ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 693, 18 December 1909, Page 9

ROWING.

(Hγ Meucuby.X

.-; ; ■:■■.■ ' \ ■■■'; : FISTUItES. V. :' .. , January l.—Marlbofough llegatta. January 15.—Wellington • Hegatta. January 24.—Championship Kegatta (Picton). February.—Wanganui itegatta. • February 26.-CBristehurch. Kegatta.

i By the time this appears in print, tho Akaroa'.Rogatta, the first of the season, will bo over,'and, if the ..Press Association is kind, the results will be known locally, it wus scheaulcd for Thursday, too. lato for review this week, as ; far as these notes aro concerned. The list ■ pi'-entriesJbr ! tho various'events will be found interesting,, and .runs as follows:—Senior'Pairs —Akaroa, Union, Canterbury. Youths' Fours :—Akaroa,',Avon (two crews), TJnion, .Timaru, Canterbury,' Chnstchxirch■ Amateurs. Junior Doubles—Lyttelton, Union (two crews). Maiden Fours—Akaroa, ';Avon/ Union, '• Timaru, Canterbury (two crews)', • Christchurch . A.matetos. Senior Doubles—Akaroa, Union. Junior Fours—Union (two crews), Canterbury. Youths'Doubles—Lyttelton,. Cure,'' Akaroa, Avon, •Union,' Chrijtchurch'; Amateurs. Senior. Fours Eytteltoh, Akaroa, Union. Maiden Doubles— Lyttelton, Akaroa,■ Avon, Union;(two.crews); Timaru, Canterbury, Christchurch' Amatours.

/-The Union Club has made a fine entry, having' nb; fewer, than twelve orews nominated for tho nine events. The paucity of- junior fouroared crews is strange. this, event is one of the most popular on any programme,' and-fills accordingly. Tho present case—an entry from only ■ two' of the eight clubs in Canterbury—looks' decidedly. unpromising' for the senior rowing of the future—that is, if, as seems to be the case, the smallness of , the entry, is accounted for by the scarcity-"of junior oarsmen. ' ■The decision of tho Marlborough Association to hold the Championship-Regatta on January 2-t iras well' received ■ locally, and it now only remains for the powers that be to decide upon that date as the most, suitable for the celebration of Wellington's anniversary, to complete the oarsmen's satisfaction. The holiday on Monday would also mean a good deal to the Picton - rowing authorities, as it would permit of tho running of an excursion boat to,the scene of:tho big meeting. Such an arrangement would enable the local crews and, their supporters to make the trip to Picton from Saturday to Monday night without undergoing tho ordeal of "asking off," and, in every way, would be botter for all concerned. : The Wanganui College crew arrived here on Wednesday, but at titfe of writing had not been able to get : out for practice. Tho local lads aro a strong, hefty lot, and are keen .enough, but their rowing is sadly lacking in good form hhd- effectiveness. They ure, however, oxcollentlv boated, having obtained on association" clinker from Greenland this season, but it is doubtful as to whether'this'is a enuse ' for congratulation. The backwardness of tho crew- is to a large measure due to y the fact thoy got into this boat too soon;.. This, of coiirpe, is not only bad for the boat, but also: bad.in the extreme for the young earsmen. Good coaching in the'rudiments of the art of rowing caunot ba imparted from the t cbsswoiu'e 'seat of 'eTen a' clinker racing boat.

Moreover, the pupils orotoo much "occupied in their endeavours to balance such ajjoat to have any timo to spare for tho acquirement of those fine points wliicli are so absolutely necessary to tho equipment of a good oarsman. -II a man can row correctly ho can row in any boat, and, given four sucli men, it only remains to weld them together, and • the "sitof tho lightest boat is only a matter of practice. On the other hand, if tho man cannot iw correctly in tho first place, it is- only retarding his progress, , and nioro than likely nuing him.'with.-filuttS that he may never Ret ml of to put him into a "tender boat. This has been the case witlt tho College crow. 'Had the boys been kept longer on the fixed seats, and in the heavier class of boats, until they had got rid of their elementary faults,; thero is no doubt that they would have been a botter crew to-day. As it is, theso faults have become intensified, and will bo a source of great trouble to next year's coach. i , The present race is the third of the series. Tho first was rowed in Wellington, and was won by the moro experienced -Wanganui boys .easily. Last'year tho local crew made a far bettor showing, <gid were beaten after a.fino struggle by three-quarters of a length only, at Wanganui. This year, with their now boat, :ho Wellingtouians hoped to score a win, but for reasons contained in tho above homily, "Mercury," while wishing them all success, Scarcely dares to hope for it. ■ The double-sculling races of the Star Club has reached the ' acuto st'age.' In tho senior division, there is only the final to be rowed, while : the junior have reached tho semi-final. The Bridge brothers aro' left to battle out tho deciding heat of the seniors,'while .'Bud-, ley, Robieson, Olive, and Armit aro left in the juniors.- The semi-final heat of the higher grade, between D. Bridge, supported by Kerslake, and "Dick Brewer and Robertson proved to be a fine race, Bridge effecting a great snrprise by "downing" the favourites by jusu. under a length. Last season the final of this event lay between the two Bridges, on which /occasion tho younger secured a win, and this season will make the fourth occasion within recent years, that, the race had fallen to one or other of tho. brothers—C. E.. having won it twice, and D. once already/ One of them must win it again this time, and, if "Mercury" were asked to make-a choice, he would, on tho grounds that 'youth will be served," cast his vote for tho younger of the twain. '■ Eoy Brewer, who has, during the,past few seasons, successfully represented the Star Club in the youths and maiden regatta rowing, and who is r now in Napier, was .in town early in tho week. He is noiv rowing in tho bow seat in the Na'pinr Club's senior four,.arid speaks highly of tho standard' of rowing in Napier. His crew, with the - alteration necessary • for his inclusion, is the samo that rowed third in. tho championship event at Mercer last year, and intends making another "bid" for the big event at Picton, and also for the senior race at .Wellington this season. Mr. Brewer also prophesies trouble for competing youths' crews at these regattas at the hands of his new club s representatives in this class. : - • Last week reference was made to tho cabled intelligence 1 that Arnsfc had been invited, to compete against E. Barry on tho Zambesi ltiver for a purse- of J6IOOO, and it was pointed out that such a contest would not interfere with tho holding of the championship title unless Arnst was disposed; to throw it into tho scale. Later news shows that the champion is-willing to risk his title, provided that Barry* puts up tho ,£SOO stake required by tho championship rules, and also that the management guarantees .£250 for his'expenses. . Arnst does not say whether he requires the .£SOO stake to bo in addition to tho ,£IOOO purse, but, if so, he certainly is not modest. in his request.. Such an arrangement, would, mean that, .in the event of a win, he would reap ,£750 (tho winning end of the purse) from the management, .£SOO from Barry, and' ,£250 for expenses —not a, bad haul at all.' Even a loss would provide. ,£SOO-;,£250 from tho purse and .£250 expenses. This sounds too .good to be true, and it is more likely,that the.South Africans will get round the difficulty!)}- putting up £500 for Barry,' getting the Englishman to ohallengo and covering tho money with j!500 for Arnst. This would put the matter in order'.us regards the stake, but, even then, tho. champion would hold the trump card. By virtue or his title, he has the'right to. chooso. tli-o locale;.of tho contest, and, it' he refuses to low on the Zani-' besi unless his terms are agreed to, then ——. In'the mcamvhile,\his intentions have been cabled, and "Dick"' is training in Nelson, and persuading the Nelson folk that they have one of the best stretches of water for rowing, purposes that he has ever seen.