ROWING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 36

ROWING.

BY STBOKF.

The Boxing Day regatta is now fast approaching, and there remains but a little- over a week for crewSr to put the finishing touches on to their training. Taking* a general look at the crews from the different sheds, it does not seem as if the men have been long together, but as those men who are representing their clubs on Boxing Day have had a good deal of club racing before getting into their regatta crew, it can be taken for granted that they are now in good fettle, and sqme good rowing should be seen on the 26th. At the Port ehed it looks as if the 'men •were taking things rather easily tbjs Tear, And it is to be hoped that the Port boys ere not relying on their successes of last season, because they will avail them nothing. Their famous Youths' crew, which carried off Sir James Mills's Cup, have been out very little, not more than once or twice. They must remember they have a new man in the bow, and althoiigh there are no very strong crews for this race from tho other clubs, still it is possible that Poet might get a surprise, and this they - would not like. The same might also be said of the Junior crew from- this shed. This orew performed well in the Maiden events last year, but this year they will find Junior races a bit harder to win, and they will want all the practice they can get. The Junior Pairs are a tough crew, and should be sure of a place. Their combination should help towards getting them home, they having rowed together now for some time. The Maiden crews do not appear to me to be as 6trong as usual, and will perhaps be a weak 6pot for Port in these events. Still, one never knows how things will go on Regatta Day. The Junior scullers have not done much work yet either, but will no doubt make up for it tiic last w«*k. T,he Senior Pair's No. 1 erew — Liglrtbourne and Jones — have l>een out several times, and are rowing- nicolv together. The No. 2 erew — Glengarry and Collier — have not bc?n out much vet, and will require to sot to at onco if tho\ want to have a chance in th" raa Tin Fours aro rrip'-r well, and oaoh man i- u<MfiriK into srood foiin. Stroke is ,i bit *.'ow ■wiTh his hard*, ar-' *'v> < ill lift !i;- «h<->il<'.->rs quicker. His slide Mir- ,n- r "i'h hn>> a littlp. No 2 -tui kc j -n- n-l roll Hi» left shoulder -diop- i 'r 'i"t c : t,i ■ boat at tbo finish of ■!._ - o\< .ii <1 tin~. of cour-v. !,.jAo^ t'\c '"o't ii 1 ' '. lot It wouM a-°<-r tho prop • -» •>' ;' .- h<ni r> lot if k" would crdea^o 1;'.1 ;'. • > 'Ot out < f thir hail hab:t. I believe on.& or t-.vo cf rl.« iiifiib~- - bave decided to row in the Xava.lt>' crow »g»inst the Pioneers' crew.. Ie is a tick-

lish thing to do, as nowadays it takes very little for an amateur to lose his status. I would not be surprised if a number of the Pioneers' crew would be considered professionals, and if so any amateur who rows against professionals becomes one himself. I would warn the Port boys to get sound advice on this matter before they, comThe Queen's Drive crews are all putting in plenty of work. Their Juniors (Percy s crew) are going well, and getting in some real bard work, which should stand them in good stead on Regatta Day. - I i°? k , to this shed to have most wins m Maiden events this year, as from all accounts they have a large number of maiden oarsmen, and must therefore surelyget _one or two Tood crews from the number. ° The Ota«c* effews hawv been putting ; in plenty of work, and most of them are in fairly good fettle. This club haa two crews for each race, an i' this week the selected crew Tare rowing off for boats. Last week the two. Senior crews .had a two-mile race when the representative crew of last year was cheated rather easily by the hasbeens," who surprised everyone by P^tinnjr up a R ocd performance. The No 2 crew however, are training harder than ever with a view to upsetting things on Boxing Day The No. 1 crew are also making the" most of their chances of Retting some good spins, and they will want it all, as some of the crew are far from fit vet. The best-trained crew in this shed at present are Dodgshun's Junior Four who are putting in a vast amount of . work, which I am sure, will stand them in good etead next week. The men are very keen, and my only fear is that they may be overdoing it, as I said a week or two ago. They are not a big crew, and want to t«un tudiciouslv, and ease up a bit if they feel hey have had enough. Their *york in the boat is also very clean, and their combination one of the best in the shed. The No. 2 Junior Four has been uniortunate. First, bow was indisposed, and now No. 3 has dislocated two of his finger^ They have not been out for a week, and will* have to put in some extra «««*«« week if they hope to be upsides with their rival crew. , The Manden scullers (No. 1 crew) are sculling nicely. They should now put in plenty of sprint work, as they will have the benefit of a flood tide at Port, apd they will not want to be too slow with tn<» etroke. Bow should feed up now, and come up strong on Regatta Duj. To my mind theirs is the best chance Ihw club has in the Maiden, events. Seelye and Littlcjohn (Xo. 2 crew) are very late in starting, and must start sprint work straight away if they want to do anything. They are a bit light, but should not be long in getting into form. What they want is combination and pace. Bow is a new ohum at the game, and should be coached at once, otherwise he cannot be expected to do much when the regatta is co close. The association have done the right thing- for once in deciding to pick a Port crew against a Dunedin crew with 6. view of deciding which ie the best to represent Otago again* Southland. Mr Frank Kee-na-n will select the Port crew and Mx O. E. Statham the Dunedin crew. Next week the final torches to - the crews' train in# should give a good itjea as to who will prove favourites for Boxing Day. In the event of the Blenheim crew (present holders of the New' Zealand Championship Fours) winning this qvent at the next "New Zealand championship regatta, to be held at Auckland in February, they are desirous of sending the crew to Australia to confpete in an int«r- State fouroar event. The crew is a good one, and all are total abstainers and non -smokers The stroke is 37 years old and a rolative of Tom Sullivan, ex-champion of Ei-gland ; the other three arc colts 26 and 28 years of age. They ar<? a hardy lot, a- they won. the Senior Fours at Wellington last February, when they had only boon in traininsr 10 days. They won the New Zealand Champion Foura last March in an old boat of 15 years in tire fair timp of llmin 4.7« ec for the two miles vMhouo boin-g extended. TTHKLCH v FOGWELL. WANGANUI. December 9. Whelch this morning notified his backers at Ciirifitchurch accepting FogweiTs challfn"e to tow at Akaroa for a etake of £100. ' •- , '