ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

(Br Mercury.)! SUMMING UP THE' REGATTA. , To-day—New Zealand Championship Kegatta (Wanganui).- 1 What the Regatta Did Not Tell Us. Tho Wellington regatta is over, and in ono respect it did not fulfil it's function. Coming as it did exactly one week before the championship gathering, with the principal crews engaged at- the big meeting all competing, it was confidently looked to to provide a guide to the very vexed question as to which' crew would win the Champion Fours. As originally intended, Saturday's race was ■ to have been a dress rehearsal of to-day's big event. However, man proposed and the weather disposed. . ' Tho result of this "butting in" of the southerly breeze is that the business of answering the ■ momentous question is more complicated than ever it was. In fact, tho. whole question is changed. Last week it was, "Can the Blenheim crew beat the champions?" Now it is, "Can tho champions beat tho Blenheim crew?" The Son|j of'the "Southerly," ■ However, to start at the beginning of affairs concerning the big race. It was originally timed for 2.30 p.m., but nt that hour tho southerly was in an angry mood, and from the starting point to Point Jerningham the jobble was too mu<!h for a best boat. Therefore the exccutivo decided to postpone tho event until 5.30 p.m., and the gap in the programmo was closed by putting all tho subsequent races forward half an hour. This plan worked out without a hitch, but unfortunately the southerly refused to enter into tho agreement, and at 5.30 tho water, although considerably improved, was still dccidedly nasty. The umpire and starter accompanied the crews part of the way across the bad stretch, and ultimately decided that, although the conrso was' negotiable, it would be better for all hands to shorten I the distance, and confine operations to tho milo and a quarter of good water available. In passing, it may be noted here that half sin hour later tho whole two miles was like glass. , The Start of the Big Race. Tho four crews lined un off Point Jerningham, tho positions being: Christchurch Union inside, Wanianui Union No. 2, then l'icton, and Blenheim outside: At tho gun all took tho water together, but Bltnheim got going badly, and after tho first flurry were lying last, with tho others fnil'ly even. However, tho positions soon changed. When three hundred yards had been covered, Andrews, the Blenheim stroke, shook his men up with a rally that trained him tho lead nt the mile post. , Wanganui were then lying second, with tho Christchurch men hanging on very tenaciously, and Picton falling back a little, Blenheim were

then rowing a strong 37 per minute, and Wangauui 36. This was the order, and tho rate of striking across Oriental Bay. The Struggle in Progress,, ' Hero • Blenheim changed from their proper course, and got too far out. Consequently, they fell in for more rough water than their opponents' met, and raoro than was necessary. Still, they stuck to their work well, Arthur Jackcon in tho No. 3 seat doing jxsoiriaii servico in holding the boat ap to tho cross wind. The rest of the crew wero backing him un nobly, and getting rare paco out of the boat, but the rowing throughout was not so machine-like as in thfe Union combination. The spectators, 1 especially thoso posted in the details of tho big race at Hobart last year, wero exoecting every minute to see the Wanganui men open out into their 42 rate of striking, but they seemed content to keep their 36-37 stroke going, evidently in the expectation of finding the leaders oome back to thera. If so, they reckoned without their Blenheimites. So tho race went until tho half-mile post was reached. Here Blenheim shook the pace up a little, and drew away a little more, until thore was nearly half a length of daylight between the boats. With a quarter of a mile to go, it was tho same, except that Picton had dTonpod back a little more. The Christchurch crew was still sticking to their, fellow Unions.

"Then Came the Wanganui Challenge." Then came the Wanganui challenge. Cottorill got his crew in hand, and worked up the nace until they were roring just over 407 and the rowing was a treat to see. At last the champions wero showing what thev could do. For precision, neatness, and finish, it seemed perfection. But it was too late. The gap closed un very slowly. The Blenheim men, with tho goal within easy reach, simply tore into their work. The work was rough, there'was too much splashing, and the strain .was evidently telling, but the pace was all there. It was not so pleasing to watch as tho beiutiful work of the Union men, but it was a splendid exhibition of determination, and well directed energy, and it served. ,

Bravo, Blenheim! The gan had closed up only j half a longth or'so when tho gun went, and it was over. Tho shrieks and shouts from tho wharves lulled and turned into a rattle ot' aoprobation and applause. The Admiral slowly righted herself from her very decided list from tho crowding to the eule of the "follow-the-race" enthusiasts, and—the Australasian champions had been beaten by a short length. In the excitement the Christchurch Union ctow had been rather overlooked. But it had performed worthily of its company,, and was only a length behind the second boat. Truly it was a "great race. Can Wanganui Win To-day? r ' . 1 Sow comes tho post-mortem—the analysis of tho race, to see what bearing it has on to-day's event. For Blenheim, the case runs thus:—First, they won. Then they 1 god a bad start—they had tho worst of tho water, and they, steered the worst course. Against them is tho fact that, at the finish, they were not rowing as well as the Union crew as regards combination, and watermanship, and the doubt as to whether their strength and determination could have made up for this falling-off over an additional threc-nuarters of a mile. For tjnion there is the fact that they were Undoubtedly the better crew in the final stages. ~ McreoTer, they appeared _ overconfident for tho first.half— they did not appear to be putting all they knew; into their work—a mistake which they, will not make again, Then-again, they will be on "their native .heath" to-day, with their - lost laurels to .regain. 1 For all .of which reasons, but principally the first, "Mercury" thinks tfiat, to-day, they will come into their own , again—but before tho line is crossed they will know they, have been rowing.

What Webb Thought of It.' :After; the race "Mercury" discussed the affair'!iwitli .'Wfii. ,!Webb,*r itho sculling exchiuripiitii' his 'opinion. Webbf who? by [tho way,'has been 1 guide, philosopher, and friend" of the Union men, was non-committal as to to-day's prospects, But was decidedly eulogistic of the Blenheim men's. performance. Ho expressed himself as quite satisfied -with the rowing of his old club representatives, but would go no further than to say tha:, in his opinion, there would be;6nJy about half a "length's difference between the crews over tho;championship course, and he would not' venture an opinion as to which Kotild be in. front at the finish. "Wiri" was ever tactful in these liHle matters.. - v. Christchurch Union, as stated previously, put uj> a most meritorious' performance, .particularly so. as. each member of the quartet had rowed a hard race previously. Fry and O'Brien, in. the doublesculls, • and Duggan and Mansfield in the pairs, both of which events they won. To-day the fours is the first senior race, so they will meet the others on level terms in this respect. They .should be handy ,at tho finish. The Picton crew could not foot it with their opponents, but here again had one man been overworked—Burns, • the stroke. The big race was his third in the afternoon —he had previously stroked the youth's crew to victory, and had rowed bow in the senior pairs, so'was in no wise at his best.' This is obviously a case of overloading the willing horse. The Regatta in General. Space does not permit of a general review of the whole regatta, though there is much that could be said. -And it would be a pleasure to say it. ' The management ,was good. All races were got off to time, and tho change' of programme necessitated by the postponement of tho big rac? was worked without the .usual friction,".and''without loss of time. /The rowing throughout was good—very good— tho displays in the maiden events especially being" pleasing., There are good men coming' along in the lower grades, if. Saturdav s showing is a criterion. As" for the local representatives, the Peton'e Club is to be heartily congratulated on its win—the only one that fell to tho homo clubs—in the junior pairs. The Wellington Bowing Club's crews sufr fered by reason, of. the'lateness of • their selection, and consequent 1 want both of condition and. combination. - ' The '.Star crews sadly lacked condition. Two races at least, the maiden double sculls and junior fours, were lost to the club fcr this reason alone.' In each of these events tho Star men had substantial leads within striking'distance of the, line, and were beaten from behind .from sheer lack of finishing power. . , „ v ' V The youth's four led at half-way, and then fell back from the same cause. The rowing form was quite up to standard, and the pace was &sre. The-condition was all that was wanted. Why .Can't Our Men Train? ' ; ') The crews were not defeated by, better men, but by better trained men. For this there is no excuse. There is no reason at all why the local men-should not get as physically fit as their rivals —except their failure to realise their responsibilities to their clubs. ; There is a certain amount of reason; why their boat-work- should not be so good, owing to the usual weather conditions, but this cannot be advanced as a reason for Saturday's failure. The water during the last three weeks of their training; was all that could be desired, and, truth to tell, it was taken advantage of, but three weeks', rowing is not enough. Land work is essential, and,' until this ■ lesson is learnt, so long will lack of success attend the Star men's efforts. Tho Star maiden crew made a good raco of their event. They were pitted against a formidable combination in the Canterbury boat—a quartet that had previously won four races—and a decidedly good field of maidens throughout tho six starters. They only lost the race by a short half-length, after being badly steered. Hail they gone straight tliey must have won on the day's rowing, but, as has often occurred before, and will again, they did not go straight, and paid the penalty. Unlucky Contretemps. Tho junior fours had an unfortunate sequel for the Star Club. During the race, T.awrenee, the stroke of tho club's representatives, strained a chest muscle badly, and will not be able to row with his crew at Wanganui to-day. Alexander, tho strqko of tho maidens, will take his place, and will make, a good'substitute but the change will necessitate his rowing in three races—the maiden and the two junior events—and, of necessity, the alteration at the last minute will tell against one, club's chances. Moreover, it is rousjH.on Alexander, but the arrangement is tho best that could be made at such short notice.