ROWING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21188, 8 November 1938, Page 8

ROWING

Elementary Fours Comment On Event (By “Seas”) In the final of the Elementary Fours R. Stirling (s), L. Lyttle, R. Barnes. R. McDonald defeated J. Lennon (s), R. O’Connor, E. Hunter J. McKinnon by 11 lengths. The winning crew was officially drawn as R. McDonald’s who appears to have thought the best place for himself was in the bow. In this position one could see exactly what the various members were doing though it would not be the best of places to control the stroke of the crew if he was giving the wrong time for choppy lifting water or dead flat, or if he was killing the crew before the finishing post. It is

a good move for the stroke to take the bow seat once a week to check the crew over. R. Stirling who stroked McDonald’s crew to victory did very well, putting plenty of vim into his work. He held his slide well, took a good catch, swung back well but did not finish correctly. Watch your shoulders and that swinging around the oar. L. Lyttle did his share to pull the boat home. Learn to roll the oar, don’t flick it over just before the catch. R. Barnes stuck to the quick stroke of his crew well. It is well for strokes who are not so tall to remember that it is harder for tall men to row quickly than for shorter men and if they expect the best from the tall boys then the quick short stroke should not be overdone. Members should note that the winning crew jumped a half length advantage in their three starts. There is something to find out here. Perhaps McDonald has brought up a new start from Southland where I understand he rowed senior for Awarua (Bluff). In the final to my way of thinking Lennon made a mistake in not rowing a quick stroke outside, though perhaps he was banking on a flying finish like he put up in the semi-final to beat Ramsay by a canvas. ( Without a doubt the Ramsay-Lennon heat was the best of the heats from a spectator’s point of view. Of the new members P. Campbell leads the way. He was in Ramsay’s crew and pulled like an old-timer. J. Hooke is doing well. E. Hunter is coming along nicely. He just wants to sit up straight. Scott is keen, in fact a more promising lot of new members would be hard to find.

. It is hard luck for the three boys who are laid up, S. O’Hara and J. Lyttle who have the measles and E. Crisp has an injured foot. Word has come through that both Union (Christchurch) and Oamaru will be here for opening day next Saturday. This will add interest to the opening especially as both are sending crews to race.