ROWING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 64

ROWING.

BY CLIXKKF. The main tojJic of conversation and discussion among the professional icul.ers at the present lime (says “Rigger.” in the Sydney Daily Telegraph) is on the newlyformed Sculling League. Many and divers opinions have been expressed regarding it, and while there have been thousands of suggestions as to what it should do and what powers it should be vested with, bhs fact of its formation has been received with general and unreserved approval. As a medium for the advancement and elevation of the si>ort generally, and an agent for'the fostering and encouraging of sculling, it is viewed in the most favourable light. The two lady scullers, Miss Gertie Lewis and Mrs Wright, who are to race for the Ladies’ Championship of Australia on January 6, are hard at work now getting ready for the event. Each contestant recognises that she will have to do her best- bo boat the other, and consequently taking no ohanoes. Their preparation is assuming tho form of land work as well as in the l.oat&, and such attention is being paid it that there is very little possibility of a disappointment on the day of tho race. Miss Lewis is undefeated so far, but one never knows whr.t will happen in a contest of any sort. Mrs Wright, at anyrate, fully expects to be the conqueror of Miss Lewie. The race will- be rowed .in club skiffs in place of the heavy pleasure boats, and will consequently be faster. “Outrigger,” Victoria's prominent rowing critio, writes:—“The New South Wales Association is not leaving anything undone that would be likely to aid in the carrying out of the project to send a Now South Wales crew to represent AustralaeiA ait the Olymjiiad at Stockholm in July next.’ But it is a difficult task to raise the necessary funds. For many years expressions of public opinion have been heard iij favour of pitting Australasian amateur oarsmen against the best crews of the world, but now that a practical proposal is brought forward it is astonishing to find that financial help from the public is most meagre. The men who form the crew cannot reasonably be expected to do more than they will be called upon to do. , They will not only have to underfake a very formidable task, but they will have to contribute no small amount towards) their expenses in re presenting Australasia. Doubtless the Henley-on-Yarra Committee will see their way to give from the ample funds at their disposal a substantial contribution towards sending the crow, and it ought to bo possible in each of the States to obtain contributions towards the «exjKjnscs. There is no room for State jealousy in tho matter. The crew will represent Australasia, and Australasia should do its part in providing the funds necessary for tho undertaking. It will be no pionio for tho crew. They will have to work hard, and will have a heavy resjxmsibility. This is the first occasion upon which the oarsmen of this part of the world have been afforded an opportunity to test thf ir abilities against the picked crews of, Great Britain, America, and the .Continent, and if the opportunity offered is mheed it will only be because of the lack of public support.” LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP. SYDNEY, Januai-y 7. In a race for the rowing championship of Australia Miss Lewie (the holder of the title) easily defeated Mrs Wright.