RAGLAN GIRLS' ROWING TEAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22685, 24 March 1937, Page 17

RAGLAN GIRLS' ROWING TEAM

Sir, —1 wish to reply to the criticism of my dub by "Sport" and "Spectator. It is quite evident that these correspondents are not fully conversant 'uith the circumstances, or they would not be so harsh in their condemnation. We are content to leave our reputation as good sports in the hands of our fellow rowers, but we feel that a statement of the facts is due to our iriends who have no other moans of judging us. ()u the day in question the Raglan Girls' Rowing Club did not have permission to use one of the Auckland Club's boats. At a meeting of the executive that week it was decided that, in view of the lact that the club had three applications befor» it for boats, it was not in a position to meet these requests. The secretary of the Auckland Rowing Association was advised that, in the event of the clubs not being able to make other arrangements, one boat would be available. The Raglan girls' crew were advised on Thursday of that week that we could not grant their request. The reason for the club's refusal is surely it own business, and we see no reason why we should not be permitted to pursue our own course. 15ut we do resent the insinuation that we were the prime movers in an effort to keep Raglan, who were likely winners, out of a race. Wo ourselves have borrowed plant and we have lent to sister clubs, and will doubtless do so again, but should a request of ours meet a refusal we see no reason for branding our friends as bad sports. They would surely be entitled to their own boats. I would like to remind "Sport" and others, or perhaps they do not know, that only last week I took upon myself in an emergency to grant the use of our best racer to the Raglan girls at Whangarei; in which they won. A rower will appreciate in what regard we hold our No. 1 racer. We do not allow any but balanced regatta crews in this boat, members paying full subscriptions may not use the boat for years, and the same position applies to our new practice boats. You will appreciate that it took a little courage on my part to do this. I had cause to regret it later. At Whangarei my crews did everything possible for these ladies, finally going without tea to pack this boat 011 account of the ladies' race being so late. They did not arrive in Auckland until nearly midnight. So far I regret to say we have had no acknowledgment of the club's effort from the Raglan Girls' Rowing Club. G. W. Oxspring, Club Captain, Auckland Rowing Club.