ROWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14806, 9 October 1911, Page 9

ROWING.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. AWARDED TO OTAGO. [BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . Wellington, Sunday. The 24th annual meeting- of delegates to the Mew Zealand Amateur Rowing Association was held last night, 14 being present. The annual report stated that, the financial position was satisfactory. The credit balance at bank is £55 12s 3d. There are no liabilities, and the assets total £58 16s 3d. The net receipts for the year exceeded the expenditure by u 78 Bd. The number of clubs amnated to the association is 62, with a total active paying membership of 2919, an increase respectively of one and 13. During the jear 24 regattas were held, the number ?,L r fZ 6 * i^ ug m l ' t lle P rize money amountL n S t0 o .^S O - The championship regatta was held at Wanganui on February 25, and was successful, though the entries might have been larger. C. E. Stone (Auckland), amateur champion eculler of New Zealand, had been entered for the Champion Inter-State Sculls of Australasia, but the entry had been withdrawn, as it was found that he could not comply with the amateur definition governing the race. The New South Wales Association advised that a man who competes for a money prize, whether it goes to his club or himself, is not - eligible to compete, so it would appear that New Zealand oarsmen are not eligible to compete in any inter-State contests in Australia, as in this country our amateur definition allows competition for money prizes, but all such prizes are paid to the club, and not to the crews. The council considers there is not sufficient matter at present to 1 warrant holding a conference of rowing representatives. In moving the adoption of the report and balancesheet, the chairman said the increase in m ®jnhership or the year had been poor. The election of officers resulted as follows: — resident. Sir James Mills; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. D. Kesteven and A. S. Bias; council, Messrs. E. E. Hammond, E. Lines, R. M. Isaac, G. Lauchlan, B. A. Marris, R. W. Mcvilly, ,T. E. Widdop; secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. D. Bayfield; auditor, Mr. G. C. Fache.

Rules 10 and 18 were deleted from the association's rules for amateur regattas, rind the following was substituted for rule 10:--■ All events rowed at regattas held under the .rules of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association shall be open to crews of all affiliated clubs that are "not under suspension, provided that no member of any. such crew shall have rowed for any other club in the same rowing centre within a period or three months prior to the date of regatta." A _ motion to make a new rule fixing the minimum weight of coxswains at 7st was defeated. It was decided that a. register' be kept by the secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, containing the names of the winners at all regattas heW throughout New Zealand under the rules of the association. It was also decided that matters unprovided for in the rules shall be dealt with by the council. The championships for 1911-12 were allocated to Otago. They will be held in February- on Lake Waihola. The application of J- M. r Jackson (late of Blenheim Rowing Club) for reinstatement as an amateur, was refused. The secretary was awarded a honorarium of £15 15s. The New South Wales Association wrote that New Zealand oarsmen could apply for reinstatement in that State, and, subject to approval, could compete at any amateur regatta within the State, hut not in interState events. The matter was left to the council to be dealt with. The action of the council in ruling that a boatbuilder building: racing boats is a professional, was endorsed. It was decided to obtain legal opinion s,s to whether a boatbuilder building other than racing boats is a professional within the meaning of the association's rules as to his amateur status.