BOWING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 36

BOWING.

REGATTAS, 1907-8. Akaroa Regatta — December 16 Port Chalmers Regatta — Bosing Day Riverton Regatta — Boxing Day. Westport Regatta— Boxing Day. Lyttelton Regatta — New Year's Day. Bluff Regatta— January 2. Christchurch Regatta — February 15. Invercargill Regatta — February. Ravensbourne Regatta — Februaiy. Otago Regatta — Dat© not fixed. Championship Regatta, fXlapier) — Ma'^ch 23. BY SIXOKP. The Port club-s have at laet made a proper start with their crews for Boxing Day regatta, and the fine water experienced during the week has given J.hem a good start in their training. At the Port shed the Senior Four are putting in some good work. Although very rough, they are very strong and in good fettle, and only want the combination to become a. very good crew. The crew now compriees M'Donald (stroke), Jones (3), Goudie (2), and Anderson (bow). M'Donald and Jones are also going for the Senior Pairs, and are going really well in their best boat. These two will also row in the Youths' Fours, which race they have helped to win the last two years. Should they win it again this year the cup becomes the club's property. This club has secured the services of Sharpe, late of Christchurch Amateur Club, who formed one of the winning crew at the Waihola Championship three or four ye ago. He will most likely row in tn-. Junior Fours and Pairs. The No. 1 Junior crew, who are rowing with good combination, are the same crew that won the Maiden events last year. Having been together for some time, they have got into eaclr other's style quickly, and are now intent on getting into form. They should take some beating. The Maiden crews (two) are formed of mostly new men, who are on the light side, but who are all anxious to learn the art, and even if they should not secure a win at their fhst regatta they will get experience, and will no doubt profit thereby. The Oamaru Club hope to be represented on Boxing Day in the Youth*' Fours, and al«o in the Maiden and Junior Fours. I have not heard their personnel /et, but believe both crews (the one crew going for Maiden and Junior races) are getting into 6p|endid form. It is always noticeable that tins club's crews are invariably in good form. Whether it is because they aro a young club or not, I cannot say, but they can certainly show an example to some of the older clubs in this respect.

The Queen's Drive Club are al«o busy. The Senior Four is a good one. composed of P*>rcy, Jones, Shanks, and "White. The two latter are the veterans of the crew. It i« now some years since Shanks has bad a race, and I do not think '"Tommy White has lowed «ince Waihola. 1904. They are to l>e complimented on turning out for their old club onco more. Good luck to them. May they secure a place in the big- race The crew, however, are prettyrough and uneven at piosont, but they ure beinof ably coached, and will no doubt feoon get combination.

Thie club wll aho be -strong- in Maiden P«ir« and Maiden Double Sculls. The Junior Sculls have not quite been decided on yet, the bow man being uncertain. The Maiden Four have made a stari, and are getting out regularly. Although not a big crew, thpv ure fairly strong, and intend making: the pace hot on race day. The Dunedin Amateur Club's crows aro all training well, some of them c\en doin« morning work. The crew most advanced in this shed in its training- is the Maiden ffulling crew (Mahoney and Hui chines), who are scullintr well. Of the Youths' crew* I like O'Dmcoll's best. They are four big, strong youths, Bnd can '•hift the boar when tb<*v like. I hear, however, that No. 3 will drop out, and his seat will have to he filled at once. .Slight's crew (Xo. 2 Foutht') T noticed out the other day. They *ant to drive th< ir stroke tlironfrh harder. Stroke is a great offender in thi- i^^pe^t He -"ciin to ealch and then fa-" off If lie does not diive hard ri^hr fi<un i!>e catoli the other men will not Miih'/hf- > V Maid-") Four are putting in iU.i.G j^oj v, oik, md getting into jrc-d

1 nick. Q'Suliivan and Oonroy, who won the Maiden Sculls last year, and who are now training for the Junior Sculls, are rowing as well as ever, and should make a good showing. The North End crews have started afresh 1 , now that the carnival is over, but I have i not been able to catch many of their crews out yet except the Seniors, who are rowing i very nicely now under their able coaoh. I By-the-bye, I noticed a crew from this ' shed, who were in one of their new clinker? fours, going ashore down the bay. This should not be allowed, as new boats will not stand that sort of thing long, arxl there was no necessity for 6O doing. Most , v of the other olubs prohibit crews leaving 1 the lighter boats except at a proper etagi ing ; and a very good rule it is too. £ ' think the N.E.8.0. might \>llow their example as regards the rule.