ROWING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 883, 8 December 1916, Page 2

ROWING.

THE INTERSCHOOLS' REGATTA. The heats of the inter-schools' boat races will be rowed on Kerr's Reach at 2 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, and the finals at 2.30 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. the next day. The crews taking part in the competition, represent Christ's College, Wanganui Collegiate School, Waitaki and Christchurch Boys' High Schools; and, on, invitation, the president of the Canterbury Rowing Association has appointed the following jeutlemen to officiate during the races: Messrs A. E. Craddoek (starter), F. D. Kesteven (umpire), F. I. Cowlishaw and H. H. Smith (judges), and S. R. Whale (timekeeper). Last year, by prearrangement, the race was rowed on Kerr's Reach, the Christcliureh Boys' High School nominally having choice of course. This year, owing to changes on the staffs of

the various schools, no arrangements were made in advance, but some months ago Waitaki was given the option of choosing the course, and suggested Kerr's Beach as being the most convenient. This suits the two local crews, but the visiting schools unjustly regard the course as handicapping them, forgetful that the river there is 6ft to Bft deep at high tide, and that the drag on all the boats is the same. For this race some central and neutral stretch of water is desirable. Christchurch is central, and Kerr's Reach is practically neutral water, for the local schools are not the first to take a spin there. This reach, with its river road, is wide enough and straight enough to render it eminently suitable for rowing matches; and, by the removal of some of the oceultating willow trees, it could be made to compare quite favourably with the world-famous Henley regatta course.