ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 10

ROWING.

Br Stuokk

It ;s now nearly three weeks since tJic opening of tho rowing season, and m far little rowing h,w? been done liy tlic local clubs. This is chicny on account of tho Ixjist-erou.-. weather Jowly. First it is a nor' -raster, ami alien a. sou'-wester, and .unices t.ho weather picks up shortly I am afraid the form shown by t.ho crews in (.tin various clubs' lirsr. races will not be of a verv high standard Tho three town clubs havo each a club race on hand, tho Utiigo Club having two—one for .senior and junior members and one for maidens and novices. For the Walters Fours Kate there are seven crews entered, awl as usual tho crows 011 paper look very even in strength, and it will be a, hard job to pick the ultimate winner. The crews for ' the Mathesou Fours will be selected at once. This club Jias a good many now members, although hardly as many as usual, and will t;o quite as strong as in past yeans at. regattas. Tho club will miss K Hutchison ('who rowed No. t in liwt. year's Senior crew), who intends going to the Old Country to finish engineering studies. "HutchioV plaeo will be hard to lilt, as he-was a ii rat-class oarsman, although still very young, and it is quite recogniscd by his tellow olubmatcs that he had a most, successful rowing onireor before him. However, it. is to be hoped ho will y.g,t.in row for his old club on his return'Jrom the (Jld Country. .Notwithstanding the loss of the above named, >this club will Ihi strong in senior events, and 1 1 should not be surprised to see two good senior fours representing the club at the regattas. In past years this club could never got even one senior crew together, but. tilings are different now. The Queen's Drive officials are going to make a big- effort lo revive the interest of the mem no in this season, unci vow tliat the other clubs are not going to have things all their own way. The veterans Tommy Wright and l'orter are laplaitt and Yicc-eaptain, ;nul the members can dc-pc-'ii-d 011 it ill-,it thcaM wo ex-champions will iiyicet- u-ii-cl coach up somo c.rcw.s which will k'ivc a good acauim of themselves.

The Port Club have started the season, and are now in full swing, practising for Uieir first dub race. This club will make a big effort to retain their position of preinter club of tJie harbour. The gift to the club of a Ixst-ajid-bcst pair by Messrs lUtts and liauehop will prove a decided acquisition to the plant, and with a couplc ot the eltil) s good men in it, thoy dioukl ■nave a biij say jji. I lie senior pair-cur and uouWe-scotling races this year. The D.A.H.C. arc the envy of the O.R.C. just now, when the weather is bad, cspecim the nor'-eastorly wind. It is ruekon«l that in windy weather the Dabs [jot tine water six times to Otcgo's once, and it certainly should pruve a big' fat/lor in I.ie men's Icrm this yew. The chib lws Wit, lout doubt tJie most sheltered spot m ' !io harlxiur. Members are now lrnsv l-iaeiisiug for the first club race (the Trial •tours).

Jlif Jvorth Kikl Cltib have a gocd number of new members, although not quite 11 * 'iiiiny as last year, and are looking forward to bavinffa mure successful year than There will bo no carnival "this time to interfere with the mouthers training. '"*nd a.> tlto plant s in socil order and the committee a kce:i IoC things should go well with the Xert'h-cnders. The club oni.v won cue regatta racc last season.