ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1002, 17 December 1910, Page 12

ROWING.

(By Munonnt.)' January I.—Picton Regatta. January I.—Lyttelton Regatta. February 21.— N.Z. Championship Regatta, Wanganui. In "the Village by the Soa." My Petone correspondent writes to say that rowing has been quiet in tho "village by tho sea" of late owing to the prevailing southerly. This same southerly by the way has been bringing joy to the hearts of the town rowing men, so it would appear that our Petono friends cannot expect much sympathy in this trouble from the two town sheds. However, there is consolation to be found in tho old adage about the ill wind that blows nobody good. The men liavo been going in assiduously for land work to keep themselves in fettle, but, as my correspondent remarks, and as the town men know only too well, this does not make l'or combination in boat work. The club's new best-and-best four has now been fitted with poppet-heads in lieu of swivels, and the regatta crews are only waiting for more favourable water to got into solid work in her. The next olub excitement is the junior fours race, which takes place, weather permitting, to-day.

Star B.C. Senior Fours. Since Inst week's notes were written tho Star Club has fiuislied off its senior fours ovent, and has also disposed ■of the Ladies' Pours—so it will be' seen that the southerly so execrated by tho Petoneite's has been taken full advantage of on the town courses. The final heat of tho Senior Pours, which has been standing over for three weeks, owing to tho absence from town of Miliington, tho bow in Turners crew, was productive of a fine race—chiefly remarkable for a splendid effort on tho part of Wheeler's crew. Three of tho men in Turner's boat—Turner , himself, Alexander, who stroked tho combination, and Abercrombie—had been training hard in their respective • regatta, 'crews over 6ince the postponement of the final, while of tho other crew only Wheeler had been doing' regular work. For this reason it was considered that Turner would not have been seriously troubled, but this very reasonable supposition was not upheld. Turner was troubled and seriously troubled at that. In fact,' had it not been for a substantial lead that he secured right at tho start of the affair. Hid race would. huvo had a different ending. Wheeler' got under way very slowly, and, consequently, had a stern chase all the way. At three-quarters of a milehalf way—Turner was quite two lengths to the good, and ho held this nntil sotoc iwo hundred yards from home. Here Wheeler came with a most, determined spurt, and, at fifty yards from tho post, had drawn level. Hero, however, something Went wrong, his boat suddenly rolled, and he baulked badly. Meauwhilo Turner's men were rowing desperately in the .endeavour to stall off Wheeler's challenge,' and, at the latter's check, he got his nose in front once more.. Wheeler got going again, but it was too late, and a most exciting finish saw Turner l'tin out a winner by a'short half length. The winning crew consisted of Turner, Abercrombie, Alexander, and Millingtoui and the defeated combination was Wheeler, Hunter, Bedford, and Dean. "A Deplorably Damp Occasion." ; The Ladies' Pours' event was rowed off on Saturday in tho pouring rain, and was consequently a deplorably damp occasion. Nino crews were engaged, entailing three heats and a final. Some of the crews engaged. were decidedly good combinations, considering that tho event is purely a ( "scratch" one—that is,- the crews are selected on the night previous, and race without any practice together. Tho winner turned up in W. H. Brewer, who was ably backed up by H. Dean, tho inevitable M'Caw, and E. Nathan. The distinctive, adjective is applied to M'Caw because this' particular oarsman has entered for and won every race that has so far appeared on the programme for which he is eligible without the slightest compunction or regard for his fellow oarsmen. In. fact, it is becoming a habit with him.

How Goes Regatta Work? Itegatta work is being pushed ahead merrily. The Star senior pair has been doing steady work and is shaping well, but has not yet done any rowing in the racing boat as it is not to be a starter in Picton on Boxing Day. The junior four has been doing a lot of work, but the results bave not been commensurate. It is hard to find a reason for this, but it i 3 a fact that sinco the. men have been in the best-and-best boat they have lost a lot of their dash and snap. It is not that they do not sit tho boat well, still there is a decided absenco of lift and life generally. Lawrence is setting a lively stroke but tho fast rate of striking appears to be maintained by the sacrifice of leg drive and a tendency to finish light. The maidens are making' very satisfactory progress and if, rowable weather holds they will take a powor of beating at Picton. They aro not a stylish crow by any means, but are a strong hefty quartet with at least one cardinal virtue •-they certainly get a hard "catch" and solid lift. Tho biggest fault is a decided tendency to cut tho stroke short both fore and aft, and a lack of leg drive. Could the crcw wold a lengthier reach and more drive on to their catch" they would be an exceptionally hot crew in their class. As it is they get "pace" and in a trial spin with tho juniors during tho week had all tho better of tho encounter. The Youths aro likewise in a promising condition.' They still need brightening up with the hands and moro decisive catch and recovery.' Otherwiso the men— or youths—are well together and have good combination in body work. Their leg /work is satisfactory and is improving and altogether this crew looks like giving a good account of itself. Tho College Struggle at Wanganui. Tho following description of the intercollegiate four-oared race between the Wellington and Wanganui College crows, rowed last Moriday, is taken from the Wanganni "Herald." The Wellington boys were again beaten, which shows that tho local crew; must have been a really good one, but it must bo remembered that college rowing here is yet in its infancy. It is only a case of sticking to it, and of giving tho sport the attention it rightly calls for and our boys will get a winning crcw before long at the present rate of progress. The "Herald" account says;— There was a very strong north-westerly wind blowing, and this caused the water to bo very lumpy. A great deal of interest was taken in the contest, and the bank was lined wth spectators, whilo large numbers followed tho race down en bicycles, in cars, and brakes. As the crows paddled up stream they wero each given encouraging cheers, and it was no!«l that all tho boys looked very fit, though the Welliugtonians (whose colours wero black) wero apparently a lighter lot than the locals, who wore white. The start' was

an even one, the visitors being -on the inside, which was tho most sheltered position. There was a lot of splashing in the nasty jobble at tho start, but both crews quickly settled down to their work. It was not long before tho locals began to forgo ahead, but tho Wellingtonians hung on well, and it was not until neiirly half-way that then; Mas daylight between tho. boats. Though tno visitors were sticking to their task well they dropped further astern. Opposite the baths Wanganui wcro over two lengths ahead ami rowing about 3G to tho minute, while the opponents were striking 35. The leaders quickcned up at this stage, and finishing up strongly at nearly 40 to the minute, passed the post winners by nearly five lengths, amidst the cheers of their supporters, the losers also being cheered. The winners rowed with, a fine swing throughout, though the rough water troubled them somewhat. This is. tho fourth race between crews representing these colleges, and the locals have won on all occasions. Mr. T. H. James acted as starter, and Mr. G. Marshall as judge.

Tho Wanganui Collegiate School's crow was composed of C. M. Perry (str.), H. B. Ilindlc (3), C. F. Harrison (2), J. 0. Hives (bow), and P. Munro (cox). The members of the Wellington College crew were as follow:—W. Holmes (str.), • N. Ncilson (3), B. West (2), V. Gallae (bow), and G. P. Clapcotc (cos). Doings Across the Strait.

Regarding training operations and crews at Picton and Blenuoiiu for the New Sfear Eegatta, a correspondent kindly supplies the following interesting-jottings:—"The Picton crews are ti very good lot, but have been hampered a bit by baa weather lately in training. Tho senior four are not getting in much work at present, as No. 3is away for the best part'of the week. The crew consist of P. Burns, T. Keuuey, !•'. Stott, and D. Godfrey. Three of them are members of last two seasons' junior crew. Scott is a member of the senior four that competed at Mercer. The club senior pairs are two young lads. It is their first year in the boat, and they are not at home in her as yet.' They are F. Burns and L. Godfrey. Pears and Carrick _ form another pair, but it is doubtful if they will be able to row. If so, the club, I think, will enter two crews. The junior fours won last year's Maiden, and are going very nicely in the best-and-best boat. They are N. Godfrey, F. Bush, H. Whiting, and Leo Godfrey. The junior pairs are T.Norton and P. Bush, and the junior double sculls T. Kenney and T. Norton. The maiden four are shaping very well. The crew is J. Tims, R. Neil, Lance Godfrey, and \v. Godfrey. Sir. A. Pears is coaching this crew, and they are training very hard. I'he maiden pair are Lance Godfrey and F. Rouse, and tho maiden double sculls J. Sims and R. Neil. Tho youths' fours aro the same crows as last year, except for the ■ inclusion of H. Whiting. The list is: F. Burns, H. Whiting, N. Godfrey, and Les. Godfrey. It is a pity that - tho regatta committee could not seo their way to have a single scull race on the programme for the Blenheim people are very strong on Jackson. The P.R.C. havo a good sculler in ICenney, who would, I think, beat Jackson over a mile and a half course, though he is at present greatly handicapped in being out of town eo. much. The Blenheim senior fours are training hard for the local regatta. They have a new Towns-boat",and the crew consist of R. Andrews, A. Jackson, D. Hegglun, and C. Hegglun. All their other crews are training 1 hard. The P.R.C. have got off some fine'fouroared races for gold medals, presented by J. H. Price, formerly of the New Zealandcr Hotel, Wellington, and. one time captain o£ the W.K.C.- There wero 32 men rowing, and the races were all very close and exciting, there being a large crowd of people down to seo them. The medals wero won by F. Bnrris, F. Rouse, W. iTroughton, and G. M'lntosh, H. Frederick, cox.