THE PRESENT CHAMPIONS

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 89, 18 April 1906, Page 3

THE PRESENT CHAMPIONS

The crew which represented the Blenheim Rowing Club so valiantly on Saturday and Monday last have rowed together, with a break of about 18 months; for some years. Two ot them, now fully developed men, were previously only about 21 years of age; so that a good percentage of improvement may be set down m respect to them. .i, * i j A feature of the crew which should bs noted is that it includes, in Morrison (bow) and Girling (2), the Captain and Vice-Captain respectively of the Club. This is as it should be, and augurs well for the future. It has.been somewhat.of a surprise to other competing crews that the Blenheim four could, without any apparent coaching, attain to such scientific oarsmanship. It is well known that the crew has never had out in the boat anyone other than the four members and a cox. • The revealed fact of the matter is that Cant. Morrison, seated in the bow or the boat, with his mates in front or him, has done all the coaching that has been necessary. He has had'a lengthy experience, having himself been coached by G. B. Richardson, Sharp, and others. The crew has. adopted the principle of getting a lot of weight in •"before the rigger," so to speak, by reaching right out to the gunwale, and expending the power without " looking up at the sky " at the latter end of the stroke.' The idea is that a prolonged stroke buries the nose ot the boat too much. A few personal notes may not be out of place:— . ' '' OA f. M. Jackson, stroke. — Age. 34 years; weight, 12sfc lib;/married. Born upon the banks of, the Waikato River, the stroke of the Champion Four was practically brought up. on the water, the principal annual event of his boyhood having been the bigjegatta at Ngaruawahia. Oarsmanship is the family forte, for the celebrated sculler, Tom Sullivan, is his cousin. Blenheim people first made the acquaintance of Jim Jackson as a police constable, and the consideration of Sergt.-Major Mason had to be exercised to the utmost to enable the v bobby" to get off police duty on a holiday to go rowing. Three or four years ago Jackson, who had made a study ot marine matters, resigned the force in favour of the- sea,' anckuntir a few months ago held the position of first mate on the Northern Steamship Company's Glenelg, trading out of Auckland. He helds a mariner's certificate. Jackson has always been a temperate man, and his judgment and moderation, allied with a strict sense of duty, made him very popular m Blenheim as a police constable. J. H. Mobrison, bow. — Age, 33 years; weight, lOst 121b; single. He Is a member of the well-known family of the late Captain Morrison, and his brother William (also deceased) was colonially known as the professional high-jump champion of Australasia some 15 years ago. He put up/ an authentic New Zealand record of srt lOin. which has never been since fceaten by amateursV in the colony. This jump was done on the first trial. The oarsman under notice has'had considerable experience of rowing, and his record as an official of the Blenheim Club was only broken by his service in the South African War as a sergeant in the Ninth Contingent. In this connection, it is interesting to mention that D. Corby, a member of the successful Wanganui Union crew on Monday, greeted his old sergeant of the Boer War service in Picton last week. Mr Morrison at present holds the position of Bailiff in the Supreme Court at Blenheim. _ W. J. Gibling, No. 2.—Age, 24 years: weight, 11.4; single. A son of the late W. B. Girling, and <ra chip of the old block," he has all the athletic physique of his father, who in his time was an amateur athlete of considerable prominence, and old Blenfceim identities can recollect his cooperation with the late Dr. Cleghorn in. the organisation of boxing contests on Saturday nights, when his drapery establishment would be closed for the occasion. The oarsmen under reference commenced "rowing when quite young on the Opawa river, and com"binedthe love of that form of athletics with the pursuit of volunteering, he having been until a year ago captain of tue Blenheim Rifle Cadets. He is now a member of the well-known firm of drapers which bears his father's name. K. Hegglun, No. 3.—Age, 24 years; weight, 12.10 (last, but not least); single. A native of Blenheim, and related to Mr J. McKinley, Vice-Pre-sident of the Club. Dick Hegglun, along with his elder brother Charley, was early taken in hand by the abovementioned enthusiast, and showed good metal. He is a carpenter by trade, and, while following that pursuit, in Wellington, successfully competed in many of the swimming contests there, coming off..'champion for certain distances on several occasions, and defeating his brother, also wellknown in that branch of athletics. G. Lucas, cox. —Ago, 12 years; weight, 3st 61b This excellent and quick-famed member of the crew is a son of Mr Chas. Lucas of Manse Road, and has had a career extending over six months. He was brought down to the "-sheds" by his brother, and steered for some of the crews in the pair-oar club races on the river before Christmas. The present champions noted hi« capabilities, and took him aboard their boat about three weeks ago. His achievements during the past few da3-s have been praised already. After the way he steered Blenheini to victory in the Wairatt and'Picton regattas he was positively mobbed l>y other crews, and consented to officiate for Wanganui Union in the Ladies' Plate on Monday, getting them there in fine style. The Wanganui crew intend to present him with a medal in recognition.