ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20310, 19 January 1928, Page 4

ROWING.

By Outrigger. January 29.-—Hamilton Regatta. February 4—St. Leonard’s Regatta. March 3.—Championship regatta (Wanganui). March 24. —Interprovincial oight-oar race (Wellington). Ravensbourna, Port Chalmers, and Otago Association regattas, date not fixed. April 14. —Queenstown Regatta.

Rowing is at its height on Otago Harbour this season. The reason is not tar to seek. More than ordinary keenness is being shown by all the clubs. Many promising young oarsmen have claimed attention, especially several youths from the Port Chalmers Club, who have rowed into first and second place on more than one occasion since the season opened. Crews from the four Otago clubs are settling down again to trials and general practice work after the holiday regattas. During the past two weeks rowing has been conducted under ideal conditions, and there has been ample opportunity for long excursions on the Upper. Harbour.

At a meeting of the Macandrew’s Bay Regatta Committee on January 14, it was reported that the matter of the formation of a rowing branch in connection with the North-East Harbour Boating Club’s activities had been satisfactorily carried out. A request was made for the regatta committee’s financial assistance, and it was decided that £5 5s be voted to the rowing fund. It was mentioned that two crews were in training.

The following crews have been selected by the North End Club to row in the Vice-president’s Fours, the first heats to commence at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday: F. Eggers, Hurrell, Rodgers, MFarlane; H. Eggers, M'Q.ueen, Anderson, Chapman; Vallis, Livingstone, Clarke, CUReiny; Sutherland, Vorrathj, Brown, Wyman; Duncan, Blagclon; Barton, Dineen; Johnston, Garthwaite, W. Wilson, Davis; Mitchell, Thomson, O’Shea, Mackie: Manson, Wilson, Titchener, MTntosh. F. Eggers will row against H. Eggers, Mux-hell against Manson, Duncan against Sutherland, and ■ Johnston against Vallis.

The heats of the Howlison Cup are to be rowed off on Saturday afternoon, and some close contests should result. Mr L. L. Kircaldy, the veteran member of the Otago Club, is giving the benefit of his experience to the maiden crew, and with this member coaching they should continue to win. There is always room for the older and more experienced members of a club in the imparting of their long years of knowldge at the boathouse. During' the past fortnight the Queen’s Drive Club has been getting in practice in the • eight, in view of the eight-oar races to be held at the end of tile month, but owing to various causes they are not getting out as often as they should. The crew to represent the club is:.F. Wilson (stroke), G. Clark (7), T. Porter (6), N. Monson (5), L. Fountain (4), F. i’rcloar (3), G. Thom (2), D. Matheson (bow). While, training the crew lias found the boat to be rigged a trifle too low for tho harbour, and this is giving the men some trouble to clear the water between strokes, especially as some of the crew have hot yet been able to keep the Water down at the finish of the stroke, but this fault will be remedied by raising the riggers slightly. , The New South Wales Association has advised the council of the New Zealand Association of its inability to say at present whether a crew would visit the Dominion to compete in the championship eights, but it hoped to be able to make the trip. On the evening of January II the Youths’, Maiden, Junior, and Senior Pairs, which were postponed from January 2 on account of bad weather, were decided at Bluff under excellent rowing conditions. The Riverton Club was well to the fore, and won three events, being second in the fourth, adding £l3 2s 6d to its prize money. Awarua came nest with one win and three seconds, adding £9 15s 6d to its winnings. The weather conditions were a decided contrast to those ruling on the day of the regatta, and some excellent rowing was witnessed.At a recent meeting of the Council ot the New Zealand Rowing Association at Wellington, a communication was received from the Wanganui Association advising the unsuitability . an £ ,"? te other than Saturday, March 3, for holding the championship regatta. The council approved that date, and alsci Maich 24 as the date for holding the inter-proym-cial eight-oared championship at WellmgThc executive of the Auckland Rowing Association has’decided to lend the two best-and-best eight-oar boats, owned by the association, to the Hamilton Rowing Club for the purpose of a trial eight race to assist in the selection of the Auckland provincial eight-oar crew that will compete for the Hallybnrtou-Jphnston Cup at Wellington. The crews for this race will be chosen by Mr T. Marshall, the Auckland provincial sole selector. Several New Zealand clubs, including Auckland and Waitemata, are: using.oars with a small hole in the middle of the blade. Stronger suction and a better pull arc said to result. According to Sydney files there are likely to be no overseas visitors competing in New Zealand regattas this season. The New South Wales Rowing Association is doubtful of its ability to send an eirfit in response to New_ Zealand s invitation, and the Sydney University visit seems to be definitely off. It is not likely that Hamilton will put senior crew on the water this year, as at the present time the only senior oarsman taking an active part is the sculler Molesworth. It is rumoured that bandos will be available at an early date, but the prospects of the club having a crew at the championship regatta look remote. Rowers at the Marlborough regatta had even worse water to contend with than was experienced at Akaroa on January o Many boats were swamped. Picton had a great day, gaining three wine and a place in every event. Blenheim did fairly well, gaining one win and many seconds, the same as Star and Wellington Rowing Club. The strong nor’wester caused the postponement of the senior races, and this was a big disappointment to the large crowds of spectators. v

By defeating Major Goodsell at Vancouver recently, H. A. Barry showed extraordinary reversal of form. A few weeks beforehand Ire was badly beaten by Goodsell, 'but this time he reversed the decision by 12 lengths. Goodsell s supporters put his beating down to an injured wrist received in a fall while training. So once again the championship has passed into the Barry family, the previous holder being E. Barry, who defeated Dick Arust on the Thames, a river which the winner had rowed on for many years. The Thames is a very difficult course to row over. The distance is 4J miles. Only twice since 1907 has the title been taken away from either Australia or New Zealand, and in each case it was done by a member of the Barry family. E. Barry won the title from Dick Arnst and IT. A. Barry from the Australian, Major Goodsell.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. The New Zealand championships are at present being much discussed in Wellington and Chrijtchuroh. The question whether they should be rowed on a course affected by the tide is evidently a vexed one. A strong protest is made by a writer in the Christchurch Star, who considers the geographical formation of the country, and the fact that clubs as far north as Auckland and as far south as Invercargill are interested in the championships, the sound and sensible policy, in the general interests of the sport, is to hold the annual championships at as central a position as can be secured, with other considerations such as satisfactory accommodation for boats and crews, etc., also born in mind. There are only two such places available —Wellington and Picton —and both can provide courses which arc as fair as it is humanly possible to get fair courses. One reason for the non-adoption of a central course for championships is the serious proposition, considering that there is practically no “ gate ” attached to rowing, but equally certainly not insurmountable. But, unless one has entirely mistaken the position, the main reason is parochialism. There is existent a most ridiculous feeling that tho chamionships must “go round.” It is about time this was coldly and decisively suppressed, and the general welfare of the sport made the one and only consideration. Now that the New South Wales Association has had the courage to wipe away old ideas for the general weal, perhaps the New Zealand Association will follow the excellent lead.”