THE WATERWAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10301, 4 November 1911, Page 6

THE WATERWAY.

* ON AND OFF THE RIVER. (By JASON.) COMING REGATTAS. December la—Akaroa. January 1 •—Lyttelton. January 3—Bluff. A meeting of those interested in tho continuance of the Kaiapoi Regatta was held in the Council Chambers, Kaiapoi, on Monday evening last. Mr 11. Wylie was voted to the chair. Owing to the poor attendance of the public, it wa.s resolved to adjourn the meeting until a later date. The Bluff Harbour Annual Regatta will tako place on Tuesday. January 2, 1912. The preliminary programme has just been issued, particulars of the rowing events being as follows: — Maiden double sculling outrigged clinker race, youths' four-oared, outrigged clinker race, maiden four-oared outrigged clinker race, junior fouroared outriggcd clinker race, youths' pair-oared out-rigged clinker race, maiden pair-oared outrigged clinker nice, senior four-oared outrigged clinker race, junior pair-oared outrigged clinker race-, senior pair-oared outrigged clinker race and junior double sculling outrigged clinker race. Over £203 in prize money will be offered at this regatta. Tho form shown by several of the crews in training for the Union Rowing Club's " life members' " double sculls is of a, liigh order; unfortunately, however, a few have contracted some bad faults, which might possibly be remedied if a little coaching wore given them. 'The style of several competing would not be tolerated in' any regatta crew, but if they are taken in hand in time some good material might be discovered. It is for tho older members to tako these crews in hand, and now that the President's Cup fours are concluded, it behoves those members to place their services at the disposal of tho sculling crews. The club fours of the Avon Rowing Club were decided on Monday and Tuesday nights. In the heats the following crows wore winners after severe struggles:-—Agassi z, Woods, Fischer and Armitage, and Detmer,' Newman, Hule and Woods. In the final the former crew wa* victorious after a fine race. The club's final pairs have also been voiy successful, and new talent lias been discovered, which mav bring credit to the club if thoroughly coached.

Last week I mentioned that the Ly ttelton Regatta Committee intended to reduce tho prize money for senior events from £l2 and £3 to £lO and £2 owing to tho poor entries previously received by them in this class. The Akaroa Regatta Club is taking a more drastic step in the matter. This year, owing to the state of their finances and- the poor support accorded by clubs, it has been decided to delete the three senior events from the programme altogether, thus reducing the number of races at their regatta from nine to six. Last year Akaroa and Union were the only competitors in the Seniors.

A large gathering of members and frionds took place at the Avon Boathouse on Wednesday evening. The function took the form of a progressive euchre and dance tended to the club by Mr and Mrs Nightingale. The Avon Rowing Club intends to hold a monster bazaar at some early date for the purpose of raising funds for the purchase of new plant/ Tho Canterbury Rowing Club is unfortunate this yoa-r in not being able to secure good coaches for the crews in training for club races. Many of the oarsmen arn developing serious faults that will greatly retard regatta Avork when it is commenced. With such r. complement of coaches as Messrs J. Fuller, F. W. Dunnage, H. Ayers, H. S. Hobbs, J. S. Guthrie and. R. Lake, it should not be necessary for any crows to go out alone. ~lii Parson's crew No. 3 is slipping his slide very badly. No. 2is losing all the '■ catch " by lurching into a huddled position after he has come forward on his slide. He should recover move quickly so as to be well braced and ready to catch immediately the slide stops. "Bow seems to be making very hard work by twisting his shoulders badly when he should be driving ifc through with a perfectly rigid body. Fox's crew has shown considerable improvement, and will take a lot of beating. Fox has lost none of his style, and sets a stroke that gets the best pace out of tho boat, The crew should try to follow him more closely, and also be cleaner with blade work. Cogan's crew has gone all to pieces this week, presumably through lack of coaching. No. 8 must watch tho time and swing more. No. 2 is swinging in at the commencement of the stroke and out at the finish, making the boat roll badly. He should get more lift on at the catch. Bow is letting his slide* go badly at times, and rushing forward too quickly. Stroke should endeavour to break himself of a very bad habit of lurching forward after he has come up on his slide. Farrow's crew is not making verv good progress. Stroke is too slow with his hands, and is inclined to rush his slide. No. 3 doesn't do enough work in the boat, Xo. 2is going deep, sits badly on his slide, and doesn't get the catch. Bow is improving, but is continually missing the catch on account of bis not turning oa-r over as he comes forward. Burns's crow is very rough. Stroke looks out of boat, and consequently does not swing straight. No. 3 is slow in getting his hands awn v. and do<=s not put enough weight on at the catch. No. 2 slips his slide badly, and wants to sit up. Guthrie's crew should race well if they can get fit in time for their race. No. 3 must watch his time and get the catch without spooning the watoi. "

Tim Canterbury Oltib is putting on a double smiling race for members not included in regatta orews, to be rowed at the conclusion of the Trial Pairs nnd President's Fours. This is certainly a step in the right direction, as hitherto no encouragement Las been given to members not picked to i W at regattas. Sculling has been almost a lost art m the C.R.C. for some years am! itf> revival will undoubtedly niateri ally assist the dub. Trophies have, been presented by Messrs C. S. Turner and H. Whitcnmbe.

Tlio programme for the Akaroe Regatta on "December 16 has been published. T notice thn.t the three events for senior crews have been deleted. this appears to be a rery nrbitrarv e--tIO J! 1 " n , the Part of thfi committee as n little history of the senior races at the Akaroa Regatta will .show. For many years the Akaroa Club had v«-y •strong senior crews which wor« very successful in all their races. The defaction of George Welch to the p-oiW stonal ranks was the first step in the decline of the Akaroa, seniors and tlmy have gradually fallen a\vav until this yenr, when it has evidently dawned upon the Akaroa officials that their seniors will be among the also started*. I can see no other reason than this for the non-inclusion of senior rams on the programme. I contend t.hr.t this is not Riving the local seniors n fair deal. For many years the senior crews from Christchurch club.? battle awuv in the rear of_ the victorious Akarjna crews, practically rowin-r onlv in the interests of the sport and to 'make up en trier.. Now when the turn comes for Akaroa to have a lean season they have shown the wb.ite Feather and wiped the event:; for which their eligible men are weak, off the proyramine."'After expectinp a good season it is very mortifyinci tor the local men to have this thrown in their faces as a reward tor their many years of stubborn and 'consistent efforts to keep the flag flying. If, however, a reduction in events is absolutely necessary, well and good, but it is wholly unfair to make a clean sweep of one class of racing. 'Lhe Union, Rowing Club's President's Cup fours were commenced on Wednesday evening, .and concluded last evening. Six ttws?'f acecLtlwi startyr, jpjid

some good racing was witnessed by a large number of s]>ectators. A feature of tho raw was the fine contest between Duggnn's and Wilson's crews in the second heat. On Wednesday tho first and. second heats were rowed. In the first heat. A. Freeman (bow), A. S. Drayton (2), W. Harrison (3), R. Mann Cstroke). met B, Stanley (bow). F. L. Booth (2), L. Mills (3),' A. V. Empson (stroke]. After a good start, Mann gradually drew out, and rowing well to Cowlishaw's, bent- Empson for the. corner. From there to the finish, Mann was not pressed and won comfortably. The second heat hrought out two good crews, L. Wise (bow), R. Adams (2). T. Booth (3), W. DuQgan (stroke) meeting F. G. Clark (bow), E. Dollison (2), H. Dallison (3). G. "Wilson (stroke). At the start both crews got away together. but Wilson gained a- slight lead to Retreat Road Bridge. From there to Cowlishaw's the crows rowed on equal terms, and both crews rounded tho bend level. From there to the finish the result was in doubt—the crews rowing neck and neck throughout. Passing Avon shed, "Wilson's crew livened abit and passed the post winners by two feet. This race was a treat to watch, both crews rowing themselves right cut. The third heat was between E. A. Empson (bow), F. G. Cronin (2), H. I.nvton (3), S. E. Moore (stroke), and H. Tarrant (bow), J. Miles (2), S. Marshall (3), S. Mitchell (stroke). The latter craw got a very poor start, and gave Moore several lenptbs lead, which he held, and rowing easily, won by several lengths. Tho semi-final was rowed on Thursday night, between Mann's and Wilson's crews, and resulted in a win for the former by half a length. Wilson's' crew did not row with the vigour of the previous evening, the race with Duggan having evidently told on them. Mann's crew, however, rowed splendidly and deserved their win. The final between Mann and Moore was rowed off last evenings and resulted in a win for the latter by two lengths. Moore got well away at the start and led throughout.