ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14457, 25 February 1909, Page 10

ROWING.

Bv Sthoke. KEOATTAS. March 23,-Waihola Kegatta. (0.R.A.). Easier Satiirdoy.—Queenstown Kegatta. Senior oarsmen will now want all tho fine water they can get for practice in the best boats, the local association deciding on Monday evening that senior races are to be rowed in the lighter boats. The decision will most likely curtail tho entries, hut the jssociation are quite right in adhering to thoir decision of a year or two back. Unless our oarsmen race in .best boats at our own regattas they cannot ho expected to do well in championship regattas, where, of course, all senior events • are rowed in best boats. The only mistake the association made was that notice should have been sent to the clubs long ago. It is to bo hoped that this matter has now been finally settled, and that clubs and oarsmen will understand in future th-r.t all senior events are to be in best boats.

Congratulations to the popular president of the local association (Mr F. \V. Mitchell) on his joining the ranks of the Benedicts. Mr Mitchell was the recipient of a presentation from the association on Monday evening. It is now some 22 or 23 years since F. \V. M. joined the Otago Rowing Club, and during that long period lie has always taken a very keen interest in the sport. The writer remembers him as a rather stylish oar in the early nineties, and has had the pleasure of many a row with and against him. Latterly Mr Mitchell has not been seen out on the water much, as he is a busy man. but never too busy to stop a moment ami give his advice or settle some point in rowing matters. He is one of those men who send a club along, and it was only right that both his club and association should meet to do him honour and toast him long life and happiness.

Mr A. E. Gascoigne. the retiring president, was also presented with a souvenir on Monday evening. Mr Gascoigne is taking a rest from rowing for a year or two. What has been said of Mr Mitchell mi-flit well be said of A. E. 0. also, as the latter is one of the original members of the D.A.R.C., and helped to build up the club in its paLmy days. It is to be hoped lis will see his way to still take an active interest in rowing afler his spell.

The l.i.'it fortnight has been a rough one for oarsmen, and little rowing has been indulged in. The North End Club is the only sired which lias chosen crews for Waihola regatta. This week the other clubs will have theirs picked, and tho men will want rj! the work they can get, as ti?M j olippinc roua/i, and some thisa.

weeks only are left until anniversary day. It is rumoured that the successful Union senior crew (Christelutrch) will make tlio trip to YY'aihola and compete in the Ihrco senior events. Should they do so, it will make these races very interesting. A real go should result between the successful northerners and Basstian's sturdy crew in the Fours, whilst a meeting in the Senior Doubio Sculls between M'Grath nnd Priest (cx-clmmpioiis) and Fry and O'Brien (tho present champions) should be worth seenig. The. Iwo I rial crews selected in tho upper and lower harbour have now started I heir raining m earnest, and it is to bo honed hat no more alterations in the crews will nko place rhc trial will not take place mltUlarch 3, „ m) ,t is fo ho row-ed over ho Rttvonsboiirno course, and an interesting race should result.

black. No. a m Olago Club's J lln i or Four and who is recpised as the coming No 3 of this shed, has met with another accident, to his and, which m i gh J prevent hint taking part in tho Wuihola regatta. A fortnight ago ho hurt his h," which prevented his crew moeecrlins fo Invercargill. Ho is ono of the unfortunate ones.

The Otago Club has ordered a new four, oared clinker from Edwards, of Melbourne and hone to have her hero in time for Anniversary regatta.

T. Slone (St. George's, Auckland), who won the Maiden Single Sculls nt the championship regatta on the 15th inst., is not ths same man who later in tho day won tho Champion Senilis. It was C. E. Stone, of the sumo club, who won the "red coat," race.

The position of the crews in tho Champion Fours—i.e., Waiteinala 1. Blonheim 2. Picton 3—was evidently a true criterion of the crews' form, as in tho last race of the day the Auckland Plate (open to senior crews except winners of Champion Fours), Blenheim was first and Picton second. Napier, the only other starter, could have bad the third prize (£4). but did not bother to finish.