ROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 41, 18 February 1932, Page 4

ROWING

ANOMALIES AND FACTS WANGANUI REPRESENTATIVES SELECTION OF THE EIGHT. Writing under the nom de plume of “Onlooker,” a correspondept expresses tho following views in connection with Wanganui’s representative eight-oared crow which is to race at Picton, next month:— That" there would be a number of anomalies in the Wanganui representative eight-oared crew was fully expected prior to the selection. That anomalies exist is indisputable. The omission of E. Gullery as coxswain has caused considerable surprise in local rowing circles. This can be little wondered at. The selection committee, in rejecting Gullery, undoubtedly overlooked a number of facts which, when considered fairly, make their action inconsistent. The Union Club’s cox was evidently passed over because the Union Club was beaten in the Head-of-the-River race. To hold the cox responsible for its defeat was, all things considered, ridiculous. To cross to the Aramoho side in an endeavour to gain better water might have been an error of judgment. But was it sufficient to justify the selectors in rejecting Gullery after he had successfully steered in five other big eight-oared races'? There was no suggestion that the cox disobeyed the stroke’s instructions or steered a course contrary to those instructions Was it consistent to nominate him as cox for the Olympic crew and then reject him as cox of the Wanganui crew because of what was considered to be a mistake? Gullery was the only cox nominated for the Olympic crew and in the light of his qualifications he must have had an excellent chance of being chosen. It would be seen that Wanganui has been deprived of a possible representative at the Games. Have tho selectors considered that Gullery has completed 12 years as an active oarsman for half of which time he has been a stroke oar and notwithstanding a physical handicap, he has put up some sterling performances, winning both club and regatta races. Gullery has had a long experience as a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and incidentally holds tho highest medical qualifications of any ambulance man in Wangaanui. Surely, ability in this direction might be an asset when taken in conjunction with the training of an Olympic crew or even the local representatives. Let it be remembered, too, that Gullery has been a hard worker for his club and the Rowi Association and that he has playe.. ,hc major part in obtaining half of the representative crew’s expenses to Picton. The selectors, in their wisdom, have deprived the crew of the services of a coxswain whose experience and knowledge of rowing and racing tactics and of the Picton course (Gullery lived in Picton for 10 years) are not exceeded by any other coxswain in Wanganui and very few in New Zealand. The omission of A. G. Moss is just as hard to understand. Possessing weight and strength, Moss is a red coat man, who was in the Union Club’s crew which won the Champion Fours and the Stewards’ Challenge Cup in Melbourne in 1928. In fact, his record is not approached by half of the local crew, for be it remembered, he has rowed in many senior races and has never finished out of a place. That he is rowing well as ever was proved at the last Wanganui Regatta. S. Ferron was nominated for a place in the eight and was prepared put in the necessary training. His ability is well known. He has represented Auckland in the International Eights and is a real water man. Wanganui must, indeed, possess some fine oarsmen when men of the calibre of Moss, Ferron and Trail have to stand on the bank, concludes “Onlooker.’’