ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13518, 15 February 1906, Page 5

ROWING.

Br Stroke.

On Saturday last the D.A.B.C. held tlmir annual Ladies' Day, and despite the fact tat .1 neavy rain had rot in, there was a large attendance of friends and supportei'3 piosont. The first event, was an Inriggcd j..)g Race, four boats taking part, stroked by Macdonald, Prideaux, and Paton. The race was won by Macdonald, Lessens finishing' a good second, only being beaten by ;i canvas, while Prideaux and i'aton were very close up. Although the water was rather rough and lumpy, it i/id not m any way affect the laec, and it vas a good contest io witness. In i,he 50 Yards Swim (handicap race) nmo competitors faced the starter, the scratch man (D. CJollnn) winning in great stylo, while Morris and Macdonald had a hard " go" for second, the former ju6t securing that place by the smallest margin. After these events were over, refreshments wore handed round, and a musical programme gone through, all appearing to thoroughly enjoy the afternoon's amusement. A dance was held in the evening, nnd was well attended, winding; up a very pleasant day. The D.A.B.C. Dawson Memorial Fours is being rowed this week, and as all the crows are very even, good racing is expected in each round. For tho last week a heavy nor'-caster has besn blowing, and rowing has been practically at a standstill. Hie Otago Olub's crews for the Ohristchurch regatta were looking forward to a good week to put in soma finishing touches to their work, but up to now there seems no chance of their doiug so. It is to be hoped that they will experience fine weather at lako Forsyth, which, although ono of tho beet ocurscs in ,tho colony, has lately made a bad name for itself 011 regatta days, heavy sou'-wesfc weather and cold rain having been experienced by crows visiting there during the last few years. The Maiden Four could have done with some smart sprint work, but they are all in fairly good fett'o, and should give a good account of themselves. Nos. 3 and 2 will represent tho olub in tho Maiden Double Sculls, but as both men are new to sculling, and have only been out four times, they can hardly bo said to have a good chance. Both men. however, are big awl strong fellows, and may effect a surprise. The Youths' Four, who will also start in the Junior race, are also .in good form, and will take some .heating. Tho crews leave by first express on Friday, and go out to tlio lake on Saturday morning. By the way, tho stroke of the Maiden Four (Eggleston) has been transferred to Christchurch, and will not return after the regatta. His place wil! be hard to fill, as he has shown himself to be the right man in the right place. Ho is a keen sport, a hard worker in tho boat, and possesses that best of all qualities in a rowing man-that, is, willing to be told and coached by a more experienced man. He has only been a member of the Otago Club this season, and his courtesy and geniality have made him very popular with tho members, who, I am sure, wish him every success in the future. The rough weather has prevented the other Otago Club's regatta crews for Waihola_ regatta, lo be held next month, from making a start. The No. 2 Maiden orew, strolled by AVhitt-aker and coached i.y Sandes, has been out twice, but rough water prevented them from doing much. They are a light crew, and should soon strike combination. Taylor and Drake, in the Junior Sculls, are the pair who won both races last year. Drake has been away for a holiday, and will make a start on his return. M'Carter and Petre are onlywaiting for decent weather to start work again. The Seniors (M'Grath and Priest) havo not been out jot, but will no doubt be seen out about the end of the week. At a meeting of the Christclmrch Regatta Club, held on Monday evening, it was mentioned flint n, championship regatta would he organised for next sertGon, during tlie time of the Exhibition, and it was decided to ask the-Exhibition authorities for a grant, of £25 toward? the cost oE providing an intercolonial four-oarod race. A good deal of feeling, it is said, is being engendered between' the respective parties of Stanbury,. the champion sculler, and Towns, the ex-champion, concerning the terms on which another race for the cham•pionshin should take place. It. will te remembered that Stanbury, some years aro, lost the championship to Gaitdaur, who took : it. to America. Towns, at, considerable exoense, went in pursuit of. it, and brought the honour again io Australia. To rcconn him for the expense he stipulated, when making his matclMyit.il Stanbury, that in tho event of his being .beaten, he should receive 75 per cent, of the takings on the- steamers wliich followed the raco. He was beaten, and now, wlion he seeks a return match, Stanbury demands 75 per cent, of the steamer money, whether successful or defeated. Towns demurs, and an attempt is mado to make it appear that he is unsportsmanlike. The only weak spot in Towns's cass i 9 that he had already rowed Tresiddir ;oi- the championship, and had gained the stakes and his part of the steamer money, which should have been sufficient set off against, the expenses of his American trip, and he should "not have demanded more than the usual terms in his first toco with Stanbury; but bo that as it mav, Stanbury has. been put to nn expense for a race, no lie might have if Towns had stipulated for a match in England or America, and he has hardly the right Towns' had to demand 75 per cent, in the event of defeat, and certainly not in either event. Towns invites the other side io allow the New South Wales Association to arbitrate in the matter.