“BLUE RIBAND” OF ROWING

Evening Star, Issue 23110, 9 November 1938, Page 9

“BLUE RIBAND” OF ROWING

INTERPROVINCIAL EIGHTS CONTROVERSY OARSMEN PREFER QUEENSTOWN FIXTURE The interprovincial eights or the Queenstown regatta at Easter was a question debated at considerable length by the executive of the Otago Rowing Association at its meeting last night. Considerable opposition from active oarsmen to the holding of the interprovincial race at Easter, when it would clash with the Queenstown fixture, provoked a detailed examination of the matter, which tended to resolve itself into a question of whether the O.R.A. should cater for the spectators (and thus obtain much-needed finance) or watch the interests of active oarsmen by allowing the regatta date to go unchallenged. It was finally decided .to circularise other associations asking whether another date would be suitable.

The discussion was opened with the 'tabling of a letter from the North End Club, which stated that “ our committee and members are of the unanimous opinion that it would be very detrimental to rowing on this harbour if the eights are held at Easter. We consider that rather than risk losing Queenstown it would be better to have the eights shifted to another date, or if this is not possible that the rowing of them in this harbour should definitely be abandoned.” Mr T. Porter, the association’s delegate to the annual meeting of the N.Z.A.R.A., reported that voting on the allocation of the eights bad resulted in Otago’s favour by 10-8, those supporting Otago’s claim being Auckland, Wellington, and Southland, as against Marlborough, East Coast, Canterbury, and Wanganui. “ It seems ridiculous that a provincial fixture should be looked upon as something detrimental to the sport,” said the chairman (Mr T. F. Mackie). “ The ‘ blue riband of rowing ’ in this country is the eight-oar contest, and I cannot understand a local club not supporting the allocation.” “ We have the public of Dunedin to satisfy,” said Mr W. J. Wilson. The public had been subscribing to send crews north for eights representation. The race had been held in Otago waters before at Easter, but Queenstown had' gone on just the same. “ We might make money where wo have lost money.” Suggesting that the association should circularise other associations witli a view to obtaining their opinions on the changing of the date, Mr -1. P. Vallis admitted that he was “ almost with North End j’ l this matter.” In two years, he said, there Would be no inteiiprovincial eights, and they jyer^

trying to holster up something at tho expense of the Queenstown regatta, a fixture which would live. “ I think the eights will be rowed between Southland and Otago only, and why not at the Queenstown regatta?” Auckland he did not think would be travelling, Wanganui had opposed the Otago motion, and Wellington was always an uncertainty, while the Easter date was far too late for the holding of a national fixture in, Otago. Mr F. Brough moved: “ That this association form a sub-committee to draft a letter to be sent to other associations on the lines suggested by Mr Vallis.”

Seconding the motion, Mr E. V. Fairbairn recalled that when the championship eights were inaugurated he had forecast the end of the interprovincial fixture. “It is not now a question of representative, or even composite crews, hut a question of who can travel. We are casting away the substance for the shadow.” “ The eights will die out if association members throughout New Zealand take the same view as expressed by many round this table,” said Mr Mackie. Was it not possible to change the date of the Queenstown regatta? “ Easter will be the date of the interprovincial fixture if the fixture is. to continue.” He challenged Mr Valiis’s statement that there would be only two starters, and thought that the carrying of Mr Brough’s motion “ would be idle.” “ We have always been against the Easter date and against centralisation,” said Mr Fairbairn. “ Now we are lying down to it.” “ Are members of this association trying to kill the eights before they get them?” asked Mr G. Thorn. “ You talk about the difficulty of finding finance, but now you are kicking it away.” “ It seems to me that this matter has been pretty well discussed before

it came before the meeting.” observed Mr Wilson.

Defending his voting at the council meeting, Mr Porter said that ho had acted on the association’s definite instructions. He had been informed prior to attending the meeting that if the eights were fixed for Easter in Otago they would receive no support from his club (Queen’s Drive). “ We are here to represent our clubs and our own opinions do not count,” said Mr Vallis, replying to an inquiry as to what had caused the change of opinion. The motion was carried with two dissentients. The sub-committee appointed consists of Messrs Mackie, Vallis, C. Butterfield. and (Brough.