ROWING

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 12

ROWING

UJy iIEROBRT.) Rowing enthusiasts who, on account of the closing of , the: boating season, havo lately boon allowing their thoughts to stiay into other channels, havo boon brought back to their allegiance by tho news of the newlyarranged Webb-Arnet match, to bo rowed at WnJiganui, . l Wobb left Akaroa for his homo yesterday week, and intends _ getting down to work right away. Ho will bo assisted by his lato protege, Wihelch, andvhis xild club mate, Joo Green, who served him in a similar capacity for hi 3 last two matches. Arnst is to havo tho services of W. Fogwcll and H. Flojd as hitherto; also thoso of,his brother Jack, tho cyclist. 1 During, the week '"Mercury" had a short but , interesting conversation with Mr. Floyd about vtho "champion' and tho recent match iu AkaroaT; Tho veteran reported that Arnst had not yet started work, as he wae suffering from a badly swollen faco and nock—an outcome of pace-making in connection with his brothor Jack's recent cycling record. It appears that Dick caugh'fc'cold in the oar, and tho neck glands are affooted, consequently tho champion is laid asjdc.for a while. Regarding the Foguell-Wholch match, Mr. Floyd candidly admitted 'that his party had "struck a snag," buV eaid that Fogwell was not at his best on tho* day of tho match. He was stale,'but-not-bo'much so as to cause his party any anxiety;about the result, and his defeat 'came'as'Vstaggorer. His camp, of course,'' sustained, some financial loss, but, as Mr. Floyd remarked, that ie all part of tho gamo, and they' hope to got oven on tho forthcoming hig match.' Tho time for tho race, by, tho,way, was 120 minutes 27 seconds, ;,"■"'.", Tho'season's regattas woro brought to- a close by i the recent; Queenstown -regatta, when, 'owing"to'the'roughness of tho lake on tho Saturday fixe'dj it was found impossible to.get.off any of tho rowing events, tho only riloo" which"'•could bo disposed ot being-tho'iaotor'boat handicap. In consequence tho programme had.to bo postponed untd 'Sunday morning, and at half-past seven, tho. first race was startod—surely a novelty in t regatta raging in New Zealand. Tho water" was still'lumpy, and eventually tho last,two evente-on tno programme were got off on Monday evening. Tho outstanding feature of the'regatta was the defeat of veteran. Jack M'Gr&thj and J. Eorr, in the senior'double sculls, in which they were defeated by JB. C. Bwstian and W. T. Johnston, of tho Invorcargill Club. M'Grath, however,'had his revengo in tho two other BouiorJ races) stroking' tljo winning crews in tho senior fours and pairs. This makes a fino finish to tho veteran's season. Hβ is now over 40 yeare of age, yet on March 23 tho writer saw him put up a performance that must constitute a New Zealand record by stroking tho winning crews in four senior races at the Waihola regatta in tho one afternoon, tho ©vents'boing the inter-provin-cial fours and the senior fours, pairs, and double Bcnlls. Things are booming in tho sculling lino in' New South Wales just at proscnt. , Thoroughgood and Pearce are in active preparation for their match for tho Australian championship; tho South Grafton sculler, J. Mitchell, aas been matcned to row George Day, • who recently defeated F. Ford for a £100 pursoj and Australian files this week bring news that in a match between G. Wray, of tho Hawkesbury Kiver, and A, Haydon.'of Balmain, the latter annexed the stake of £50 a-side "by thrce-quartere of a length, after a splonaid race. ,