did not come to a decision either way. and the discussion lapsed. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS EIGHT-OAR RACE AT DUNEDIN [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. ‘ The 1939 rowing championships are to be held at Picton under the Central Marlborough Association on either the second or third Saturday in February. according to the decision of the delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association at Wellington to-day. There was only one application. Applications were received from both Canterbury and Otago for the Interprovincial Eights at Easter. Supporting Canterbury’s application. Mr R. E. Nightingale said that the Kairaki-Stewart’s Gully course on the Waimakariri River was a particularly fine one. but. unfortunately, the tides on Easter Saturday were quite unsuitable, and the race would have to be rowed on Easter Monday. There was an easy bend in the course, which provided five chains of good water. Urging Otago’s claims, Mr T. Porter said ,his association had always supported the various associations which had been fortunate enough to hold the eights. A full three-mile course could be rowed at the top of Otago Harbour, and there was an alternative course. Otago would like the date to be Saturday. March 25, because of the Queenstown regatta at Easter, but if the rowers wanted the eights at Easter his association was quite prepared to hold the championship on Easter Saturday. Mr A. M. Hale (Marlborough) contended that the Stewart’s Gully course was most unfair, and he asked for a guarantee that it would be buoyed to prevent crews cutting the corner. A vote was taken, Otago being successful by 10 votes to 8. The election' of officers resulted: — President, Mr A. A. Whiting (Manborough); vice-presidents, Mr A. Kirk (East Coast) and Mr T. F. Mackie (Otago); council —Messrs D. R. Menzies. A. D. Bayfield, M. A. Turner, and A. G. Cockroft (all re-elected), W. L. McEvoy, A. Ross, J. T. Thodey, and C. E. Bridge; secretary and treasurer, Mr T. M. Hinkley; auditor, Mr W. S. Wheeler; trustees, Messrs J. G. Duncan and W. Simm (East Coast). The number of the council has been increased from seven to eight deleg?A motion by Canterbury that the capitation fee should be reduced from 2s to Is was withdrawn in favour of a motion from Wellington that only* Is of the levy be called ,up for the 1938-39 season.