ROWING

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19815, 20 February 1936, Page 13

ROWING

CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA. CANTERBURY OARSMEN. PROVINCIAL EIGHTS CONTEST. (By “Naiad.”) FIXTURES. North Island. February 22—New Zealand Championships, at Wellington. February 29—Mercer Regatta. March 14—Ngaruawahla Regatta. March 21—Auckland Championships. April 11—Interprovincial eight-oar race, at Wanganui. South Island. February 22—Burkes-St. Leonards Regatta. The New Zealand championship regatta this year will be held at Oriental Bay, Wellington, the programme of events having been published previously. A high standard of rowing is assured, and from the enthusiasm of the oarsmen from all parts some close finishes will be witnessed. With remarkable skill and deftness can J. Flynn and B. Sandos propel their oraft through the water. These two men are extremely lit, and have the advantage of having had many previous rows together. From the form they have shown during the last few days crews hoping to defeat them on Saturday at Wellingtotn will have to be possessed of ability above the average. The club’s only other championship entry—the senior * four—under the coaching of A. Ander and I. W. St. Clair, whose experience and knowledge of rowing is (unquestionable, have had instruction from a launch which followed them closely each day on the river. This method is of distinct advantage, as any faults which occur are immediately intimated to the crew by means of a megaphone. In fact, it is regarded as the most effective means of coaching crews. On paper this combination does not look to be so good as last year, but their performances have been well up to standard. Hamilton oarsmen left for Wellington last night. Canterbury Oarsmen. The Canterbury eight-oar championship, held at Stewart’s Gully recently, which was won by the Avon crew, Indicated that although the form of the competing crews generally was of a creditable standard there is much to be desired in this respect. Among the crews taking part in this contest were very few oarsmen of senior class, but F. H. Thompson, F. H. Duggan, C. A. Stiles (Avon), and G. East, of the Canterbury Club, measured up to the highest standards. R. J. Hobbs, well-known Canterbury rowing enthusiast, questioned on this subject, said; “I don’t think Canterbury province has enough oarsmen qualified to form an eight-hour crew to take part in the Interprovincial championship.” Asked to state reasons for the falling off in the standard of rowing in Canterbury, he said: “It is due to a variety of reasons, but mainly because oarsmen do not practise enough, nor do they stay in the sport long enough to reach senior status. Formerly crews would get together as youths and row together until they reached the seniors. To-day, of course, it is unusual for crews to appear in combination for two successive seasons.” Since the majority of senior rowers to-day are reaching the veteran stage the position in Canterbury is far from satisfactory. Too Many Regattas. The trouble with Wellington clubs is that their crews race too often, and do not practise or train nearly enough (says the Dominion). The best practice for the oarsmen is not racing, when style is subordinated to speed, and training is often rough and combination poor. In the schools, colleges and universities at Home, as well as in many of the principal clubs, notably Leander and the London Rowing Club, crews spend half the summer training, often for a single race or series, and there is no doubt that a high standard results. A crew then goes down to the start with its supporters confident that their representatives are at the top of their form. It is better to enter only for two or three races in a season, and win them —or at least put up a fine display—than to have a cut at everything and never attain a really high standard of oarsmanship. Provincial Eights. The Hallyburton-Johnstone. Cup, for the interprovincial eight-oar championship of the Dominion, will be defended on the Wanganui River on Easter Saturday. The crews to take part have not yet been selected, but an announcement will probably be made soon after the Port Nicholson regatta. Could Be Higher. According to the programme for the forthcoming provincial championships to be held at Auckland on March 21, which was announced recently, the total amount of prizemoney is to be only £75, which is the same amount as is to be distributed at the Ngaruawahia regatta, a fixture of far less importance and one where probably much less will be received in entrance fees. The programme of events, with the prize-money avail- i able, is as follows: Youths’ fours, £6 and £l, 2.20 p.m.; single sculls, £5 and £i, 2.40 p.m.; heavy maiden fours, £7 and £2, 3 p.m.; junior eights, £lO and £2, 3.20 p.m.; light maiden fours, £6 and £l, 3.40 p.m.; junior fours (.13. and B.), £8 and £2, 4 p.m.; maiden eights, £lO and £2, 4.20 p.m.; senior foul's, £lO and £2, 4.40 p.m. Elght-oar Problem. Advice has been, received from the Auckland Rowing Association by the Hamilton Club to the effect that the association’s boat will not in future be available for club contests. Certainly where possible clubs should provide their own boats, but the expense of an eight is not within the means of i most of them uC present. This stipulation may have been , made with a view to compelling clubs | which are interested in the ejght-our / to purchase their own plant, thus ‘ giving less financial clubs the use of l the association’s bo^ts. GOOD ENTRIES. Good entries have been received by the Wellington Rowing Association for tlic New Zealand rowing chain- l pionships to be rowed at Wellington

next Saturday. The entries are as follows: Welter Junior Fours—Picton, Aramoho, Arapawa, Wellington, Petone. Champion Single Sculls—Meroer, Waitemata, Wairau, Wellington, Wanganui, Petone, Union. Junior Fours—Picton, Arapawa, Aramoho, Wellington, Star, Petone, Wanganui, Union. N.Z. Champion Fours —Akaroa, Picton, Hamilton, Blenheim, Aramoho, Star, Petone, Wanganui, Union, Clifton. Maiden Fours —Napier, Canterbury, Arapawa, Aramoho, Wellington, Star, Petone 1, Petone 2, Wanganui, Union. Wairau. Junior Single Sculls—Wellington i. Wellington 2, Petone. Junior Pairs—Wellington, Star, Petone, Wanganui, Union. Champion Double Sculls—Mercer, Wellington, Petone, Wanganui, Union. Youths’ Fours—Picton, Canterbury, Wairau, Wellington, Star, Petone, Wanganui, Union. Wellington Plate —Akaroa, Picton, Hamilton, Blenheim, Aramoho, Star, Petone, Wanganui, Union. N.Z. Champion Pairs—Hamilton, Aramoho, Otago, Star, Wanganui. Union (two crews), Clifton. Lightweight Maiden Fours—Napier Wairau, Aramoho, Wellington 1, Wellington 2, Star, Petone, Wanganui, Union. It has been decided that in the event of unfavourable water for the ohampionship events on Saturday these will be rowed at the first suitable opportunity, including Sunday if necessary.