ROWING

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

ROWING

THE FIFTH CLUB BUSY LIGHT BLUES PREPARE FOR VARSITY EIGHTS DRIVE LAUNCHED FOR NEW BOAT [By Riggee.] Despite temporary handicaps ini* posed by examinations, Dunedin’s filth! club, University, has entered the season with a swing. With a clubhouse of its own, the club has been given a. flying start, while a determination to improve the plant has caused mucl\ activity round the boats. The allocation of the intervarsity eights toi Otago this year has also given the student rowing fraternity a great fillip* and has played a large part in the campaign for new members. It is unfortunate that only nine of last season’s members are active this year, but to counterbalance the loss over a score of recruits have been; signed. Instructing new members ini the rudiments of the sport is taking up the time of the experienced men,;and in spite of rough water most of the newcomers have mastered the fundamentals. So far no dissentients have been found regarding the change! to swivels, which have won popularity with the light blues at least. At present it appears that only three) or four members of former Varsity, eights will b. for the Eas ten championship. There is a possibility) that the club will have its own eight? by that time, however. Such an acquisition would make the event more equitable, for all the northern colleges possess first-class bo'ats of their own. Tha club has to find a large sum by tha

end of the month if the offer made by, the Students’ Association to finance the purchase of the boat is accepted* and the club is doing all it can to raise the required sum. An appeal) made by former University oarsmen met} with little success, but the club is to be congratulated on the manner ini which it is making its present drive* which culminates in a dance at the Kiosk on November 23. Paul Vallis has consented to coacii the eight this year. If his work ia of the same standard as his coaching last year, and the club can obtain its new eight, and if members rally, round, Varsity should have a good chance next Easter, when they wil| compete on home waters.

To Liven Up Regattas. Well worthy of serious conideration is a suggestion advanced at'the Dunedin Regatta Cub annual, that' short “ sprint ” races of from 300 toj 40Qyds .be included in the programme* Sandwiched in between the other races these short events could be despatched for the benefit of the spectators, who all too often are “bored stiff” by, rowing regattas. No prize money need be attached to the races, so-that aa oarsman’s status need not be affected* The advantage of these “sprint” events (from the spectators' viewpoint) may be seen at a glance, for in most respects they would resemble a first* class finish. The distance is too short for crews to fan out, while the length between canvasses would not be given too much opportunity to grow. The committee promised to consider the matter.

D.R.C. Jottings. The fourth annual meeting of thq Dunedin Regatta Club attracted ai fair attendance, but it was not up tq the previous year’s 40. After holding office as president since the club’s inception, Mr S. G. Stycha stepped down for Mr T. O’Shea to take that position. Therefore Mr Styche is first to'hold the office of immediate! past-president. With W. E. Buxton’s speculation was rife as to who would be found to undertake the secretarial duties. Paul Valiis, who a season ago passed over the books of the 0.R.A., was finally and unanimously chosen. When the club first held a race foe single-scullers, -only two harbour cluba possessed those boats, but with North End and Drive now housing single* scullers, the retiring president inti* mated that a slight increase in prize* money for this event might be alio* cated. Mr A. C. Hanlon has donated a trophy for the novice fours event. Clubhouse Chatter. At the first meeting of the Auckland Rowing Association’s executive Mr O* G. Herdman was elected chairman. The New South Wales Rowing Asso* ciation intends to persist with the piad to send an eight to the English Henlejf Centenary. A citizens’ committee sooij will be formed to raise funds. The Tauranga regatta will be held oh December 27. The Otago Rowing Club lays claim to possessing six registered and one ex* member on the committee of the Dun* edin Regatta Club, or seven out of 11. A. Frame, secretary of the 0.R.C., is planning a drive around the clubhouse. The matter of rowing the Howlisoa and Wright Memorial Cups has now, progressed a step further, the Otago Club having confirmed the choice 08 the Taieri River course as being quit® suitable. It "is the committee’s inten* tion to substitute the outing for thq annual picnic. Otago opens its racing season with! the trial fours, set down for nest Saturday. A week later the Walter Fours will be rowed, followed by the Matheson Fours for new members on November 26. All races are timed to start at 2.45. Regatta crews will bq selected after ,the last-named event*