ROWING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7079, 17 March 1910, Page 3

ROWING

THE INTERSTATE CHAMPIONS. WELCOMED HOME. The Union Boat Club's crew from Wanganui, which won the Inter-State four-oared boat race, rowed on tho Derivent river. Hobart. on February 21th last, returned to Wellington yesterday by the Mocraki. Tho crew, comprising J. Cottorill (stroke), E. By land (3), W. Dustin (2), and D. Corby (bow) were tendered a reception at tho Empire Hotel by tho Now Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, a Rood attendance of members being iireseut. Mr A. S. Biss, vice-president, presided, and said he appreciated the honour, as thirteen years previously he had gone to Australia as manager of a crow—comprising the tlnree Seymours and Dalyre presenting tho New Zealand Rowing Association, to row in a race against tho Lnter-Stato four-oared crews of Australia. It was thought then that the raco would be tho inception of regular contests between four-oared crews of tho Commonwealth and the Dominion, but unfortunately it had not been made an annual fixture. It was now all the more gratifying to him to know that on the foundation Laid thirteen years ago another race had taken place, and under such conditions as he thought would secure more frequent meetings of the oarsmen of Australia and New Zealand. He could not understand why the four-oar races had not been continued, unless it was that the Australians had better facilities for rowing in eight-oared and four-oar rowing was not valued so highly there as here. He hoped tho day would came when we would have eight-oar racing in New Zealand, and could send our teams across for further honours. It was, however, difficult hero to get oight men in one town to hold their own against any of the Australian States. He congratulated tho team on their fine victory, and expressed regret that tho Blenheim crew was not present to receive congratulations on obtaining second place. He read a letter written to Mr A. D. Bayfield, secretary of the association, by the Tasmanian Association, speaking in the highest terms of the visiting New Zealand erews, and referred to the success of New Zealondors m Australia in sport, athletics, golf, horseracing, tennis, bowls, polo, and sculling, (ill of which showed wo had every prospect of turning out good performers in. overy branch of sport. These performances had proved splendid advertisements foT the Dominion. After further congratulatory reference, he said every New Zealander was proud of the success of the team, which was due to ability, honest training, and every essential necessary to win a good boat race. .He proposed the health of the visitors, which was enthusiastically drunk, and presented the Union OTub with the shield (which under the rules belonged to the association) which their representatives had won. . . , Mr A. G. Fell, an oarsman of fortyforar years' standing,, also spoke in complimentary terms, remarking that an old Oxford man, who had seen the crew, hod informed him that "it was fit _to go and row at any regatta anywhere m the old world." (Applause.) Men who could do that were fit to be done honour to by them. (Applause). THE MANAGER'S EEPLT.

Mr W. Sharp, tho manager, expressed the thanks of the crew for their welcome. From the time they had got notice to go to Hobart they had entered into the spirit of the thing properly, and trained thoroughly. "The race -was a jolly fine one," he said. He was the only New Zealand barracker on the umpire's boat. He was given a good time, but there was a queer silence on the boat when the New Zealand crew got home. (Laughter.) He thanked the nssooiation for the shield, which would be something,, to look back on in yeairsto come. (Applause). THE STROKE. J. CotterUl, the stroke, received with loud applause, said he was glad they had brought credit to New Zealand and to their selectors. Those present knew all about the race. "The defeated orews, he said, "and their supporters expressed themselves gratified with the result—and <so were we." (Applause). A VISITOR. The nealth" of Mr Albert E. Nash, president of the New South Wales Amateur Bowing Association and of the New South Wales Federation, was proposed by Mi R. W. MoVilly. TvTr Nash, in replying, congratulated the association on sending such a crew to Australia. It seemed to him that an arrangement could be entered into whereby a certain event could be placed on their programme so that New Zealanders could compete there, and Australian teams could come to New Zealand. On April 30th next a conference of unions would take place in Tasmania, and if the governing body of rowing in New Zealand felt inolined to unfold any scheme whereby fortr-oar inter-State contests could take place, it would be very 6arioualy considered by the conference. If figures of the strokes .Towed throughout the race, complied for him, were correct, Wangarrui had rowed 126 more strokes during the race than the crews behind them (except Blenheim), which was a marvellous physical effrxrt, and reflected credit on any oarsman who had been in the winning crew. The health of Mr A. D. Bayfield, secretary of the association, was also drunk..