ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1348, 27 January 1912, Page 14

ROWING.

[Bl "lIEECCM."] THE AUSTRAL OLYMPIC EIGHT. February 7.— N.Z. Championships, Lake Waihola. February 17.—Wellington liegatta. February 21—Invcrcargill Regatta, l-'ebrtisxry 22—Wanganui Regatta. February 21—Christehurch Regatta. Getting the Eight Together. The latest news received ■ on this side about the projected Australasian representation at ;tue Olympic Uames is embodied in tlie following article ou the subject trom a recent Sydney "Hun":— .Some time ago;' what was regarded as an impossible undertaking was shouldered Ly the New South \Vales flowing Association.' That was the sending of a "light blue" eight-oar crew to the Uiympic Games, to be held at Stockholm, Sweden, this year. The enthusiasm of a few of the assjcntion officers, particularly Jlr. A. K. Nash, t.he chairman, Mr. Alex Thomson, the lion, secretary, and others, has at last made the visit possible. Messrs. J. M'Gregor, N. J. M'Donald, and W. Middleton, three of Sydney's most expert oarsmen, were appointed as selectors, and after some weeks' ardent work in choosing the best men the State cau produce have practically arrived at a decision as to the personnel of t lie crew, .lust what names they have decided upon will not bo known until the association's meeting ou Monday evening, when the exact team will be announced, but it hns been gleaned by "The Sun" that Victoria lias been appealed to, so that (ho "Australasian Crew," us it has been designated, may be tho tinest this part of tlio globe can send' to the other side of the world. It has been recognised ■ by the New South Wales selectors'that Victoria should be represented in some way. As a matter of fact, it was tho Victorian methods of rowing that .were adopted .not so long ago by all the New South Wales clubs, and it was the styles,created by Mr. Miieiarlane, the ' prominent Victorian coach, that perfected rowing in this State and that- brought the; New, South Wales men to tho front. of tho : Australian' rowing worUK Therefore it is.almost certain that Mr. .Macfarlano 'will' be asked to accompany the crew, probably " as coxswain. Then, agaiu, Mr. Middleton may lie re-lied-upon to go as coach, and.in that capacity collaborate .with Jlr Macl'arlaiie as to, blending the styles of the. New -South Wales men and Victorians, whose rowing now differs only 'but a trifle. It was Mr. Macfarlane,. in fact, whose, style and methods Mr. Middleton adopted with such great success for New South Walesi The stroke seat in the boat is almost certain to be filled by Eoger Rtzharding, whose generalship has won glory for the Light Blues in latter yoars in the interstate contests. Then such men as T. Parker, of Balmain, H. Hauenstein, of Leichhardt, Sydney, Middleton, of tiia Sydney Club, and a well-known footballer, are regarded as certainties. Who the men from Melbourne will be is beyond speculation until the selectors announce the crow on Monday evening. However, with tho class of men named, together with tho Lest oarsmen available in Victoria, tho crew from Australia are ccrtain to stir things up in Sweden. It will :be one of the heaviest and cleverest combinations that ever sat in an- eight-oar boat iu the Commonwealth. In fact, it is expected' to be an extraordinary combination. Tho. Victorians have entered into th« financing of , the crew with zest,, and probably .£SOO will 'be .collqctcd there, and this, in. addition.to the JESOO already, promised at: Sydney 'will nearly see the! contingent through. Following on this came the cablegrams published in Tub Dominion last Tuesday in the effect that eleven Sydney and two Melbourne oarsmen had been chosen as the Australian representatives, and another message, published on Wednesday, stating that the N.S.W. Association had cabled a challenge to the Leander Club in England for a race for the Australian eight on the Thames after the Stockholm Games. Happenings Round the Harbour. Locally matters are much as they were, this being chiefly owing to the weather, nt which one has got tired of hurling anathemas, not to mention just plain oldfashioned bad language. The Wellington Club intends racing off its challenge events next week—the principal of these being the senior double sculls. The selected duo, Galbraith and Standen, are to be sent to the championship "regatta should they beat their challengers, M'Kinley and Shilling, which, on present form, * they should have no difficulty in doing. Top End of the Bay. The Potono Club has been more fortunate in its weather conditions. Concerning the regatta men, "Mercury's" correspondent writes:— "With tho exception of last week-end, the regatta, crews have all been able to get out, and their improvement continues, and, with le,ss than a month to go, they havtf all settled down to hard work. -This is particularly so with the youths, who are almost in tho pink of condition, and should now be careful lest they overdo it. However, it is pleasing to note that the younger, members take such au interest ?n their work, and their reward will follow in due course." Edmond Trophy Pairs. An advance has also been made in the club racing. After many postponements find vexatious delays, the novico pairs for Mr. J. Edmond's trophy have at last been disposed of. Tho final saw A blading (str.) and'J. Ingham (bow) defeatcd by J. ICirk and R. Collins. This was a good race, well worth the long delay, only a few feet separating the boats at the tinish. The next club race is the junior sculls, for an appropriate tropliv cousistmg of a set of sculls presented bv Jlr. B. Tremain. An Interesting Note. If keenness and attention to detail, make for- success, C. E. Stone, the Auckland sculler, and present holder of the New Zealand sculling premiership, is well along the road already. He arrived in IHinedin last Sunday, and immediately proceeded to Waihola to wind up his preparation for the big event on February 7. By that time the lake course should hold no secrets from him and, as there is no-i-n?B i°- Waihola but train, and no distractions to beguile him from the straight and narrow path of duty, he should turn out for the race tuned 'lib to the minute. ' 1 Waking Up in Australia. . .. In Australia professional ' sculling matters, which have been quiet of late, are showing signs of a revival. "Billy" •J'ogwell and Felton have signed on tor a match for Easter Saturday, for the championship of the Northern Rivers and a stake of .£IOO aside. This has also started Harry Pearce, the Australian champion, off into training again, in anticipation of a challenge from the winner. Pearcc was interviewed recently by a Sydney Daily Telegraph" rohis movements, and ion see, he said, 'Togwell said he "was going to challenge mo again, when ho returned from England, and now that he '■ti a it" Helton, it is quite possible that I shall get a challenge from him alter the race In these circumstances I am doing a bit of work now,'so as to remove some weight that I should not carrv if I anticipate challenges.. Mind you 1 do not intend getting right into good condition, but just to keep betwixt and between, as it were, so as to. bo read v. I have Dave Smith, the boxer, down hero with me, and we do a fair amount: of boxing every day, while I also tako 011 some skipping and a bit of sculling. Should Fogwcll bo beaten by Felton, then I will probably get a challenge from him instead of Fogwell." Tuesday's Picture Night. I lowing men 'and their friends are reminded of the "Itowiner Picture Night" at the Skating Hink on Tuesday next, when Messrs. Fuller and Sons are' to give a benefit in aid of the local regalia fund.

.Tudgo: "How do you earn your living. l " Irivoner: "By writing, you. honour." Jmine: "And what do you writ? for, would tou miud telling us?" Prisoner: "Not it all i I write for rnonej at home,"-