ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

(Br Mr.r.ocßT.i

February G.—Nelson Regatta. February 18,-Wellington Regatta, iebrnary 25.— N.Z. Championship Regatta, AVanganui.

There has been a decided quietude in the_ local rowing world since the New Year's Day regatta. The regatta crews have been. doing a littlo work ill a desultory sort 'of"way, but tho reaction ,is still felt. However, it .is time that the harness was buckled on again. The Pictoh fixture showed that tho local crews as a whole lacked condition, and tho Nelson and Wellington gatherings looming iu the near futuro call for serious attention. Tho writer learns that somo of tho Star Club crews aro to bo sent to Nelson, but has not heard exactly which combinations aro going, and what tlio intentions of'tho Wellington and Petone Clubs aro. There are two junior fours races, so tho Star representatives in this class aro sure to bo nominated, and, with sufficient attention to training, this combination would havo an oxcellent chance of scoring. At present, howeVer, there seems to bo a regrettable lack of enthusiasm about ■this Quartet, and this must militate against their regatta success. Tho stroke is keen enough, but he does not get a ready response from his men somehow, and tho crow needs "bucking up" in this' Tcspect somewhat sharply.

Thero is a new Richmond . in , the sculling field in England—ono William Albany, who recently came into notico by defeating, with tho utmost case, a well-known sculler at" Honloy named Arlett. Speaking of the new discovery an English paper says: As tho outcome of the sculling match in which, recently, William Albany, of Leabri'dge, defeated with much case the Henley oarsman, Arlett, a challenge has been offered, on behalf of Albany, to Ernest Barry, to. row over tho Thames championship course, for £200 a side, but not for tho championship. Barry is not at .all averse to a race with Albany, but d° e s not understand why tho championship is barred. As ho says, his position would be absurd if ho held tho title after Albany might have beaten him, for, although nominally champion, lie would havo been proved inferior to a man who would properly bo considered the better sculler. Barry does not wish to row over the championship course outside of the championship. Doubtless tho matter will resolve itself into a proper race for the title, for Albany has backers who aro very keen on his advancement. He is a finely-built young fellow, standing 6ft. high, ■ and weighing over 14st. Ho started rowing as ail amateur, as also he did boxing, in which latter sport lie :is proficient, having a year or two ago won tho heavy-weight championship of the famous Columbia Boxing Club.

Thero is a movement afoot in Auckland to secure Dominion representation in tho Australian eight-oared championships this season. Some enthusiasts there are endeavouring to raise a crew and funds, and desiro that tho Now Zealand A.R.A. should give the crow, if their efforts to raiso one are successful, official recognition as New Zealand representatives. » This is a laudator; project, and it is to bo hoped that tho attempt is successful, but at- tho same time the head association, would bo well advised to leave the matter of official recognition until'it is seen exactly what tho crew is worth. New Zealand rowing is highly thought of now in Australia through tho efforts c£ tha Waiigamtv Union and Blenheim crews at Hobart last February, and although it is proper that tho Dominion should be represented in tho Inter-State Championships, nothing should bo done to lower tho prestige of our rowing in Australia, niorcly for the sake pf securing representation. No crew should compete as a New Zealand crew unless it is thoroughly representative of tho truo strength of New Zealand rowing. With this reservation rowing men will bo in sympathy with the attempts of tho Aucklanders and their efforts, will be watched with much interest. Rowing, by the way, appears to bo booming 111 tiio Auckland district just now. Thero is a big probability that the Northern Association, will be represented in the championship fours at Wanganui by 110 fewer 1 than' four _ crews—Waitemata 8.C., Ngaruawahia R.C., Auckland R.C., and one of. the country clubs. Weather permitting, tho preliminary heats of tho Star Club's senior and junior double sculls are to bo rowed this afternoon..