Rowing Notes.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 123, 8 November 1902, Page 24

Rowing Notes.

TTT^S

By Native.

The Star Olub Match Committee have selected the following crews to lep resent them in regatta races during the season Senior Fours — A. T. Bendall (stroke) A. Bayfield (3), J. E. Widdop (2), C E Bridge (bow) Senior Double Sculls— A. Bavfield (stroke), C. E. Dow land (bow) . Senior Pairs — A. T Bendall (stroke), C. E. Bridge (bow). Senior Sculls — C. E. Dowland Junior Fouis — W R C. Oswm (stroke) F D Johnson (3) M H James (2), T S. Hamer (bow) Maiden Fours — H. G Anderson (strobe), D. TV. Duff (3), W R Eackworth (2), F H Tayloi (bow). I oa'inot congratulate the Match Committee* on their selection. Taking the Senior Fours first, it is evident that the Committee have no serious intention of making an effort to win the Champion Fours this season. Exception cannot be taken to Bendall, Bayfield and Bridge, but I cannot understand whv Widdop ho<s been chosen. The latter certainly won a few maiden races in the 1899-1900 season, but. at his very best, he is not up to championship form. He is verv flesihv and will require a lot of training to set into condition If James was given Widdop's place in the boat, the crew would have an excellent chance in the bi? race but as at present constituted "no chance" is my opinion. The Junior Four is piobably the best selection that could have been made with James left out of the senior crew but they will have to be in. the pink of condition to keep with the cracks from other clubs this season. If the Selection Committee were anxious to find a place for Widdop thev might have tried him in the Junior Fours The Maiden selection is about tiLe poorest lot turned out for years, and could have been considerably improved upon Out of the four suggested in my notes last week, Duff is the only man to get. a place. Anderson has been given the stroke position, and, with three exceptionally good men behind him, might have a chance of getting a win, but certainly not with the crew as at present constituted. Hack worth gave promise two seasons back of developing into' a good oarsman, but seems to have gone off. It is a mystery to me how Taylor fot his seat. There are at least a dozen who should have had preference Evatt undoubtedly has been overlooked. He rowed successfully in the Youths' Fours in 1899-1900, and his trip to South Africa appears to have done him a lot of good. Gill and H. Smith Should also have had consideration before the present stroke and bow There is an excellent opportunity for a successful challenge crew. Senior and Maiden crews have been out. I will probably have something to say about bheir form later on. In the maetnime, I would advise the Maidenß to get a coach at once, as their exhibition early in the week was not creditable. Perhaps, the Captain might be induced to take them in hand. The Wellington Club's selection is not vet to hand, but I understand that they may be expected at any time now. I am pleased to hear that Calnan will be available. Some newspapers have given the 12th February as the date for the Championship Regatta at W&nganui, but I have made enquiry, and find that the date (19th February) mentioned bv mo last week is correct. In all probability, there v, ill be at least two of the Chnstchurch clubs competing at Wanganui, and I am glad to see that there is also a probability of the Petone Club representatives being there. Oui old champion "Bill" Heame ls to be seen w r ate'u:ig the brogress of his boy in the Junior Pairs of the Wellington Club. I gather from a newspaper report that the Canterbury centre of the N.Z.A.R.A. are already activeh engaged in the work of local government and control. In fact they are a little ahead of it as the new rules do not come into force until the sth January. In the meantime reeratta committees will have to submit their programmes to the Managing Committee as before. The race for the Champion Fouis of New South Wales was to have been rowed on the 25th ult. Timaru and Lyttelton have fixed upon the 26th November and Ist January respectively for their regattas. I notice that '"Rowlock," in the New Zealand Times," refers to a possibility of the Kawatiri Club not being repre*sented at the Championship Regatta, on account of not being joined to a local association. This possibility is very remote. The Kawatiri and Nelson Clubs have three months to form their associ-

aition hi, and even if the latter is not rnoluied to go in (of which there is no reason to suppose), the officials of the former olub can form the association themselves In all probability the Glmstohureh Regatta wall be held at Stewart's Gully. The Akaroa Regatta/ Committee was inclined to substitute four-oared races for some of the s*ump races now held, and aisked the opinion of the Christohuroh clubs, who decided against the proposal. I quite agree witih the rc?>marks of "Jasoni," in the "Canterbury Times," where he maintains that the clubs were wrong in their decision, and that ait both Akaroa and Lytteltoo fouroared rowing should be revived, in order to raise the standard of rowing. The Star Club crews are busy training for the Ladies' Fours At present I like the chances of Scott, McKenzie, and Evatt. The Wellington. Club got off the whole of the heats for the Wareiham Fours en Saturday, the winning crew consisting of A. Galbraith (stroke), T. Galbraath (3) H. Green (2), N. Thompson (bow). Several heats of the Junior Pairs and Senior Fours have been rowed dxuing the week. There are three crews in the second round of the Senior Fours Galbraith ought to win tihe final