ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23118, 18 February 1937, Page 5

ROWING

By Outrigger

FIXTURES February 27.—New Zealand Rowing Championship Regatta at Akaroa. Easter Saturday. March 27.—Interprovincial Championship Eights Wellington: Queenstown Regatta. EDMOND SHIELD RACE It was fortunate that at least the Edmond Shield Race was got off last Sunday, but the state of the water gave the contest the unfortunate aspect that it barred what seemed to be the best crew from winning The necessity of emptying the Otago boat halfway through the race gave Southland an impossible lead, although Otago made up part of the gap. Otago drew the outside position, and after a good start the crews kept level for the first 50 yards. Underwood, the Otago cox. did good work and put Otago slightly in the lead until the end of the half-mile. Otago, with a stroke of 30 to the minute, kept increasing its lead very slowly from Southland, which stroked 31 _to the minute. When the first mile had been covered, however, it was seen that the Otago boat was slowing up. and the Maroons gradually took the lead. Vallis had to take the unusual course of emptying his boat on a sandbank, and this operation cost the Otago crew the race, as Southland rowed into a lead of 300 yards by the time the local crew was started again. The gap was reduced, however, by hard work on Otago’s part, and Southland won by about 100 yards, having rowed easilv over the final stretch. AKAROA REGATTA The view that one umpire only should be appointed was expressed by members of the Canterbury Rowing Association when a progress report on preparations for the championship regatta to be held on February 27 was received from the Akaroa Regatta Club. It was stated that three umpires had been nominated. After discussion it was decided to suggest to the Akaroa Regatta Club that a senior umpire should be appointed, and that he could be empowered to delegate his duties to junior umpires if necessary. THOSE LONG OARS When the London Rowing Club’s eight competed at the Melbourne Centenary regatta it used the long oars, which are more or less universal in Europe, and the New South Wales Police crew, which carried Australia s banner at Berlin last August, is now using a set of the long oars. In 1 the good old days oars were pretty solid affairs, generally exceeding 12ft in length. Then hollow looms were adopted for lightness’ sake, and the length reduced to lift 10m. The merits of the long oars have been hotly discussed wherever rowing abounds, some rowers insisting that while they give a longer sweep, they increase the work. AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL SCULLING The prospect of a match between Alf Burns and young Evans Paddon for the Australian Sculling Championship, is creating much interest, and should assist the sport considerably (vh-ites ‘Rhythm” in the Sydney Referee). The challenge issued by Paddon has not yet been officially accepted by Burns, but there is little doubt that he will do so. The race may,, take place about the second week in June. According to the articles governing the contests, which were drawn up in this office when the Referee Cup was presented for competition, two months are allowed in which to accept and four months to race. Evans Paddon is 23 years and three months, six feet in height, and weighs at present 13st 71b. He will, therefore, have the advantage in age and about two stone in weight. f Burns, however, has had a lot or match racing, having successfully defended his title on four different occasions, and, incidentally, winning outright the Referee Cup, which adorns his cafe at Evans Head. Both men are familiar with the course. , ~ .. The match should help negotiatmns which are in progress for the bringing out of Bob Pearce for the Sydney celebrations next year. .. How keen is Paddon will be seen from the following letter to the editor of the Referee:— “‘Pentnor.’ Evans Head, January 29. Dear Sir,—There have been no further official developments so far with regard to the challenge. It_ is rumoured ihat Burns will defend his title, but I have an idea that he intends keeping me waiting as long as possible. lam beginning to do a little work in preparation for the Grafton. Maclean, and Woodburn regattas. The Grafton Committee, by the way, is putting on a NS.W. Mile Championship for riggers. - This is quite a good move. The only drawback is a paltry £5 for prize money. As you know, a race of that distance is usually very hard, and a more substantial prize would attract a much better field.” HENLEY ON THAMES REGATTA The ban placed on the competition of manual workers at the Henley on the Thames Regatta is to be removed before the next English rowing season opens. Dominion oarsmen will welcome the withdrawal of this irritating definition which banned all manual workers as professional oarsmen, and. in consequence debarred them from competing at the greatest of English regattas—Henley on the Thames The English rule reads: “An amateur is one who has never been employed on manual labour for money or wages or who is, or has been, by trade or employment for wages, an engineer, an artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any manual duty.” The vefy conception of such a rule is an offence to the Dominion mind Dominion associations —and that means Australia —while forced to bow to the rule, have spurned it and have found ways of circumventing it. However, to the English mind, steeped for centuries in the feudal system, it seemed the correct thing that the village blacksmith should be debarred from competition on an equal basis with the village squire. For a-quarter of a century the rule has withstood the censure of the democratic section of the English press and the English people. The English Henley, however, was traditionally amateur —that is according to the conception of amateurism by the Amateur Rowing Association. In opposition to this viewpoint, the National Amateur Rowing Association grew into the most progressive association in England, both in numbers and in strength. It is as a result of pressure from the N.A.R.A. that the rule is to go. To intending competitors at the English Henley from outside the British Isles the rule has been farcical in its application. When the Australian crew won the Grand Challenge Cup at the 3912 Henley it included several men who, under the English interpretation, were professionals. They were manual workers, but they were naively described as public servants or of some such vocation acceptable to the A.R.A. It was not that the Australians wanted to deceive the English association; they' just did not respect such a law and did not intend to allow it to interfere with their rowing venture. In 1928, when he went to the Olympic Games, Bobbie Pearce was the outstanding sculler in the world, and as such would have liked to contest the Diamond Sculls at Henley. The entry was never made, for at that juncture Pearce was a carpenter, and as such, was not eligible for entry Later, as a representative of a Canadian distillery, he was accepted, and won the title. It is certain, however, that had the New South Wales police crew desired to compete in the Grand Challenge Cup on their way to the Berlin Olvfnuiad their entry would have been rented. Yet the first and second crews in the Grand Challenge Cup Zurich (Switzerland) and Lcander, c-nVpetod with the Australians at the Olympic Games a few weeks later.