Aquatic Notes,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5258, 14 May 1895, Page 4

Aquatic Notes,

TbT JASON IN "CASTTKBBUBT TIMBS.^J Had the Auckland orew been in the centre of the field which started for the Champion Fours, I am convinced — going by the course they steered, which was some lengths farther than any other boat traversed— that ; they would have fought out the finißh with Queen's Drive, and might have won. The announcement from the New Zealand Association with reference to eightoared rowing will, I fancy, come aa a surprise to most rowing men. The circular from the Hon Secretary waß issued rather, too late for me to refer at length to it this week, consequently I must refrain from commenting upon the suggestions contained therein until next week.

I notice in several quarters that persons have been airing their ideas concerning the Picton course. In saying that it is unfair and that the angle of start is incorrect, the assumption is that they know more about laying out a course than the surveyor who performed the work. I have already given my impressions, and the more I think the matter over the more convinced I become that those who have seen the course and spoken against its fairness are deceived by the lay o£ the hills, which do not run parallel with the course as they, evidently seem to think is the case, judging by the comments I have read.

The Bucoeßs of the Seymour orew during the last two seasons has been productive of an increased interest in rowing matters in Blenheim, and I notice that subscriptions are being raised for the purpose of purchasing an outrigger for the Blenheim Club, which, being a small organisation, has not the means at Hb disposal to attain this desirable object. The club has at present only one outrigger, which is an old boat, and moreover was built to carry a light crew, and as the orew which represented the club this year at the Champion Begatta intend to compete again next year, it is natural that their snpporters shonld -wish to have them properly boated. The club also intends to rebuild the shed, and at the same time endeavour to induce. the junior members to train and compete. All this has really come about through holding the regatta at Pioton.

The members of the Queen's Drive Club have been interviewed by the representative of the Danedin Star, and the stroke's version of tho great race is worth reading. It is as follows :— " Tee, we got away well in the race. That was largely the result of 'well directed pr notice in -starting. All strokes like to show their men the backs of their opponents, whose hearts it teats, and raises the hopes of their own men. A stern race is a long race. Snowing the capabilities Of my men, I never have any hesitation in attempting to win from the jump. Moreover, making the pace hot at starting simplifies the matter considerably, by letting you know whom you really have to reckon with. Well, as we had already decided, it was no surprise to us to find that excellent Blenheim crew well up. Their making an effort to gat up to us at the mile nearly lost us the race, for, noticing th's, I increased my stroke (to forty it ib said) so unexpectedly to our cox that he was nearly shot out of tho boat. Finding they could not get oa teum, and feeling by the warm response of my crew that they were in exoellent ' nick,' I eased off to reserve ourselves for a final effort if neces-ary j but, as this was not required, we won the race with a little in hand, our crew being used to train over a three-mile course. The Picton course is perfection. There is no advantage gained by position, and there is no inducement to do otherwise than Bteer a straight course. In class

of boatß generally and stjle of rowing the Northern clubs are decidedly in advance of Otago." It is natural that Yeoman, hallmarked as he is with the atamp of Victorian : experience, and having passed through the hands of the greatest coach that ever handled a crew south of the line — George Upward— should be competent to Bpeak with some authority on the crews engaged. He dealt generally with defects. Baying the grip, the use of the slide, the swiDg, the slow recovery, and shortness of stroke were responsible for much wasted energy and low rate of speed that one would expect from such strapping crews. Much of this ia the outcome of putting men on the slide too soon, when they contract such faults in the swing and me of the stms through having too much to attend to, which would never have taken place if men had been schooled first on a fixed seat. Before New Zealand crews can compete with, Australian more attention must be paid, to form. "By ' form ' rowers mean the management of the body in such a way as to produce the greatest effect with the . least expenditure of energy, with the in* evitable result that speed is produced. Qracef ulnesa is inseparably connected with form, and too often one's own idea of -- beauty in this matter is mistaken for it. A wan may ba a stylish oarsman with defective form, but if he row in form he is •lways'grficeful. The men taking part in the contest were the perfection of physique, and when form becomes second nature to them, and they can knock lOaee oS the record, they can enter the intercolonial contests with fair hopes of success." Both Keenan and Pr it chard hinted that the crew abstained from showing their form when in view of the general public, and that this doubtless prejudiced many ngainßt their chance. For my own part ' I thought the crew rowed in very much the same style in the race as they did in practioe, with the exception, of course, that they rowed a much faster stroke, and pat in more weight. Tho body form and oar work seemed exactly the same as was witnessed in their practioe. Tho following is the reoord of the crew :— First Senior Fonra, Otago annual regatta, 1893 First Senior Fours, Bluff regatta, 1894 .. First Senior I onrb, Otago Mowing Association's regatta, 1894 FiTsS; Senior Fourß, "Waihola resatta, 1894 v First Senior Foutb, Otago annual regatta, 1894 First Senior Fours, Otago Bowing Association's regatta, 1895. • First Champion Foots, Picton, 1895 The Sculling Handicap which was to have^sken place on April 20 on the Fax- ' vamatta has been abandoned. : . Lambert will represent^ New South Wales and Powell Victoria in the race for the single sculling championship at Brisbane on May 18. Slack will be Queensland's representative. Tuesday, April 9, was the fortieth anniversary of the first f culling race in out* riggers rowed in New South Wales (April 9, 1655). The winner was Isaac Howard, and one of the competitors was James JSdwards, the well-known Melbourne boatbuilder, who had very recently arrived in .Sydney from London. One, if not two, Australian scullera (writes "Trident" in the Sydney Mail) are anxious to get away to England. It they go it will be with the intention of making several matches. Oaa man could only expect to get matched with Harding and Sul'ivan, but the other should find several of the second-rate men quite ready to meet him.