ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1043, 4 February 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

(By Mr.nccitt.)! February 9.—Christchurch Eegatta, Lake Forsyth. February 18. —Wellington' Regatta. February 25.— N.Z. Championship Eegatta, Wanganui. At Lake Forsyth. \ .. The big events of aquatics in New Zealand are drawing near, as. will beseeiT by the 1 foregoing list, of coming events. On.Thursday next, is the Christchurch regatta, at Lake Forsyth, a locality dc: cidedly unpopular with northern rowing men on account of the inglorious uncertainty of the "rowablencss" of the water, and the inaccessibility of the course. For these and other reasons, only a small representation is being made by the Wellington Clubs. As far as is definitely known now, the only crew making the trip is the Star Club's junior doubl-e-sculling duo, W. H. Brewer and F. Turnbull, who will also compete in tho senior doublo-sculling event. This combination is a good one in its class, and won well at Picton on New Year's Day, but has not yet had enough "best and best" work to be considered very dangerous in the senior division. On Our Own Uncertain Harbour. Following the Christchurch fixture on January 18 comes tho Wellington regatta. —always a popular event. It will be remembered what a success this fixture was last year, tho only drawback from a local standpoint being that the. strong array of visiting crews departed with an undue proportion of the prize-money. So far, tho local association is having trouble in financing the' p.flair. Wellington is peculiarly unfortunate in this respectit cannot depend upon any revenue from gate money. Owing to the fickleness. of our winds, it is impossible for tho executive to say right up to the morning of the meeting where it"will be held, so that, although good water can always bo provided somewhere, no one knows exactly where. For this reason any "booming" of tho regatta is out of the question, and, 1 although the public has always shown a fair degree of interest when it has been held on the tiwn course, there is no way, except for tho ■ "follow-the-race" steamer, in which this interest can be put upon . a cash basis. Consequently the necessary funds have to bo raised by public subscription—which means an annual collection of JEIOO or so (tho prize.money in the affair under discussion amounts to ,£95), and when - a longsuffering public has been taxed hard and often in various mora or less deserving causes, it is apt to become unresponsive.

Our Duty to the Public. However, it is with the rowing men themselves. If they want the regatta tliey must get their backs into the work, and raise the funds. It is not reasonable to expect the association to do it all for them, and, moreover, if the rowing men wish tho public to take a keen live interest ill their regatta, then the rowing men should take steps to make their rowing such as to be deserving of tho public's interest. There is no reason why it should not' be so—except such reasons as can bo removed by a reasonable amount of keenness and application to training. It comes to this: If tho rowing man cannot "enthuse" over his own snort, he cannot expect the public to do so.. Arnst in Australia. Tho following paragraph about sculiing matters of interest arc culled from the latest Australian files:—Dick Arnst, who has received his new boat from tho hands of George Towns, has commenced work. He has been out frequently, and has expressed himself as being very well satislied with tho boat. lie is doing plenty of work now, as he intends entering for tho Port Hacking regatta, and during tho course of the next few weeks will bo seen out • on the Parraniatta Uiver regularly, He will' leave for tho scene of the function a coutilo of days before tho race eventuates, And so wiil be ablo to put in a day or two on tho course beforehand. His brief spell out of tho boat lias done him the world of good. . 110 is fitter and bettor in every way, and is confident of doing something good in tho l'arramatta Hundred. Nothing definite has yet been arranged between "Dick" Arnst and Harry I'earce. Arnst still' states ho is willing to meet Pearco whenover that sculler wishes, and on the Parraniatta Hiver, too, but I'carcc has not yet been guaranteed his full stake, and until he docs ho cannot, of course, make any arrangements witii Arnst. lie is still plugging along with his sunportcrs, however, and ho hones, to bo able to challenge tho world's champion at an early date. In l.ho meantime he intends getting ready for tho Parraniatta Hundred. Arnst says Pearce will have to row him before or in May if he wants

a race, because lie (Arnst) will not be able to stay here any longer. Hagney and Day. Hagney and Day have come to an agreement about a race, .and having each lodged his deposit of .£'s, will now require to sign new articles. The old articles, it will be remembered, were made out for Hagney and I'elton, but as Felton could not raise tho stake at the last moment Day took over tho challenge. Their race has been fixed for February 25 on the Parramatta Kivcr, and as tho I'arramatla Hundred is to start three weeks later they should both bo ill good fettle for that event also. Day will come to Sydney as soon as everything is fixed up, and the race assured, and, it is stated, will take up his residenco at Peter Ivemp's place at Abbotsford. Syd. Kemp is to train him, and it is generally thought that lie will give Hagney the race of his life. Hagney is not in tho least concerned about the race, and thinks he will not have much trouble with Day; but ho is mistaken. George is a sculler of no mean pretensions, and will surpriso him more than ho thinks. Fogwell and Whelch. Fogwell, who returned to Sydney for the purposa of seeing his backers about raising a larger stako for his proposed race with Whelch, has abandoned tho project for the time being, and will concentrate his attention on the races that lire' about to bo held here. He arjjues that' Whelch is not likely to run awav, and that he can ba got later on, but tlia Parramatta Hundred and other handicaps will not wait for him, and it is his best plan to take what is going. He is certainly woll advised in taking this course, as a good performance or two hero would certainly enhance his hones of raising .£2OO with which to meet'the New Zealander. Jack Arnst, who was to train Fogwell, also came over to Sydney with tho liichmond River man, and has decided to follow the lead of his friend .and remain in Sydney for the big races. Although Jack Arnst has no pretensions to being able to scull like bis. brother "Dick," he is nevertheless a fine sturdy athlete, and from a fair mart may do some good.