DOINGS IN THE WHANGAREI ROWING CLUB’S SHED

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1936, Page 2

DOINGS IN THE WHANGAREI ROWING CLUB’S SHED

Fine Array Of Scullers & Oarsmen

FAULTS TO BE RECTIFIED BY INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

ty/HEN that very live president, Mr. T. Mitchell, declared the Whangarei Rowing Club’s 1986-37 season officially open recently, he paid a very sincere compliment to the ladies of the social committee, whose efforts daring the winter months had resulted in £75 going into the coffers of the club. Mr Mitchell stated that £6O of that money had ffieen utilised in the purchase of a new skiff, a double sculls.

In acquiring this type of craft, the club acted for a specific purpose. Its primary intention was to develop scullers as well as oarsmen. The difference is that a sculler uses two oars, while an oarsman uses only one, so that little thought is necessary for one to realise how a member of a four-oared crew may become a proficient oarsman but not a sculler. In double sculls, the two rowers both have two oars, and row on the same principle as a single sculler. The new boat is also convertible into a pair oar, this being done by changing the riggers so that each man uses only one oar, on the oarsman principle.

It must be definitely understood that a man is not a sculler unless he can row with an oar in each hand.

Storey Best Sculler. „ Charlie Storey js regarded as the best sculler in. the Whangarei Club today. However, it is doubtful whether he is as good as Herb. Hannam was in his prime, about five years ago. At the 1931 regatta, Hannam finished second to Stevenson, the . then Auckland champion, with Storey , third. Jim Mason, the club coach, is ex-New Zealand professional champion, and is undoubtedly .the. best sculler ever produced in the North. . He is the only Northlander to ever compete for the title.

stand a chance of success, it would be necessary for them to be a five or six lengths better crew over a mile and a-half. the distance over which all junior races are rowed.

That the material for a very good junior four is in the Whangarei shed, is undoubted, but it must lay practically dormant until the club is in a position to take unto itself a best-and-best four-oar boat.

Even in. maiden events, Whangarei representatives are under a handicap even before they dip an oar. The rules for this class stipulate that clinker-

Tom Clarke, Storey’s mate in the double sculls, is second only to Storey as a sculler. He probably would have been an outstanding exponent had he been regularly connected with the sport. For two years prior to last season he did not touch an oar, and it was during that period that he would most likely have been in his pripie.

Clarke and Storey In Double Sculls. Last season, he and Storey, after very little training, competed for the Auckland double sculls title at the Mercer Regatta, and finished third, a matter of only a few feet behind the wipners. This feat in itself reflects very creditably on their combination and ability as scullers. This season, the club hopes to be in a position to send Storey and Clarke to a number of southern regattas. Now that they have the boat to train in regularly, the club feels confident that they will. bring more than one title to Whangarei, and so materially assist in the reinstate- ( ment of the local body on the rowing map.

The last success Whangarei had at an outside regatta was at Tauranga in 1934, when the heavy maiden crew, comprising Bindon (stroke), Gardner (3). Patterson (2), and Storey (bow), won the open maiden event. This success automatically promoted the crew to junior status, and they cannot row as maidens again. Although Storey is out of the maiden class as an oarsman, he is still a maiden sculler. Local Boats Obsolete.

In New Zealand today, 99 per cent, of junior events are rowed in best-and-best boats. The Whangarei Club, however. is unfortunate in that it only possesses clinker-built boats, and has such limited finances as to be unable to purchase a smooth-skinned craft. The club can still compete in these against the modern design, but to

built craft shall be used, but the locals are penalised through their craft being obsolete.

FROM THE OARSMAN’S VIEWPOINT.

OUTSTANDING STROKES IN THE SHED. Probably the best heavy maiden regatta stroke in the local shed' this season is L. Lovatt. He has a bad habit,

however, of shooting his seat before he

has applied all the weight at the begin-

ning of the stroke, and he allows his body to roll when about halfway through the stroke. This causes the boat to roll and so throws the other members of the crew off balance.

In the lightweight class, the choice would be between C. Storey and T. Clarke. These two oarsmen are practically on a par. and It is difficult to find room for ' criticism with either. Storey is inclined to shoot the slide, but this is only carelessness, as he can hold it when concentrating. Do not let this develop into a habit, Charlie! Clarke has the honour of being one of the few in the shed who has perfect slide control. He should cut the hands away faster at the finish of the stroke, thus allowing the boat to run easier. The sluggishness of Clarke’s hands is probably attributable to his having done so much sculling.

Hannam would be another good lightweight sti'oke, but when one takes heed of the fact that he has been an active member since 1923. it is easy to realise that he is well past his prime. Besides being a fine sculler, Hannam

was also a splendid oarsman, but, of course he cannot now last the distance.

Although Bindon still rows a good oar, he is sadly out of condition, and at present is not seen at his best. He is one of the worst offenders at the shooting-the-slide habit. This is a very bad mistake, and one general throughout the shed. It prevents .an oarsman from applying his full weight to the stroke at its beginning, when it should be applied. The weight should be on for only a quarter of the stroke, and then it should gradually ease off, until at the finish no weight is on the oar at all.

Gardner Best No. 3 Man,

As far as stroke-making is concerned, Gardner is good, but he is too heavy to be a successful regatta stroke. Too much avoirdupois in the back seat causes the boat to drag. Gardner is an ideal Number 3 man, however, and probably the best in the shed. H. Patterson is in the same category as Hannam in that he is past his prime. He stroked the Whangarei heavy maiden crew at the Onerahi Regatta in 1924, and finished second, only a quarter of a length behind a St. George Club crew from Auckland. The local quartette was H. Patterson (stroke), R. Strugnell (3), A. Boag (2), and S. Drever (bow).

Promising No. 3 Men.

Cormack is the ideal type for a fine No. 3 man, but he has faults which must be rectified. He must row with a straighten back; he must not shoot his slide; and he should not put too much weight on his arms at the finish of each stroke instead of at the beginning. Cormack is yet a new rower, and wants to rectify these eiTors before it is too late, and they become a habit.

Another promising No. 3 is Lulic. but he should work more in harmony with the other members of the crew by assisting to balance the boat and checking the time from those rowing behind him.

Bradley, who had a season with the Whangarei Club a couple of years ago. but missed last season through being absent from the district, is the ideal stamp for a No. 3. He should develop into as good as any that has been turned out of the Whangarei shed. To do this, however, he must take the game seriously.

Auld is another good type. In the past he has not been in the habit of shooting his slide, but now is allowing this mistake to creep into his rowing. He also jerks the end of the stroke, and so breaks seat slides. Correct this error. George, or the club will be running cut of the necessary!