ROWING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XVII, 24 April 1897, Page 509

ROWING.

Many feminine hearts sank (figuratively) with disappointment on Saturday, when the morning broke cold, gusty, and 'threatening, and it apoeared probable that the great whaleboat race would have to be postponed. About mid-day, however, the clouds disappeared, and the wind lulled somewhat, so it was decided to row the race. The sea was too choppy in the open harbour, so the ‘ Osprey,’ with about 150 people on board, steamed to Kohimarama, where the water was comparatively smooth. A course of about three-quarters of a mile was arranged upon . and the starter. Mr S. E Hughes (who also acted asjudge),soon got the ladies away to a splendid start. The Waitara ladies opened out most vigorously, and gained quite a quarter of a length in the first half-dozen strokes. Auckland settled down to steady work, and pulling faultlessly, prevented an increase of their opponents’ lead. Waitara reached tbe mark boat first, but took too short a turn, and so lost a great deal of way ; the Auckland coxswain, taking a wide sweep round the mark-boat, kept way on all the time, and when the boats straightened their course for the home pull it was seen that Auckland were about six feet ahead. A grand and plucky race ensued from this out, and it was not till within 150 yards of the winning* post that Auckland were able to increase their lead. Condition told its tale, and the home crew, rowing the same vigorous stroke, passed the judge a length to tbe good. The excitement among the people on the ’ Osprev ’ was intense, and all were surprised at the plucky and able contest they had witnessed. It was hard luck for the visitors, but I fancy they would not have been beaten bv so much—if at all—if they had rounded the mark boat with a long turn. Mr W. Cossar acted as umpire, and Mr Mercer kindly lent his steam launch, ‘Beatrice,’ for the occasion. Appended are the crews: Auckland: — Miss A. Smith (stroke), Miss M. Evers (4). Miss Gretta Evers (3), Miss Nellie Ruth (2), May Evitt (bow), G. Moore (cox). Taranaki :—Miss Eva Tatton (stroke), Miss Blanche Tatton (4), Miss Stuart (3), MrsSoffe(2), Miss Bella Nicholls (bow) At a large meeting of rowing men held in Melbourne last week, it was resolve.! to sent an eight-oar crew to compete at Henley in July. A deputation from the New Zealand Rowing Association waited on the Premier on Friday afternoon, urging the removal of the duty of oars. They had, so Mr W. H. Field, the spokesman, said, no desire to go outside while the article manufactured in the colony was equal

to the imported, but at present it was not so, snd the duty of 2v per cent, militated against the encouragement of athletic sport. Mr A. G. Johnson, Chairman of the New Zealand Rowing Council, urged that if the dutv was removed from oars so should that on the raw material for oars and boat building purposes. Upwards of forty clubs were affiliated to the New Zealand Rowing Association with a membership ranging up to over 300, therefore the question was one which interested a very large portion of the community. Mr Scddon, in replying, said that they could not expect a definite leply to day, as a question of public policy was involved. It was necessary that the fullest information should be obtained from both sides, and he would then consult the Cabinet. The sum involved was not great but the principle had to be considered His sympathy was with the youth of the colony, and every encouragement ought to be offered for physical and mental exercise. The West End Rowing Club wound up their rowing season on Saturday, with an oatiug at Lake Takapuna, but owing to the unfavourable weather the function was poorly attended. G. Stephenson, Harris, Bach, and Sauds won their respective heats in the first round, and in the second round Harris and Sands were put out. Steph nsou and Bach then fought out the final, and after a fine race the former won. The crews were as under:—G. Stephenson, J. Hickson, F. M. Shortt, G. Main ; E Carter (cox). Bach, Young, Mills, Bigelow ; D. Hanna (cox). The prizes were trophies presented by Professor Carrollo. Most right-thinking rowing men will hail with satisfaction the proposal to form a Rowing Association for Auckland, which question is to be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday evening, convened by Mr C. C. Dacre. If such an association is formed on a proper basis, there is plenty of scope for its operations. No one can denv that rowing has reached a very peculiar stage in Auckland, and it is time that a properly-constituted governing body was organised. Let the association be a court of final appeal in all matters affecting rowing, and also a court of arbitration in cases of dispute, and there will then be hope that rowing will be elevated to its true place in our catalogue of sports. 1 trust Mr Dacre will meet with the success his efforts deserve. The ninth annual contest for the Eight oared Championship of Victoria took place on the Lower Yarra on March 27th, when three crews, representing the Mercantile, Banks, and Yarra Yarra Clubs took part. Mercantile went to the front shortly after the start, and kept there the remainder of the journey, winning a good race by a length and a half from the Banks’ crew, Yarra Yarra three lengths behind Banks. The time was i~ min 55sec, and the course 3 miles Ito yards. The race carries with it the title of Club Championship of Victoria, and, in addition to the silver medal to each member of the crew, the winning club receives the championship pennant presented by Mr G E. Upward, one of the association s vice-presidents. Constable Stephenson, who is reported as missing in a boat s crew at Nap er, is a brother of Stephenson, the oarsman, now in London. By late files I learn the following particulars relative to the recent Oxford-Cambridge boat race : - The Oxford crew was composed of Whitworth (New) (bow, u s t 3',lb ;G. O. Edwards (New), i2st ;C. K Philips (New,, I2st ',lb; C. D. Burnell (Magdalen). I3«t 1241 b; E R Balfour (University), I3st toll.; R Carr (Magdalen), i 2 st I2lb ; W. E. Crum (New), I2st ; H. Gold (Magdalen) (stroke), list tolb ; H. R. Pechell (Brasenose) (cox), Sst 71b. Cambridge:—D. E. Campbell Muir (Trinity-hall) (bow), list 4lb ; A. S. Bell (Trinity-hall), I2st lib; E. J D. Taylor (Caius), I2st lolb ; B. H. Howell (Trinityhall), ijSt ;W. A. Bieber (Trinty-hall), last 131 b ; D Pennington (Caius), lastS'.lb ; W Dudley Ward (Third Trinity), !2St 6',lb ;W. J. Fernie (Trinity hall) (stroke), list I2lb ;E. C. Hawkins (Caius) (cox), Sst 51b. It will therefore be seen that the aggregate weight of the Oxford was 7'4 lb more than that of Cambridge. The average w eight of the Oxford crew was a shede over last 6lb and as there was only 7 '4 lb difference between the aggregate weights, that would show Cambridge to be less than a pound lighter per man. This was the fifty-fourth race between the Universities, of which number Oxford has won 31 and Cambridge 22, one event resulting in a dead heat. The time of last Saturday’s race was 19mm lasec which is tbe fastest except in 1593, when the course was covered in iSmiu 4?ssc. The year before that it was 19 min 2isec which is tbe next slowest to this year. Last year, just before the race, Cambridge in a trial covered the course in I9min 15-ec, and were made favourites first at sto 4 on, and at the start of the race at 2to 1. The struggle that year was one of the keenest ever known in these races. The Cambridge led for the greater part of the distance, but the rough water at the finish, to which Oxford were more accustomed, enab'ed the dark blues to assume tbe lead in the last mile, and they won bv twofifths of a length