Rowing Crews Prepare For Riverton

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 20

Rowing Crews Prepare For Riverton

By

CLINKER

With only 10 days left before the Riverton regatta all clubs are training hard in the hope of obtaining a fair share of the prize-money. Like the Bluff regatta this season, the Boxing Day fixture should be more interesting for the public. By reducing the distance of both senior and junior fours events, it is expected not only that the regatta will be more suitable for the oarsmen, but also that it will draw public support because it will give the latter a better opportunity of viewing these races than in the past. Not only should the finish of these events be more evenly contested; it is expected that the times for the mile and mile and a-quarter respectively will be reduced. Because of the Riverton and Invercargill Clubs not entering senior fours the number of entries in this event will be three, the same as last year. With such a small number of crews in the race it will not be as interesting as perhaps it would have been if each club had had at least one crew entered. As it is with two crews from the Bluff Club and one from the Railway Club it is only a matter of a race between two clubs and not four as it should be. RIVERTON CLUB Training is being continued by the crews of the Riverton Club. The youths are the most consistent, and some interesting trials between the two crews have been seen. On one occasion the B crew slightly overshadowed the A crew which was handicapped by the inclusir .i of a substitute. However, under the supervision of the club’s veteran S. Eade, both of these crews are showing much improvement each row. Although an experienced crew, the maiden combination is not showing the form which is expected of it. There is no doubt that a period of tuition by a capable coach would improve the form of this crew. It is possible that there will yet be a junior crew representing this club. Should this eventuate those who are expected to compete will probably be D. McKay (s), E. Ward, F. Finnie and W. Sanders. Should the stroke of this crew settle down to a steadier swing it should be well up to junior standard. The senior scullers are still training well but it is apparent that both members of the crew are going too deep when pulling the stroke through. With less than a fortnight now before the Riverton fixture it is definitely stated that there will be no senior crew taking the water wearing the green and white colours. TRAINING AT BLUFF With the exception of the youth crew all crews of the Bluff Club have been training consistently during the past week. The junior crew in particular is covering its distance in quite good time. There are still many faults noticeable in this boat, however. Both the bow and No. 2 are pulling away from their oars, No. 3 is spoiling the swing of the boat by being huddled over his oar at the finish of his stroke, and the stroke is inclined to be erratic and continues to pull his oar up to his chin instead of to the bottom of the stomach. The new members in the maiden crew are showing better form and with the exception of their body and blade work they are developing quite a suitable style. For such a heavy weight in the boat the stroke is perhaps a little fast. Time must be given the heavy men to swing in to it. Therefore a slower stroke must be given so that the work of these members will be of advantage. .Unfortunately the youths are still without a coach, and there is no doubt that this lapse is resulting in the lack of keenness displayed by these memBoth senior crews are making the best of the good weather for training,

and some good work is still being done in the early hours by the at present B crew. However, there is yet room for improvement in the style of this crew. For instance, the body work is very irregular. No. 2 is inclined to pull himself up over his oar at the finish of the stroke, the bow man’s slide appears to be out of control and his back is humped up when pulling through the water. The No. 3 man’s shoulders should be thrown back as soon as a grip has been taken of the water and he should endeavour to remain more upright at the finish of the stroke instead of having a hump in his back. Like the No. 2 man the stroke also is inclined to pull himself up to his oar, hence if all these individual faults were rectified there is no doubt that the body work of this crew would look more effective. The A crew is doing most of its training during the latter part of the afternoon. Therefore, at present it may be termed a “dark-horse” crew. Nevertheless “Clinker” has been observant in spite of the unusual hour for training and the determined kick at the finish of the bow man’s stroke is still noticeable. Apart from a few faults, such as the bow and No. 2 not reaching out as far as expected, and the stroke not throwing his shoulders into it, therefore finishing with a hump in his back, this crew will probably surprise those who are judging its form by its performance against the junior crew recently. It is expected that during the week-end the races to decide the A and B crews will be rowed and there is no doubt that

there will be some keen competition. Both clubs in Invercargill have been putting in very good work during the last week. Some crews from, the Invercargill shed have been having some very interesting races among themselves. Judging by thesie performances it is expected that many of the crews from this club should hold strong claims in many events. The senior scullers this season are very keen and may even be seen on the water in the early hours of the morning.

With the exception of the No. 3 man who is apt to shoot his slide work,- the youth crew is rowing exceptionally well. The fitness of this crew should mean a lot towards its success. The inclination to forget the importance of the clearance of the hands at the completion of the stroke is a common fault with the maidens particularly. When this heavy crew has remedied this fault the increased run on the boat will be very noticeable.

An alteration has been made in the Railway seniors, A. Campbell taking up the No. 2 seat, which was vacated by W. Little who has replaced R. Sutton in the stroke seat.

With so much extra weight now in the boat no time should be lost by these members in getting in the boatwork, because with such a heavy man included at such a late date the success of the crew will depend entirely on how fit the members are.

The junior crew has been somewhat irregular with its training. In fact, this crew has been out the least of any crews in the shed. Although the distance for the junior fours event is half a mile less this season than in previous seasons. there is no reason why any crew in this class should not train as well now as probably it would have done for the extra distance. The maiden crews are still somewhat ragged. Leaning out of the boat at the completion of the stroke appears to be a fault with all.