ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15705, 6 March 1913, Page 10

ROWING.

Br Clinker. Rowing men during tho last week have been fortunate in being able to indulge in practico without tho discomfort and dulling effect of the usual nor'-easter. I notice tho D.A.B.C. have picked their orews for the Pair-oar Race, and eorile interesting competition should' eventuate. On paper one or two of the crows appear to be considerably stronger than tho others, but it is well known among rowing men that tho i "certainties" do not always como off. During the rowing of theso club races tho old "has beens" of a elied should; not forget that they can lend valuable assistance, which is muck' appreciated, in judging or starting tho events, and still further by givin" a word of advico to thie younger members. The North End shed is not presenting tho busiest of appearances just now, and it ia timo tho Quoenstown regatta men started to eettlo down in earnest. Doubtless this club, liko all tho others, is seriously handicapped by the military camps now being held. At the Otago shed things havo been very lively, and tho members have enjoyed seeing two and throo heats of the Double (Sculling Eaco rowed every night. Tho pleasing feature of the . race is the form shown by some of this year's novices, particularly Tyrrell, s'liller, MTaggart, and Nettlefold. The way they havo lately handled the sculls has been very pleasing to the officials.

The Queeuatown crews from tho O.R.C. have been picked. The Senior Four which .rowed at Port is unavailable, as Kerr, the etrokd, is training hard for the Champion Sculls at Wellington at Easter. Tho Junior Four, oomposed of Langs Smeaton, Kennelfy, and Hogg, is the best junior combination from tho shed this year, all the members being of the solid, hard-working type, and I to this crew for a good performance. Tho Maidens, now composed of Langston, Potter, Oaffin, and Byrne, ia a craw which, if well coached, will bo heard of. This crew needs the most training of any crew in the shed, so it would be well advised to keep in hard practice. The Youths have ono alteration in tha crews, and I hope to eeo them improve on their last performance. Langston and Ellison, who won tho Maiden, Sculls ait Po<-i will again represent the club, and, allbeinj? well, should notch their sccond win.

No news is yet to hand of the possible entries for Queenstown, but it is to be hoped the oarsmen of Otago and Southland will not forget their hospitable friends at the lakeside township. \ The glowing accounts received from members of tho cluba who go to Queenstown should bo enough to induco all members to make the trip. By all accounts rowing clubs throughout Now Zealand will be well represented at the championships to be held at Wellington on Easter Saturday. Woaiijanui will 6end crews for every race, and the crew that carried off tho New Zealand and Austral-

.•isian Championship in 1910 is making another bid to take tho laurels back to Wanganui.

Tho Championship of Australia seems to be a great bono of contention among tho professionals _ just now. No sooner had Fclton won it than ho was beaten by Paddon, and now Arnsfc produoes the most serious challenge of the lot. One would think that Paddon's supporters would havo looked for some smaller, matches for their nion; but they are the people who know his capabilities, and as he shaped! liko a champion in his recent match, thero is a prospect of some excellent racing" before the real champion is produced. If Pearce challenges when ho returns from his match ,witfc Barry ho will find a tough proposition before him.

Tho North End President's Fours, tho last club race of tho season, is at present in progress. Results to date:—

First Heat.—F. Murch (stroke), R. Knox, A. Leggett, John M'lntosh, 1; W.'Sachtler (stroke), W. Conroy, James M'lntosh, S. Burrell, 2. A 6tabbopnly-contested race all tho way, Murch getting home by a very narrow margin Second Heat.-C. Holland (stroke), T. Smith, G. Dempster, S. Burrell, 1; F. Annan (stroke), C. Purvis, T. Valentine, J. Anderson, 2. Holland jumped away at the start, and maintaining this advantage eventually won a good race by a length.' Tho race will be concluded this week, Murch's crew meeting Wilson's crew, the winners of this race rowing off the final with Holland's crew.

Tho Junior Four (G. S. Wilson, F. Murch, C. Purvis, and R. Knox) intend going to Queenstown, and with that end in Anew have commenced training again. Murcli and Knox will contest tho Maiden Sculls, while Wilson and Murch will comin tho Junior Pairs'. Purvis and Conroy have been entered for the Junior Sculls.

The youths' Four, which showed promiso at the O.R.A. regatta, also intend making the trip,. while efforts- are being made to get the Maiden Four together again. The latter have rowed twice this season, and they should have a very line chance of going one better at Queenstown, providing they go into training at once. The two stump scullers ordered by tho North End Club from Mr George Norton, Wellington, arrived last week, and, judging by the use they are being made of. by tho members, they aro likely to prove a great acquisition io tho club's plant, ■At the last meeting of tho New Sonth Wales Rowing Association, tho winners of tho Grand Challenge Cup -were presented with their winning oars—emblazoned oars that interest oarsmen tho world over. It was 'a pleasant gathering of rowing men, the last scene in conniption with tho great victory tl'.at secured'to Australia tho' blue' ribbon of international rowing, which placed tho Australian style of rowing on a vtfry high pedestal of renown. Unhappily, New Zealand amateur, oarsmen aro debarred from competing in important races in other countries, but tho New Zoaland Amateur Rowing Association is making this question ono' of the first importance, and at a spccial meeting to bo held on March 22 our "amateur" definition, which is tho stumbling block, will bo exhaustively debated. In a circular letter sunt to affiliated clubs, the following appeal® As you are doubtless awaro, undor the existing definition, members of your club, as well as all other clubs in tho Dominion, are ineligible to compete at outsido regattas—that is, regattas held beyond New Zealand—by reason of the fact that professionals in other branches'of athletic sports aro eligible as amateur oarsmen with us, and also because money is competed for. Therefore we, as a whole, are regarded as professionals by other countries, and con- . eequently cannot row thero as amateurs. This ban, we know, is not /altogether merited, because clubs and dure only receive and benefit by tho money prizes won by their crows at regattas. Bi<t thero still remains tho fact that professionals in other 6ports can compete with us at our regattas and be. members of our amateur clubs."