ROWING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16827, 14 December 1928, Page 3

ROWING

KEGATTAS IN VIEW PROSPECTS OF THE CLUBS (Notes by “Slide.") Time flies fast, and it is a little hard to realise that already about one-third of the rowing season is completed. )ct the activities of the 'dub executives in the canvassing of representative prospects indicates that crows will soon he on the rivers training for the annual regattas, which will eventuate probably in March. Two classes of oarsmanship will b'e displayed on the Waipaua River this year, where the L.Y.A. and Neill Shields, for four-oar rowing and single sculling will be competed tor, while double-sculling experts will represent their respective clubs in the annual contests for the Colley and Co. Shield at Wairoa. How will the different clubs fare in these events?

It is too. soon, perhaps, to hazard any comparison of the strength of the three clubs in representative materials, but old hands have been watching with keen interest the performances of views in the club races to date, and it is evident that Gisborne and Wairoa are going to find it hard to match the crews of the Poverty Bay dub in each of tho three shield competitions. One factor which must cause the other institutions some uneasiness is the return of R. J. Patty, veteran representative of the Poverty Bay club, to something like his old form in the fours and sculls, a return which he demonstrated -beyond question last week-end, when the Wairoa club sent crews to Gisborne for a series of friendly races. For many years, and especially since the war, Patty has been the king pin of oarsmen in the district, and the poverty Bay club never did so badly as during' his temporary eclipse, which was occasioned by his transfer to duties which prevented him from getting the training any big man needs. Back on his old job, he is once again head of tile river, and if last Saturday’s form is to be taken as a guide, Poverty Bay can count on winning the senior classes in four-oar, double and single sculling, at the annual regattas. This circumstance is going to trouble the other dubs a

great deal, for the senior event in each competition is worth three points, and represents a big advantage to the dub that can count on winning i(.

Apa.it from the particular oarsman mentioned above, the- standard of watermanship throughout the three dubs appears to be fairly even. Gisborne’s membership includes a number of rather light rowing men. and this will mean a handicap when representative crews are being selected, vet there should be tht‘ makings of three quite satisfactory crews for the four-oar competitions, and fair representation is assured in the other events. A senior four is Gisbonm's great trouble, and has been for years’, owing to the fact that too many of the oarsmen who become sufficiently proficient and possess the necessary physique to stand a two-mile race retire early from active pursuit of the sport. The other (lid's give Gishone's older hands an example of .sustained enthusiasm, for both Poverty Bay and Wairoa are able to comil on the services. For representative events at least, ol men whose experience alone is worth a few extra pounds on the oar. It the Gisborne dub could induce moo like \\ . Lauglands, N. Gedyc, E. R. Ihonias, and E. Ilankey to' take up training again, there should be no difficulty about putting out a thoroughly tormici able senior four.

There were some old stagers among the Wairoa men who visited Poverty Ray dub last week, and among them. .7. 8. Gilligan, Wairoa's dub captain, stood out as tin enduring oarsman. He raced creditably in several events during the afternoon, and even in the filler races was an opponent to he reckoned with. There were others, too, who will iorm the nucleus of Wairoa’s representation in the official regatta racing, and will take a lot of beating. Poverty Bay has E. Fitzmanricc. T. Hill, and J. Bacon, among their older hands, to carry on the representative honors, and much good material among the less experienced members. Gisborne’s outstanding representative is G. Forbes, who stroked the junior four, and also the senior double, to victory last year. After him comes a big squad of solid oarsmen, whose principal need is more weight. As things stand at present, this group is no better than the corresponding group in either of the other dubs, and it seems likdv Hint the regatta events will be decided by the individual talents and leadership of a mere handful of men from all three clubs.