ROWING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 4 January 1910, Page 5

ROWING.

It is probable that several Picton ■cre\vs;.wiiL compete at-tiie Wellington. Regatta, to be Held on the 15tlv ii\st; The Pictoiv men have clearly .demonstrated their superiority on their own course, and it will be interesting to see how they shape against the Wellington crews when the advantage in this respect is reversed.

Under the rules of the New Zealand Rowing Association, four weeks must elapse before the confirmatory meeting of the Council to deal with the suspension of J. M. Jackson can be held. Jackson will therefore be debarred from competing at the Championship Regatta. Naturally, a great deal of the interest of the Blenheim public in the regatta would be lost if no crew for the Champion Fours were entered, but the Club have every intention of making a bid for the red coat 3.

Picton harbor (states the Press) lias a reputation to uphold as the best rowing course in the Dominion, and on Saturday had its most treacherous wind, a. fairly strong nor'-wester, to contend with. Visiting crews were baffled considerably by the "lumpiness" of the water, and were critically inclined as to the suitability of the course for big events. Outside of Mabel Island, where there is a wide expanse of water unprotected from the northerly, it proved too severe a task for all but Picton, and the big race of the day was spoiled in consequence. This was to be regretted, because it will give outside rowing men an opportunity to condemn the course. After the rough weather of the previous day, however, we were fortunate in being kble to hold the regatta at all, and, under similar conditions, Picton is the only open course m the Dominion where ' skiff races could be rowed. But smoother water could have been obtained even on Saturday if an alternate course had been laid off on the eastern side of MabeL Island. With the Championship Regatta in view, it is certainly worthy of the consideration of the committee. A favorable course to smt the prevailing condition.* on the 24th is decidedly important,- to Pletoiv m view of future-aquatic events. ita& if we can. please, the, contesting crews by buoying off air alternate course,, so much the better will it be for Picton s claim as the permanent scene of epanipionship events.

[/The Blenheim Rowing Club have j discovered a worthy successor to J. M. Jackson for the senior four crpw m the person of Arthur Jackson, of ,ie Awaite, who has lately returned from the Campbell Islands. It will be remembered that Arthur Jackson stroked the Picton senior four about three years ago, when they succeeded m beating the Blenheim champions on 5+t em °^ Sy-th> JKV* ma strange that the Blenheim Club's senior four will Jv^ m» • % title of "The Jackson *our. The new-comer has obtained employment in Blenheim, hence his decision to remain here and do battle tor the Blenheim Rowing Club. He is to be elected a member of the club to-night, and will commence active training operations, immediately.