Rowing Notes.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 125, 22 November 1902, Page 24

Rowing Notes.

By Native.

Although. I commented last week on tihe fact of the regatta crews from the Wellington Club not being to hand, I now find that they were published early last week, and overlooked by me. Mr. Nidd has made the following selections Senior Fours. —J. R. Crawford (stroke), J. Calnan (3) A. Galbraith (2), J. Hand (bow). Junior Fours.— o. Jones (stroke) W Shiltong (3), G. Honour (2), A. W. Humphreys (bow). Maiden Fours — J. Francis (stroke), A. H Dawson (3), S. Galbraith (2) H. Green (bow). Senior Pairs. — J. Calnan (stroke), J. R. Crawford (bow). Senior Double Sculls.— A. Galbraith (stroke), T. Spencer (bow). Senioi Sculls. — T. Spencer. ♦ * • The selection of Crawford, Calnan, and A. Galbraith m the Senior Four was a foregone conclusion, the whole of them being of good class, and right up to championship form, but there IS room for doubt as to the right of the bow man to his seat. Last season he rowed m the Maiden crew, but did nothing out of the ordinary. For my Sart, I would have preferred either eorge or W. Spencer" from last year's crew and have given Hand a trial with the juniors Some exception has been taken to Crawfords stroke, but Ido not agree with the critics who decry him In my opinion, the stroke adopted bv the club as a whole is altogether too lively for such a race as the Championship Fours and the slower stroke mia-ht b< used with advantage. In the rush for ward, with a quick, short stroke, an oarsman does not get a fair chance to recover himself for a good catch. As an example of a slow forwaid movement of the body, and a good catoh, I will point to the Youths' crew from the Star Boating Club last year, who did so well in the Youths' and Maiden races against crews who were physically very much stronger. The Juniors appear to be a fair lot Jones has earned his place Shilling is an in and out oarsman, rowing well one day, and turning it up the next. However, I think that, with a good stroke to push him along, he is worth his place. Honour, on last ""ear s rowing, is worth a trial. Humphreys has come alone very well whilst he has been at the game, and won. the Maiden Sculls at the Championship Regatta last season He is a most enthusiastic member, and a thorough "rafter. The Maiden crew is practically an unknown quantity. I saw them out early in the week, when each man seemed to be on his own. There is excellent mar terial for an enthusiastic coach to uoi k on. The Senior Pairs have only to show their previous form to beat anything in the ordinary. The Double Scullers are not above the average, but. as it is stated that McGrath is not hkely to represent his club this season, the^ might have a chance. After the crews have had an opportunity to show something like form, I will have more to say on their respective chances. ♦ • ■* The Star Club got off another heat of the Ladies' Fours, on Monday ni^ht. Ingram and A. H Johnstone, finishing together after a fine race, beat Gill by a lenath and a-half . Mowatt beat Anderson by three lengths, Gray being a length further away. After Ingram and Johnstone row off the dead heat, the winners with Mowat and Bridge will meet in the final. Bridge was exceptionally fortunate in persuadin 0 ' the Match Committee to give him Wilkinson as a substitute for Hammond, and ought to win the final. The Star Club have decided to hold their swimming sports at Lowry Bay on Saturday, the 17th January. The following committee has beem appointed to make the necessary arrangements — Messrs. Bethune, Pearce, Seed, Galbiaith, Oswin Hamer, and Girdlestone. The meinbersi of this club are evidently not keen on meetings. At the annual meeting, out of an active membersihup of about 230, there were only about forty present, and at the meeting held last week, in connection with the swimming sports, and alterations to by-laws, the captain had to proceed to another institution to collect sufficient for a quorum (fifteen). * * * The programme for the Championship Regatta is to hand. The prize money i? apportioned as follows — Maiden Fours £10 and £2 , Champion Fours,

£50 and £15 . Junior Fours (best boats), £15 and £5 , Champion Soulls, £10 and £2; Junior Fours (clinkers), £12 and £3 , Champion Pairs, £15 and £3 , Senior Fours (best boats— winners of Champion Fours debarred), £15 and £5, Champion Double Sculls, £15 and £3. The Regatta Committee has apparently been very successful m their canvassing, as the Drize money offered is exceptionally liberal. From all accounts, there will be good competition all round, and it will only require a fine day to make the Championship Regatta of 1902-3 one of the best. I hear that the Champion Pairs, Senior Fours, and Champion Double Soulls will run in that order on the programme. As some of the oompetators in the Pairs and Double Sculls will be rowing in the Senior Fours, I think that the Regatta Committee will be wise in rearranging these events, Otherwise it might affect the entries. ♦ « • The annual eight- oared race between the North and South of Tasmania, was rowed on tihe Tamar, on the 25th October, when the North won easily. There is talk of a match between George Towns and Dick Tressider, on the return of the former to Australia, but I do not expect that it will eventuate. Tom Sullnau was presented with a stop- watch bv the members of th© Argonaut crew of Toronto, which competed at Henley, in appreciation of his services to them. The Otago Regatta will be held as usual at Port Chalmers on Boxing Day The Waihola Regatta will he held on 23rd March If the Wellington Rowing Association intend to hold a regatta this season, it is about time that they were moving. I understand that the non-appointment of the Star deleioraites has delayed matters Perhaps, the Association can proceed to business without them. If the regatta was held on Saturday, 21st, February, it mightl attract competitors from the Championship Regatta The annual cutter race, between No. 1 and 2 companies of the Wellington Navals, took place on Monday evening, and was won \>v No 2, under CPO Rabe, after a snlendid race, by about 3ft. The distance rowed was about a mile and a-ouarter.