COLLEGIATE ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26303, 7 November 1946, Page 3

COLLEGIATE ROWING

DUNEDIN STILL. LAGGING The secondary schools of the Dominion have for many years been recognised as the training grounds from which the majority of the country’s best athletes and sportsmen merge to take their place in adult competition, but in one respect the secondary schools of Dunedin are lagging behind those in other parts of New Zealand in that no provision is made for the inclusion of rowing in the schools’ sports syllabuses. This is not the result of inability on the part of the school authorities to obtain the use of the necessary plant, because the Otago Rowing Association has placed before the college governing bodies proposals by several local rowing clubs to allow secondary school boys the use of their boats and gear in an endeavour to foster an interest in the sport. These proposals, however, have so far been received with a marked lack of enthusiasm on the part of the administrators of the schools, who have averred that the summer sports syllabus already makes sufficient demands upon the time of pupils without the ' inclusion of another sport which will require the boys to travel some distance from the schools before they can take part in it. The Otago Rowing Association has not given up hope that it will eventually be able to persuade the Otago High Schools Board of Governors and the King Edward Technical College Board of Managers, and, through them, the rectors and principals of the schools, that there is much to be gained by the students at their schools if they

are permitted to participate in the sport, and further representations to that end will shortly be made to thp governing bodies. A potent argument in favour of the Otago' Rowing Association’s proposals has been provided in the form of a summarised report on collegiate rowing in other parts of New Zealand which has been prepared by Mr G. Wimsett, the Otago University Rowing Club’s captain, whose interest in secondary school rowing dates from the first participation of Auckland colleges in the sport in 1936. Since-he came to Dunedin to pursue his University studies, Mr Wimsett has been an enthusiastic advocate of secondary school rowing in this city, and in his efforts to secure as much data as possible to place before the local college governors he has communicated with many - secondary schools in the north seeking .information regarding their attitude towards rowing as a regular item on the sporting curricula. The reply received from the principal of the Wanganui ColMr F. A. Gilligan, is worthy of.particular mention, for this college pioneered secondary school rowing in the Dominion. Mr Gilligan states: “ Our experience here is that rowing is a good alternative to cricket for a considerable number, of hoys, that it is practised with enthusiasm, and undoubtedly helps to build up moral and physical stamina.” The Wanganui Collegiate Rowing Club was formed in 1885, and the following year a four, coached. by the headmaster, won a race against the Wanganui Rowing Club. That race has now been an annual event for 60 years, and since 1913, there has been an annual race against Christ’s College. The school uses the plant of the Wanganui Rowing Club, which is a mile from the

school, and except for the loss of a day and a-half for the visit to Christs College every second year, there is no interruption to studies. The Wanganui Technical College has participated in rowing since 1930, using the Union Rowing Club’s plant, and Christ’s College, with its own boats arid plant, puts from 70 to 80 rowers on the water annually, with a large waiting list. , , ■ .. „ Farther north, the Auckland colleges have so strongly supported rowing as a school sport that there is m existence the Auckland Secondary Schools Rowing Association for the control of schoolboy rowing. The Mount Albert Grammar School, the Sacred Heart College the Takapuna Grammar School. Otahuhu Technical High School, and ct Peter’s Christian Brothers’ High School, have included rowing among their sports for a number of years and their principals are unanimous in their support of rowing as a suitable sport preponderance of ’ex-secondary school rowers in the crews which combed successfully at the New Zealand Rowing Championships at Wanganui provided a significant indication of fhe effect on the sport in the North Tsland that has been achieved by the draining of oarsmen in secondai} Phnols g and it is to be hoped that the college authorities in Dunedin will allow themselves to be persuaded to follow the example which has met with such success in the north. tasket challenges jt.. ■ Valley 'no Auckland have _th challenged Canterbury for the £r° ociev Casket. Hutt nominating the* 1 dates November 22 and 23. and / h ,?ckland December 6 and 7- The ’few vcaland Lawn Tennis Association has Hutt the first challenge and ccl si on on the Auckland challenge be made after the first challenge has been played.

OTAGO CRICKETER IN FORM The promising Carisbrook and Otago all-rounder, R. C. Harwood, has had considerable success in service cricket matches in Japan. Playing for the 27th Battalion against Artillery, he assisted to dispose of the Artillery eleven for 93, taking two wickets for 10 runs. The 27th Battalion declared with six wickets down for 260. Harwood being associated in an opening partnership which put on 120 runs. The Carisbrook player scored 79, and then took three wickets for 17 when Artillery were dismissed a second time for 53. He also took three catches. The matches are played on concrete wickets, and Harwood’s scores to date have been 3, 18 not out, 56, 62 (retired), 79, 33, and 68.