BOATING NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 45, 4 February 1881, Page 2

BOATING NOTES.

* [By Rowlock.] I see the Foxton senior crew take a Bpin • svery evening in the outrigger, hut they do no- practice very regularly in the Queen M*b. On Tuesday evening I noticed them rowing up towards the shed from the whari, and though they displayed great strength, and drove the boat through the water, there was an absence of uniformity in the strokrt which detracted from the pleasure one should have in seeing them; Do they trust too much to their strength? If the} a os-ow auainat them from Wellington with equal strength and a little " science " thrown in thoy nm* liud that strength is not everything. It was rather dark when I saw thorn lowing but I noticed that the stivko »>t Xo. I was rather jerky. A steadier pull, even if i he pace is fast, would h<« an improvement. No. 2 seemed just a little slow in taking his stroke, as he appeared to put his weight on the oar after the others had begun their stroke. Tho other two men were doing good steady work, but I shall put them through the telescope • before 1 write again. As I alked down to the river bank a clashing noise struck my ear, and on getting a view I saw it was the oara sweeping almg tho w&ter when feathered. lam certain that is not right. What tho reason is, of course one can't tell all at once, but it struck mt» that it was caused by tho boat being too low at the stern, owing to the two heaviest men being Ho. 3 and "stroke." Of course the boat is bound to lose way if the oars are allowed to touch the water, and if the defect can be remedied it Bhould. I was much surprised to see the crew is training without a "coach." The junior crew will need a good muscle to pull off the race. A good set of " boys " are coining from Wanganui to try their strength iv the race ; in fact, I have heard the Wanganui juniors are able to run their seniors very hard in a race ; so that the Foxton junior crew may reckon on a hard fight for the prize. I intend to watch far them, and s?e how they shape. Whatever 1 havo to nay is simply oiiuporsnnfs opinion — ii may be rigV-, it maybe wrong. Still, it » well meant, and I kopeno rowing man

will be so thinakinned as. to take offence because "Rowlock" happans to squeeze ms finger a little. When is the new inrigged boat going to make her appearance ? Howlock.