HAMILTON ROWING.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19117, 30 November 1933, Page 11

HAMILTON ROWING.

WORK ON THE RIVER. CLUB MEMBERS IN TRAINING. PROSPECTS FOR TAURANGIA. (By “Outrigger.") Exactly three. weeks from to-day crews will have completed their training for the Tauranga regatta. The vital question Is, will they be fit enough to produce what is required of them on the day? It y is a fact that crews are more backward than usual for this time of the year, the reason being that unavoidable breaks in training have oocurred, thus tending to retard progress so far as form and ability are concerned, and at the same time being detrimental to the physical condition of the contestants. It cannot be Impressed upon members too much that the chief essentials to success at the early regattas are undoubtedly physical fitness and accurate timing. The steady work that has been indulged in up to v the present Is the correct method to follow when there Is ample time In which to teach all the different phases of rowing, as well as to attain physical fitness, but • It is doubtful whether the new men particularly, and the older hands to a certain degree also, will have sufficient time left at their disposal whereby their objective can be attained by continuing to follow out the present method. This Is a matter that requires the urgent consideration of the Various coaches, all of whom will know the value of fitness over form at the Initial regattas. However, superlative fitness would be of little avail If timing is faulty, and as speeding up the work will mean an Increased rate of striking particular attention will of necessity have to be paid to this important detail. Light Malden Crews. Both light maiden crews aro showing marked Improvement, and while there aro still several very noticeable faults it Is expected that the majority of these will be overcome before long. These crews cannot expect to tow their coaches up and down the course much longer, so thut It is ad the more Important that they pay particular attention while they still possess the opportunity. It is hard [o pick anti choose between them dt present, but the next fortnight should tell its own tale. The heavy maiden and youths’ are much in the same position as Die lights, and it is patently obvious that considerable improvement is require I !o enhance the prospects of success in these olusses. The youths seem

I sure to make up, and It will be sat--' prising If they are not a considerably improved ornw in two weeks’ time. The heavies are a more doubtful quantity, as they have been the greatest sufferers in the matter of training; but as this disability has to a great extent been overoome It is confidently thought that progress will bo very frapid during the next two weeks, by which time it should not be difficult to gauge their prospeots. The maiden pair are going along very well, and as this class of rowing demands perfect understanding and perfect combination the selected crew is not without prospects. The main fault is a tendency to swing back a bit too far —it is not necessary to swing quite so much in pair-oar as in four-oared rowing, but with continued practising this inclination will disappear and a livelier bat will be introduced. The junior pair have not done a great deal of work, and their progress will be watched with interest. The Hope of the Club. The junior four have undergone a fairly solid preparation, and should turn out very fit. Tills crew is (he logical successor to the senior four, and it will be a great disappointment if they do not show up to advantage at Tauranga. The individual members possess every qualification to become champion oarsmen, and at the moment they are the nope of the club. Their individual faults should be easily overcome under the expert coaching of the club captain (Bert Sandos). The first appearance of the seniors caused quite a stir during the weekend, and many were the comments passed as the craok four paddled off downstream. Their return row was eagerly awaited, and it was observed that as a crew they still retain the prowess that has made their name a by-word In rowing circles throughout New Zealand. If they could, and would, put In more time on the river the junior and maiden oarsmen would receive a double benefit in their own endeavours. It is one thing to be told how to row, but another thing altogether to be given frequent demonstrations by men of the calibre of the senior four. Sculling Is again fairly. strong, and whilst it is doubtful whether the present maiden scullers will meet with the success achieved by Lewis ami Hare two 'seasons ago there appears to be fib reason why they should not make their presence felt, unless llicre is some, outstanding opposition. J.L Hare is coaching them and has I hem •sculling along very nicely. Several faults have been successfully checked and steady improvement, Is being maintained. The club is well represented in senior sculling events, both U. W St. Glair and Ues. Hare putting in plenty of solid work in the singles. St. Glair did not sit in a boat lasi I year, but has lost none of the form he displayed prior lo Hie I !LT> championships—if anything, his sculling'

has improved, although he is meeting with some difficulty in clearing, due probably to his rigging being faulty. Hare is sculling really well, and * much Improved from last year. These two also tried themselves out In the double sculls over the weekend, and their work, considering it was their first time together, was a treat to watoh. It will be surprising indeed if they do not prove themselves to be at least the equal of the famous scullers I. W. St. Glair and G. D. Molesworth, who carried off New Zealand honours on two occasions.