Oarsmen Have Begun Their Season

Southland Times, Issue 23942, 7 October 1939, Page 16

Oarsmen Have Begun Their Season

By

CLINKER

Although conditions for rowing during the past week have been ideal, it is still quite early . yet for this fineweather sport. So far the Riverton and Bluff clubs are the only clubs to have made a start. The shortage of youths at the port club is apparent this season and- by opening early and giving the new members a chance to learn appears to be the only way to overcome the deficiency in this. A glance round the plant belonging to this club indicates that there is a lot of room for improvement On the other hand the plant at the Railway Club is in first-class order, and in complete readiness for opening day. Credit must be given to members of the Railway Club for the many hours of steady work repairing boats and all other equipment preparatory to the coming season. Members of the Riverton Club will find • something new in the placing of their boats in the water. The new site which the club has this season, will do away with a great deal of carrying boats through the mud. No doubt the performances, of Southland oarsmen at last season’s regattas were up to standard, and, it is expected that in view of the centenary regatta at Wellington this season, the'rowing in all classes will be of an even higher standard as all oarsmen are keen to participate at this fixture. The Southland association has been fortunate enough to receive a donation from the Petone (Wellington) Club of two practice pairs. Although there has been some discussion as to which clubs will have the use of these boats, the only arrangement which has yet been decided upon is that the Invercargill Club shall have the first choice. ' . It is hard to say whether it would have been fortunate or unfortunate, but at one stage it was expected that .both boats were going to Stewart Island. However, no matter which clubs receive them, it is to be hoped that a lot of good work will be done in them to the benefit of the sport.