ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

(Br MrncnnT.^

George Stone: A Contretemps. An unfortunate contretemps has arisen over tho representation of tho Dominion in tile Australian Inter-State Championship Sculls next month. It had been decided that George Stone, of Hie St. Gcorgo's Club, Auckland, the present New Zealand champion sculler, was to go, and the N.Z.A.R.A. had voted .£lO towards his expenses, provided that. Stone was to bo on tho course at least a fortnight, prior to tho event, and that he could conform to the N.S.W'. amateur definition. It is over this latter stipulation that the trouble has arisen. It appears that Stone, although an amateur oarsman according to tho rule laid down by 'the N.Z.A.R.A., competed in 1908 in the professional gaslight athletic sports at Auckland. 110 has sinco been reinstated as an amateur by the NiZ.A.A.A., and it was considered that this whitewashing would rentier him eligible to compete in Australia.

Oncc a "Pro." Always a "Pro." Now, thero is considerable doubt as to whether this is so. The New South Wales definition by which the inter-State competitors are governed applies not only io rowing, but to all branches of sport, so that a professional rumier, boxer, cyclist, etc., is, ipso facto, a professional oarsman, and, apparently, thero is no provision made for any reinstatement. Thus .its effect is: "Oncc a pro. always a pro." I Thero is, however, still a loophole for Stone. On tho occasion of iho Australasian Four-oared Championship in Tasmania last year, and also on the previous occasion of New Zealand's representation in Australia, the local amateur definition wrts suspended to enable any oarsman, who was an amateur in his u.-;i country, to compete on the same footing as the home, oarsmen. If this condition obtains in the present instance, Stono is eligible. IT not, apparently ho is debarred. Tho question has arisen at a most, inopportune time, as Stone was to leave on Monday. Mr. Bayfield, the lionorarv secretary and treasurer of tho NXA.fi,A., has cabled' to the New South Wales authorities for a ruling, and, at

the time of writing, the whole matter is in abeyance.

Barry Takes up the Sculls Again. Ernest Barry, Arnst's CTstwhi(e opponent for world's championship honours, is to make another appearance on the sur.:ling stage on May 1 next, when ho is to defend his title of champion of England against William Albany. The race is to bo over a 41-mile course, from Putney Bridge to "The Ship," Slortlakp, and, besides the title, a purse of .£2OO aside and "The Sportsman" Cun arc involved. According to the latest English files to hand great interest is being taken in the event, especially by prominent amateur oarsmen, - which latter condition is a healthy sign of tlio return to favour of professional sculling in England. Jj'f.r a long while the snort (for reasons <vhioh arc chiefly to seek in the conduct of tlio men engaged) was given the cold sliouldor, but, since the Towns-Barry match, in which the Englishman won his title, a kindlier feeling has existed. This, while doing a certain .measure of good to the amateur, has decidedly tended to extend the popularity and raise tho tone of tlio professional branch of tho sport.

Tho Man Whom Barry Will Meet. Barry, by virtue of Ins recent meeting with "Bid;" Arnst on the Zambesi, ir, well known in the sculling world. His opponent, William Albany, is * young sculler from Lea, and has come to the front through good form shown in handicap and small match races. Ho is years of age, weighs just over 13 stone ui his boat, and for this, his first impol'tant i ensingcraent, he is lb have the Hervices of the ex-Wellingtonian, "Tom" Sullivan, as trainer and-adviser. As ait amateur ho was champion of tlio Britannia R.C., and also has some local fame as a boxer, having been champion heavyweight of tlie _ Columbia Club? Thus he has youth, weight, and a certain amount of useful athletic experience, and, if his boat work is up to the mark, lie should make a worthy antagonist for Barry, who is five years older, and a stone and a half lighter.

A Great Veteran-"Jack" M'Grath. _At the recent Otago regatta at Port Chalmers that very hardy animal, "Jack" M'Grath, once again successfully stroked the O'ago senior double-sculling boat. It would bo in'lelicjte,. perhaps, to make any mention ot 'ho veteran's age, but some indication of how :ightly his years liavo passed aver his lie-id may be gleaned from tho fact that he won his first sculling championship over seventeen years ago. The writer remembers well that, upon one occasion (ill March, 1904) ho had the pleasure of seems; M'Grath—even then considered an old-timer—stroke four crews to victory in the one afternoon on Lake W'aihola. He won for Otago province, on that, day, tho Interprovincial Foyrs, inflicting upon Southland her first defeat for eight years, and then, for his club, he stroked, and won the senior fours and the senior double sculls and pairs—a great performance for ally man oven in the hey-day-of youth and vigour.

The Harder? Cycling or Sculling? Last week "Mercury" published an expression of opinion' by one Shepherd, a Sydney cyclist, and a budding sculler, that sculling was "child's play" compared to cycling. S. Hagney has' apparently also been struck with tho same opinion, which was deemed worthy of publication in a Sydney paper, and the Australian sculler-cyclist has his say on the subject: "Well," said Hagney, "as I liavft done a great deal more work. in both sports (cycling and sculling) _ than lie has, I would like to draw his attention to the fact that in cycling a man gets occasional spells, down liill. In sculling, it is all uphill, -,0 you see that would not argue too well in favour of tho statement that it is child's play, and that there was no pacing in it either. I. think that Mr. Shepherd s rowing lias been of a very mild character, such as rowing in fours or eights, where a fellow, when ho gets tired, can have a spell, ahd let his mates d 6 tho work. Well, you get no spells at ail in sculling, so I would strongly advise him to get an outrigger and chase after, a few scullers on the ,river. ,before ..he ventures an: opinion on soniefhmg' ; h<S , 'Kho\\'= Hbthing about, and ! liavo a good go at"flv3 so-callcd child's plav. As far as trying t& '■ discourago cyclists from taking up the sport, that is over the limit. Anybody who pleases, cyclist, or,any other athlete, is always at liberty t6 try his hand at it. For myself, I have got more hard knocks than diamonds, so iar."