ROWING.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

ROWING.

A SOUND SELECTION. INTERNATIONAL ROWING. CREW FOR EMPIRE GAMES. Rowing circles havo ground for satisfaction in tho turn that events havo taken with rcopsct to Now ZoaiancFo representation at the Empire Games, Canada. Evesyone is familiar with the fact that lack of financial resources lias always been a grave difficulty In the way cf sending New Zealand crews overseas, and It Wc*s a matter for serious regret that this disability prevented tho dispatch of an eight-cared crew to tho last Olympic Gaines, Rowing is Viow being given its chance, and a suooessful display at the Empire Games would certainly encourage the New Zealand 1 public to favour tho cialms of the spei’o to be represented at tho next Olympic Games at Lon Angelos, writes “Stroke” in the Evening Post. The generous spirit in which other forms of athletics have foregone, in

favour of rowing, any claim on the £IOOO provided by Canada towards Ihe expenses of New Zealand’s representatives at the Empire Games, is fully appreciated by oarsmen. It is sportsmanship. 1928 and 1930. Messrs A- D. Bayfield, E. Innes, 11. Ayres, and A. M. Hale were entrusted with a heavy responsibility when they were appointed to select the New j Zealand crew. They had to chdosc from a wide field, and they had hardl} Ihe guide to form that could have been desired. From this point of view the inter-provincial eight-oared race was not altogether satisfactory m that it was not adequately representative of New Zealand rowing, and even when it was supplemented by the performances at the championship regatta there were still men who might have been worthy of inclusion, and who had not been seen in action bv the selectors. However, very !title fault can be found with the preliminary selection. There are two or ? 11 roc surprises, but in the main the men chosen can 'be regarded as fairly ••enrcsonlalivc of New Zealand rowing .| ]t s best. It is interesting to comtb- crew of 1928, which was to have been sent to the- Olympic Games, . •id ibis year’s selection. Th” ! 928 crew wos: C. A. Healey Wmv.m-n. F. Brough (Otago). C. ' S'oV'-is. F. H. Brown. G. A. Styles, y piiiTvan (Gani rebury :. G. St. Dial'' i ■ i i, 1.. Broekcr (Auckland), I F. Mcl.ein (Wellington), and V. M ; :c o n .'Marlborough). The twelve men chosen Ibis year ■ .re: F Brough. L. Fountain, G. B. .iohnnon (Glago), V. Olsson, C. Saunders. .1. McDonald (Marlborough), F. H Thompson, C. F. J. Gilby (Canterbury), G. C. Cooke (Wellington), A. Boss (Auckland), B, Sandos and G. St. Clair (Hamilton). It will be seen that Brough, Gordon. St.. Clair and Olsson are the only members of the 1928 crew who have, again been selected. Several of the j former combination were unavailable i on this occasion, but it is understood (hat L. Brooker, of Auckland, was not in this category, and it came ns a surprise to Wellington oarsmen that he had been passed over in favour of 1 Ross. Basis of Great Grew. Brough's record as a stroke is well known throughout New Zealand, and it is fortunate that he is able to make the trip. The importance of a vigorous man In the stroke seat, with the leadership and Judgment that Brough has proved to be his, cannot be overemphasised; and it is further oause for gratification that Sandos, who in the trial at Auckland demonstrated that he can follow Brough nicely, is also available, Two others whose performances have been outstanding, are St. Clair (stroke side), and Olsson (bow side). The four men already named would form the basis of a powerful crow, and a glance at tho list of New Zealand champions discloses the namo of another of the men under review, namely, G. 0. Coeke, of Wellington,

who, though still a young oarsman, has had a brilliant record in every status of the sportCooke’s selection was confidently expected locally. He has invariably demonstrated his ability to row a very ■ solid race all the way, and he re- ! sembles Brough in an important re- j spcct—he can row a fast stroke with- | out in any way sacrificing his length. I This aspect will probably be one of| the greatest assets of the Empire | Games’ crew. Fountain and Johnston j have, by their display at Auckland, when rowing behind Brough, proved that they can combine effectively in this style, and and others who are' notable for the manner in which Iheir blades arc ripped through the water are Saunders and St. Clair. With such material to work upon, (he coach should have little difficulty in welding together a crew possessing this valuable characteristic, Another important phase of eight-oared row-ing—-and, for that matter, any rowing—is the “recovery,” and Wellington can olaim that its ropresentativi

is a master of this art. It has always! been a pleasure to old oarsmen to oh- ; serve the manner in which Cooke gets his hands away. The South Island Men. The selection of three men from Otago is not surprising in view of the magnifloent victory that province gained in the Inter-provincial race, in fact, it was rather expected that Otago’s representation would have been larger. Brough's inclusion was, 1 of course, certain; and in Fountain and Johnson the selectors have found two others who are worthy to repre-} sent a province that has always held, a high place in rowing. I Thompson, of Canterbury, has per-] formed so well in junior events this season that Ills inclusion in the preliminary selection is fully justified. McDonald, of •Marlborough,, Is a sturdy typo, though his regatta performances tills year have not been convincing. Ho and his brother went down to Thomas and Field, of tho Star Club, in a junior pair raoe at Plcton early in the season, but they wore by no means outclassed. Saunders was disappainting in the champion pairs race in February, but he gave a much more satisfactory exhibition in the eight-oared raoe at Auckland, "it will be interesting to see what

will constitute the selectors final choice; but as they are men m judgment every reliance can be placed, there can be no doubt that they will produce a veryflne crew.