ROWING NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 221, 13 November 1888, Page 3

ROWING NOTES.

[BE OUTBIGGEB.J As I previously promised I took an opportunity to watch and criticise the. different crews that are to take part in the Gisborne Rowing Club’s Trial Fours, the result of which I now forward. The first to put in an appearance were Green (stroke), Teat (3), F. Clayton (2), Morgan (bow). Stroke is apt to let his slide run away with him. To prevent this he should get his arms straight out before he brings his b dy forward. He also has a very bad habit of bending his inside arm. No. 3 is inclined to screw, and also to throw up the water at the end of the stroke. No. 2 is rather slow in the recover, consequently he is always late in catching the water. He should straighten his arms, get his body down more, and put all his weight on at the commencement of the stroke.

Bow should sit up better and do less work with his arms and more with his shoulders and legs. The next crew to catch my eye was Spurdlb (stroke), W. Miller (3), McLean (2). and W. Chrisp (bow). Stroke is inclined to screw. He also drops his right shoulder and leans in the boat. No. 3 should straighten both arms before catching the water. No. 2 should keep better time, and also keep his elbows in and finish the stroke in the water. Bow drops his wrists before his blade leaves the water, which causes him to throw the water up. He is inclined to lean over in the boat instead of keeping his shoulders square. The next on the water were Chrisp (stroke), Young (3), Drummond (2),and Collins (bow). Stroke js pulling very well this season. No. 8 should try and keep his shoulders square, use his legs more, and straighten that inside arm. No. 2 has improved a lot this s-ason. He sti l throws his water up a little at the finish of the strok-e. Bow should get further forward and use his slide more, and should keep his hands fuither apart. Now we come to the junior crews. I shall take the captain’s first. Bourn (stroke), McKee (3), T. Adair (2), Evans (bow). No. 3 has a bad habit of dropping his left shoulder, which causes him to lean inwards. No. 2 has one very bad fault. If there happens to be a young lady on the bank of the river 2 is bound to have his eyes on her instead of on the stroke’s neck. Consequently he keeps bad time. Bow seems very attentive and willing. I should like to see him use his elide more and keep a tighter grip of the oar. The next crew to catch my eye was Miller (stroke), W. Chrisp (3), Colebourne (2), and F. O’Meara (bow). Stroke and 3 are also in one of the senior crews that I have already criticised. No. 2 rows very deep ; in fact, I heard he got so deep the other morning that the stroke (miff sed.} Bow does not use his slide to advantage, and he is inclined to bend his inside arm. Just as I had made up my mind that I had seen the last of the crews for that night, I heard someone shout out, “ Another pound, bow,” so I waited and it turned out to be Ratcliffe (stroke), Trimmer (3), Foster (2), E. Parnell (bow). No. 3 has improved a good deal since he started. He screws a little and uses his slide badly. No. 2 will require a lot of coaching, so I will leave him in the careful hands of his stroke. Bow should hold his hands further apart and keep his elbows close to his side.