AQUATIC NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5582, 4 June 1896, Page 4

AQUATIC NOTES.

[By Jason in " Canterbury Times."] The result of the Intercolonial Fomvoar race can only be disappointing to New Zealanders, not so much on account of- the defeat of this colony's representatives, but mainly because the conditions which prevailed were altogether against a fair test. I have repeatedly urged in this column, when dealing with the New Zealand championship events, that all contests of importance should be decided on fairly smooth water, so as to allow of no competitor being placed at a disadvantage; and, seeing the immense interest attached to last Saturday's contest, I think the officials are greatly to be censured for- compelling tho crews to race' over such a wretched course. The report jilluded to one portion of it as a " miniature Bay of Biscay."' As a test the affair was simply a farce, and we are as much in the dark as ever as to the abilities of the New Zealand crew, for it is very evident that they suffered more from the rough water than the Victorians. Though it is quite possible that the latter would win under any conditions, still New Zealanders can only regard the event as most unsatisfactory. While the colony's representatives will doubtless profit by the experience gained from the trip, the New Zealand Association has received but small return for the trouble and expense entailed in sending tho crew to Sydney. • As the delegates at the Sydney conference have not pledged their respective' associations to support their action, it is doubtful if much will result from the business txansacted. lam greatly surprised to find Australian associations supporting such sweeping alterations in the amateur definition, though, at the same time, the action is only what was to be expected from liberal-minded men. If each branch of athletic sport would cater for its own wants and attend to its own business, and not go outside its own sphere, and thus create a list . of exemptions, better results would obtain. It is manifestly unfair^ for rowing associations to make professionals of men who ride, run, swim or otherwise compete for cash. If they will but give the matter fair and impartial thought it must become apparent to them that it is the assumption of an authority they have no right to. Provided a member of a rowing club conforms to the rules of his club and Association he should not be debarred from exercising his other athletic powers in whatsoever direction he chooses. To say he must confine his attention to certain channels is an unwarrantable interference with his liberty. This is the viewtakenbyNew Zealanders, and if any effort is made to alter our presentdefinition in order to fall in lino with the Australian associations, I trust the affiliated clubs will take a very firm stand on the matter. Mr Biss writes from Sydney that there, is a big chance of the Intercolonial Fours being rowed in New Zealand next year. The first eight-oared race held in the colony took place at Port Chalmers on May 25, the competing crews being from the Dunedin Amateur Beating Club. After the last intercolonial oiglit-oared race, rowed at Brisbane a year ago, the New South Wales Eowing Association protested against Victoria being aAvarded the race on the ground that E. E. Dawson, who rowed*bow in the winning crew, was not an amateur, having some three or four years ago competed in a novices' bicycle race for a money prize. The Victorian and Queensland Eowing Associations/however, held he was still an amateur, and the .matter led to a good deal of correspondence between these different bodies. Last month Dawson was . selected by the Victorian Eowing Association to represent the colony in the intercolonial eight-oar and four-oar races. The New South Wales Eowing Association, learning, this, stipulated that he should lay his case before the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association, and abide by its decision, otherwise the mother colony would not compete in the races. He accordingly, made application to the Amateur Athletic Association to be reinstated as an amateur, if in its opinion 'he had forfeited his status as such. The Association met on May 13, and decided that according to its rules ho had lost his status as an amateur, but as some years had elapsed since he raced for money, it was resolved to reinstate liim. The American entries for Henley are — Yale for the Grand Challenge Eights, and W. S. M'Dowell .for the Diamond Sculls. Canada sends E. D. Thompson for the Diamond Sculls, in which he rowed so splendidly last year. The Licensed Victuallers' Gazette says that tho Putney watermen, who " know a bit, and seldom make a mistake, are emphatic in their assertions that Wag Harding will win the championship race. Tlie Little Wonder-has quite recovered from the slight accident to his arm, has wintered well, and is, to use his own words, 'better than ever I was in my life. 1 He looks it, too.' Wag is a Chelsea man. In anticipation of his victory, steps aro being taken to have the bells of that famous old church — Chelsea church — on the embankment, rung in honour of the event." Eeferring to the late Oxford-Cambridge race The Field says •— A new experiment was tried by Cambridge, as they . had twenty-two large bladders, filled with air, stuffed under tho thwarts and in other parts of the boat. The idea was that as they were sure to ship a large amount of water, notwithstanding their boat, like the Oxford boat, was fitted with washboards, bladders would occupy the space which would otherwise be filled with it, and thus they would have air instead of dead weight to carry. This, however, would hardly be the case unless the boat was quite full, for under other circumstances it would merely cause the water taken in to rise higher in the boat. It may possibly have given it more floating power, and the scheme might be worth working out, though at first thoughts •it does not seem of miich value. Ayling and Son, of Vauxhall, supplied the oars, which were fitted with their patent button. They wero of very different builds, those of Oxford being 12ft 2in overall, with 3ft Sin leverage and Gin square blades, while the Cantabs measured 12ft 4in overall, had 3ft B£in leverage and barrel blades, s|in at the ends, and 6£m at the centre. The definition of an amateur, as adopted by the Sydney Ho-tving Conference, allows manual labourers, fishermen and watermen to compete in intercolonial contests as amateurs. . The definition differs from the New Zealand rule in that amateur oarsmen must also be amateurs in all other branches of athletic sports, and that cash prizes must not be offered for competition hv T?.pcrn.t.ta fJrvminittfiPS.