ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 5

ROWING

By Outrigger

OTAGO ROWING CLUB As Cliff Johnson is at present unable to attend training, the Otago Club's Senior Four has had to use a substitute in the meantime. Paul Vallis and Charles Couchman are going out in the pair just now, but it will take a month of solid training to get them fit. The absence of a Christmas regatta is a hard blow to rowers. Coaches for the various crews are required urgently. R. Marshall is not altogether at home stroking the Junior Four, and the assistance of a coach would greatly help this young oarsmen to keep hold of the older men behind him. Christmas greetings have been conveyed to the members of the club from the president and members of the Albert Park Rowing Club, Melbourne. PORT CHALMERS CLUB The following Port Chalmers crews have been selected to train for the Dunedin regatta on January 21:— Senior Fours.—G. Mitchell (str), J Wheeler (3), A. Alcock (2), J. Abetnethy (bow). Junior Fours.—R. Hill (str.), H. Robinson (3). J. Hoskins (2), E. Hill (bow). Maiden Fours.—G. Hoskins (str.), H. Robinson (3), J. Hoskins (2), R. Underwood (bow). Youth Fours.—L. Nelson (str.), W. Simpson (3), J. Docherty (2), A. Caldwell (bow); J. Nelson (str.), P. Wheeler (3). E. Goudie (2). H. Reeves (bow). Novice Fours.—J. Nelson (str.), P. Wheeler (3), E. Goudie (2), H. Reeves (bow). Senior Pairs.—G. Mitchell, J. Abernethy; A. Alcock, J. Wheeler. Junior Pairs.—R. Hill, E. Hill. Maiden Pairs.—J. Hoskins, H. Robinson. Youth Pairs.—L. Nelson, W. Simpson; J. Docherty, A. Caldwell. Senior Single Scull.—G. Mitchell. Junior Single Scull.—A. Alcock. Maiden Single Scull.—G. Hoskins. Maiden Double.—R. Hill, E. Hill. Last Saturday the President Fours were rowed. Despite the fact that a few members were working, the three following crews took to the water:—G. Mitchell (str.), W. Simpson (3), E. Goudie (2), A. Reeves (bow); A. Alcock (str.), H. Robinson (3), J. Nelson (2), P. Wheeler (bow); and A. Caldwell (str.). J. Wheeler (3). J. Hoskins (2), O. Glengarry (bow). The first race, between Mitchell's crew and Alcock's crew, resulted in a win for the former crew by a length after they had rowed particularly level for the greater part of the course. The final race, between Mitchell's and Caldwell's crews, resulted in a win for Mitchell's crew by a canvas after a great struggle all the way. NORTH END CLUB The North End Rowing Club has selected the following crews, which are now in training, for the regatta on January 21:— Senior Fours.—J. Saunders. D. McCallum. J. Grubb, F. Eggers. Junior Fours.—B. Anderson, D. Robins. D. Poynter, C. Butterfleld. Youths' Fours.—F. Hodge. F. Canny, D. Connor. J. Spence. Senior Pairs.—J. Grubb. D. McCallum. Junior Pairs.—B. Anderson. D. Robins. Maiden Pairs.—W. Clark, S. Grubb. Youths' Pairs.—F. Hodge, F. Canny. Junior Double Sculls.—B. Anderson, D. Robins. Maiden Double Sculls—C. Butterfield. A. Rawlings. Senior Single Sculls.—F. Eggers. Junior Single Scu'lls—D, Robins. Maiden Single Sculls.—J. Grubb. These crews are, of course, subject to alteration. Although hampered by the unpleasant water conditions, the senior four has been out on the water at every opportunity. The crew is stroked by J. Saunders, an ex-Invercargill Railway oarsman, who has a splendid record in Southland and Otago regattas. The junior four will not be starting at the Dunedin regatta owing to D. Robins being not available and R. Poynter leaving Dunedin to take up a position in Wellington. The youths' four is the same as last year, and should, with attention to, training and proper coaching, develop into a good crew. With the departure of R. Poynter the club will have a hard job to fill his place, as he is developing into a fine oarsman and should be a distinct gain to any Wellington club should he decide to join up. Besides being an oarsman,, he is a. pilot in the Civil Air Force. DEFINITIONS The following definitions may be useful to those who have found the classification of different classes of oarsmen confusing:— Youth.—A youth oarsman is one who has not attained the age of ,21 years on the advertised date of any rowing race at a regatta. A youth sculler is defined under the same conditions as a youth oarsman. Maiden.—A maiden oarsman is one who has never won a senior or junior rowing race, and who has never won a maiden rowing race before the first day of October preceding the 'regatta, other than races limited to members of one club. This is also the case with a maiden sculler. Junior. —A junior oarsman is one who has never won any senior rowing race, and who has not won a junior rowing race in more than one season before the first day of October preceding the regatta, other than races limited to the members of one club. The same conditions have to be adhered to by a junior sculler. There are also other classes, namely—light-weight maiden and wel-ter-weight junior. These alSo have their definitions. Where the word "season" appears, it"is deemed to be the period of time between September 30 of any one year and October 1 of the next year. Once a member has reached the | stage of senior oarsman or sculler, he : continues to compete in that clsas. ROWING SHORTS The Wellington Association has signified its intention of being represented in the Interprovincial Eights at Easter. Because of the steady falling off in the number of members and lack of keenness on the part of present members, the Railway Club is in a desperate position. It is almost certain that there will be no crews representing this club at the Riverton and Bluff regattas. Like the other club members Riverton oarsmen are putting in some good work and most of the crews are becoming very fit. Bad luck seems to be dogging this club. The youth scullers have again damaged their boat by striking a rock while rowing over the new wall at high tide. A southerly wind necessitated the holding of the Mothes Shield regatta at Wellington on the town course last Saturday. Conditions were far from favourable. The water over the greater part of the course was choppy, and called for careful watermanship from the crews. Wellington won the regatta with 25 points. Petone gained 24 points, and Star 22. C. A. Healey, the Union (Wanganui) club captain, is to take a seat in the club's eight this season, probably as stroke, although the allocation of the seats has not been finalised. Healey is one of the most successful strokes in New Zealand and his rowing record makes fine reading. He has not participated in the sport actively during the past two seasons and has devoted his time to the training of novices and regatta crews. The decision of Clarry Healey to return to active rowing this season will cause much discussion among rowing clubs Although he has done little rowing during the last two seasons, Healey is one of the fittest men on the river today. With six weeks' solid training he will be in tip-top condition for the New Zealand championships at Picton next Easter.

An interesting letter has been received from an oarsman in Italy by the Otago Rowing Club. The writer stales that he has been champion sculler of Europe and can row any kind of boat. He would be pleased to come to New Zealand, and if it were nossible to find employment in Dun-

edin would be pleased to join the club, being sure he " will be of some utility to your association." His trade, he adds, is that of a glass-blower, but he would be willing to adopt any other. He can speak French correctly. The letter, which is in Italian, was addressed to " Circolo Nautic, Canottieri. Dunedin. Nuovo Zelanda."