ROWING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 288, 6 December 1933, Page 4

ROWING NOTES

(B,

"TANIWHA.")

Jury Cup Regatta: December 16. New Plymouth Regatta: January 1. Wanganui Regatta: February 20. Wellington Regatta: February 10. Marlborough (Championship) Re

gatta: February 17. Head-of-the-River Race: February 24 (at 6.45 p.m.). Aulsebrook Cup Regatta: March 3. Interprovincial Race (Wellington): March 31.

With the exception of the Waitara Rogattta, the programme for Wanganui oarsmen is practically complete for the coming season. In the event of the Waitara regatta falling cither on February 24 or March 3, these dates have been fixed tentatively for the, Head-of-the-River Race and the Aulsebrook Cup Regatta respectively. The Wanganui Rowing Association mad e a wise move in mapping out its programme earlier than usual, for clubs know definitely where they stand and arrangements can be made for holding “At Homes” or other functions during the periods intervening regatta racing.

For the third time in succession Wanganui will be competing in the interprovincial eight-oared event to take place at Wellington again this year. It will be the fourth occasion upon which Wanganui has been represented in the race. Until last year the crews were selected from oarsmen in the three clubs, but last year, on the advice of Mr. C. A. Healey, it was decided that the club which won the Head-of-the-River Race should be nominated to represent Wanganui.

What will be the method of selection this year? This depends upon the clubs themselves, and the batter is to be discussed between now and the next meeting of the association, which will probably take place during the second week in January. There was a feeling expressed at the special meeting of the association held last week that the crew should be chosen from the three clubs. Mr. Healey, quite logically, claimed that, although the Upion Club had not won last year, it had got nearer to the front than the other Wanganui crews that had competed, and it was hardly fair to condemn a system on one trial only. He suggested that it might be necessary to allow the club representation system three trials at least before condemning or approving it. Mr. Burrell also referPed to the change of style in the Union Club this year, and suggested that with a mixed crew there would be a great difference in the rowing of th c different representatives.

Looking back to last year, it will be remembered that the following comment was made in these columns after the interprovincial race:— “Judging by reports the Wanganui representatives were inclined to be sluggish and were unable to gain much advantage from a favourable course, sheltered from the wind. For a distance they rowed well but when the pressure was applied thc groundwork for their combination was not sufficient. Onlookers say that the best exhibition of rowing in the local boat was given by A. K. G. Jackson.

“What was Wanganui to learn from the experience of the race? It was outclassed by three better crews and its combination would not stand the acid test. What steps is Wanganui to take in future years in order to win an interprovincial event? It requires a higher standard of oarsmanship and it has got to develop better team work. Mr. Healey’s contention that a club crew can develop better combination than an eight taken from three sheds may appear to have been proved incorrect, but it is possible that a composite crew might have had less cohesion at the critical moment. It is on thc higher standard of rowing and a better class of oarsmen that Wanganui must concentrate.

“When, next season, the Wanganui Association has to decide whether or not it will enter another crew for this race it will have to consider if the experiment of entering a club crew is worth repeating. The chief point which may present itself may be that a club crew does not contain the standard of oarsmen required to win from provincial eights. Otago’s crews docs not belong to any single club; its members come from several. Yet the combination is there. Wanganui’s best course appears to be that she should follow suit, choose the best crew obtainable from the three Wanganui clubs, and give it a long period of training before thc event. Such a procedure might call for some sacrifice on the part of clubs competing in regattas whosp members might bo selected for the eight. The fact that a crow wins the Head-of-the-River Race does not | necessarily mean that it is the best possible eight to be produced by Wanganui, although it may be the best club crew. Whatever the decision next year, it should be made clear as to how the eight is to bo selected and, also how many crews will be allowed to ask for nomination from this centre/’

Jury Cup Regatta crews have now been selected by all three clubs, and after the recent series of club racing they should not take long to work up a combination. It is, of course, impossible to forecast the form of any one crew at the regatta, for there is practically only one, the Union junior four, which is the same as that which competed at last year’s regatta. Thc selectors have also probably made a few experiments, which will be watched with interest on Saturday week and alsc at New Plymouth. Three weeks later the crews are to race at Wanganui.

Thc formation of sub-committees by the association is a move in thc right direction, and one that has been necessary for some time past. By this method each individual member of the association is called upon to take some share of the work of that body, and to use his initiative. Probably the bulk of the work may fall on thc social and novelty committees, and it is upon the members of these bodies that the responsibility of the financial aspect and promotion of public interest respectively will fall. While the social com-

mittCe has much to answer for. it can only be as successful in its efforts as the club members themselves will allow it to be. If memners are apathetic towards the scheme that the committee proposes, then they will have only themselves to blame if, at the end of the season, the association imposes a levy on each of the three clubs in order to make good thc financial position. Not only upon each member of the committee but also upon each club member does a responsibility rest. In Mr. H. Arnold, who has agreed to take over the secretaryship of the social committee, the association has a man upon whom it can depend to make a success of his section of the work. When asked whether he would agree to take over the position, he did so willingly, although he knew it must mean work for him. His answer was, however, ‘‘Although I am not rowing this year, I have had my fun out of the sport and it is only right that I should do something in return.” If there wer others imbued with the same spirit, the association’s work would be easy. With Mr. C. A. Wadman, he should do good work. Air. Wadman is a new man on the association, although his name is well known in rowing circles. H e has already shown ability and willingness to help in the short time he has been a member, and there is every reason to believe that he will fulfil his duties in a capable manner. Mr. V. Clapham. who managed the subsidiary events last year, is also the right man in the right position. He has experience and energy, and has a good committee to assist him. The other committees ar ( » also suitable for the work selected for them, and there is no doubt that they will take their responsibilities seriously. It was. perhaps, not unexpected that the association should reduce its donation money slightly in view of the times. It is only a drop of £7, however, and of that amount £5 has been deducted from the senior fours event. Incidentally, the junior-senior fours, open to all oarsmen who have not won a senior race, is a new departure, and should cater for oarsmen who have hitherto often had to stand on the bank. It is probably the first occasion upon which a race of this class has been held in New Zealand, and is the outcome of a suggestion of Mr. C. A Healey, who states that it is a common fixture at English regattas. It will bo remembered that the welterweight race for juniors (lOst 71b and under) was the outcome of a Wanganui suggestion, and is now being taken up largely throughout the (Dominion. Round the Clubs. Mr. A. C- Norden, chairman of the Auckland Rowing Association executive, and Air. G. T. Wilson, district traffic manager of the New Zealand Railways, negotiated successfully with thc Rotorua Advancement Association for tho staging of a regatta on Lake Rotorua at Ohinemutu on Saturday, January 13, says the New Zealand Herald. Prize money to the extent of £l5O has been guaranteed, and this should prove sufficient to attract crews from all over the North Island. A meeting of th c Auckland Rowing Association executive was held to finalise

arrangements and, if all goes well, a special train will leave Auckland for Rotorua on Friday, January 12. It is proposed also to run a special excursion train from Wellington, while a connection from Wanganui is under consideration. Aramoho Club Alost of tlie Jury Cup regatta crews, selected last week, are to mc seen out on the river every evening. it appears that thc youths, lightweights and Heavyweights could do with a further spell in tnc trophy boats and be given more coaching. Anderson is stroking the No. 1 heavyweight crew and G. Pepper the No. 2. The latter won tho ligntweight event at the championship regatta, but they are not nearly so impressive in their training as they were last year. Pepper is not showing the form of which he is capable, and has developed bad habits, such as jerking at the end of his stroke and finishing with his shoulders hunched and his head down on Ids chest. The youths’ crew might go far with coaching. Stroke appears to have diffi- | culty in getting his hands away. Besides concentrating on correcting faults in his crew, he should also endeavour to eliminate his own. Three is going rather far back, while two requires to watch his slide work. Bow is swinging round in a circle and is rowing deep at the finish. Thc juniors have been doing good slow work. The ciew is going quite nicely. Three would do well to sic up straighter and get his hands away more smartly. Uoxon and Heath are sculling nicely in the doubles, though they appear to bo over-reaching. A shorter and more lively stroke might be more profitable. Stokes is also doing good work in thc singles, although he is inclined to lay too far back at the end of tho stroke. Taking the crews all through, Aramoho should do quite well at the regatta. Non-rcgatta members are competing in tho club fours event, and eight crews have been entered. The Aramoho Club welcomes thc announcement that a junior-senior race will take place at the Wanganui regatta. It has several members who have attained senior status but who have not won a senior race. Wanganui Club. Some interesting racing was seen in the Fitzherbcrt Fours event, held by the Wanganui Club during the weekend. A big factor In a large number of races was the conditions prevailing on thc river, and many strokes used their experience to advantage. This was noticeable in thc final when Clay won from Burrell. Instead of keeping close to the bank and rowing in shallow water as his opponent did, Clay remained in midstream and was aided by the current. Training has commenced for the Jury Cup regatta, and some likely crows have been selected. The maiden double scullers have been seen on thc water, but as yet have no style at all. Stroke is sculling as if he were in a skiff, while bow is pulling short, and is finishing at the perpendicular and pulling with his arms. Rawlc and Afarchant are showing improvement, in the single sculls. Next Tuesday evening a race is to take place between a Wanganui Club eight and a Collegiate eight, and it is anticipated that a good event should be staged. The annual race between the Wanganui youths and the Collegiate four is also du« to take place shortly.