ROWING

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 12

ROWING

OLYMPIC AND MERELY LOCAL, [Bi "llercuet."] February 7.--N.Z. Championships, Lake Waihola. February 17. —Wellington Regatta. February 21—Invercargill Regatta. February 22 —Wanganui Regatta. February 21—Christchurch Regatta. On Wednesday at Inacccssible Waihola. On Wednesday next, at Lake Waihola, Otago, the present season's New Zealand championship regatta is to take place. Tho occasion has come round this year practically unnoticed as far as the North Island clubs are concerned, mainly because of the un-get-at-ability of the venue and the consequent disability of most of the northern clubs to send crews. On the last occasion that the New Zealand regatta was held at Waihola (in 1904, writing from memory), the same condition obtained, but in a more marked degree. Then the wholo of the North Island was represented by four men only —a double sculling duo from the Star Club aud a pair-oared crew from the Wellington Club. This time things in this respect are better—but not much. Auckland is sending a sculler (C. E. Stone), Wanganui a (;ood representation from the Union Club, ind Wellington a pair from tho W.R.C. shed. In this-last connection it is interesting to note that one of these is S. Galbraith, who was one of the Wellington Club's pair at tho 1905 meeting. It was then that the W.R.C. lost the pair-oared championship, which had been won by the club for so many years—first by J. Caiman and'R. Crawtord, and then (during the former's absence at the Boer war) by Galbraith and Crawford, and then again by Cal'Jian and Galbraith. On the Lake the latter pair went sadly astray with their steoring, and so the great sequence was broken. It would be an odd happening if Galbraith wero .to signalise his "coming back" by regaining his los" title on the very battle-water upon w:hich he lost it. And there are more unlikely things that could happen, for, with Standen, his new colleague, he is rowing with excellent combination and a very fair amount of pace. Ho is still big in condition, however, and if pushed hard this is likely to bring about the pair's downfall.

The Crews in the Big Race. It is a great pity that the (championships on this occasion are passing with so little notice from the public, because at no time in the Dominion's rowing h;is the general standard been so high. Thero have been crews, it is true, perhaps as good as those engaged, but they have been individual combinations (hat ln,vo stood out from their fellows in different seas,oris. On tho present occasion, as was the case last year in Wanganui,' there are at least three crews in the Champion Fours good enough for any company. These are the Ficton and the two Union Club crews— Wanganui and Christehurch. Then there is the Canterbury quartet—an unknown quantity in championship racing—but confidently,spoken of as being right in the running, and also tho Awarua crew from Southland, also said to bo a hot combination. In "Mercury's" opinion tho issuo. lies between tho three crews first namod, and can bo fined down still further as betwetn l'icton and Wanganui Union. Oil Picton should undoubtedly win* Three of the men are already champions, the orcw is big and strong, averaging well over 12 stone, and, furthermore, the stroke and Is'o. 3 tilled the same positions in last year's champion crew—in tho Blenheim Club's interests. The Wanganui Crew. The Wanganui quartet is the famous crew that won the Inter-State Champion l'ours at Holwrt in the 15)08-!) season. Last season it failed to reproduce this form, and was ben ten at the Wellington Kegatta by Blenheim, and a week later at the championships by both Blenheim and Christchiirch Union. This season a return to the old form is reported, and if this is so tho other crews engaged will have to "keep their oars swinging" to beat the light blue combination.

The Picton Crew. Tho Picton crew arrived in town en route for Waihola on Tuesday, and left again on Thursday. In conversation with the men, "Mercury" learnt that they are fit and hopeful, although a bit short of boat work, and slightly rough when in the boat, being bothered' with a slight roll that will not be eradicated. The two big men, Arthur Jackson and E. Kenny, are down vory fine—for them. Tho former told "Mercury" that since he started training he had taken off three stone all but a pound, and was now' down to a mere shadow—just under fourteen stone. Kenny, the No. 2, is scaling about 13 stone, Andrews, the stroke, just on 11 stone, and Cornell, tho bow, 10?; stone. Career of the Pictcn Stroke. Reg. Andrews, the I'icton stroke, and present stroke of the Dominion's champion four; has had a short but singularly successful rowing.career. Albeit a champion, ho is now only in his fourth season, and his regatta record so far runs:—Sixteen starts, fourtcvn firsts, and two 'seconds. If Jie can bring his crew homo on Wednesday, lie will have achieved what no other oarsman in the Dominion has done, viz., stroked crews representing two different clubs to victory in the champion fours in successive years. Last season ho stroked tho Blenheim crew, but has new returned to his original club, having been moved back to I'icton, and, naturally enough, he is keen to placo his old love on the top of the leader, the more particularly so as lie can do it this season without in any wa t v "going back" on Blenheim, as this club is not defending its title. Local, Exclusively, Locally there lias been a decided improvement in the weather conditions for the past week, and such regatta ero.ws i as have been able to do so have been taking full advantage of the pleasant change. The Wellington and Star senior pairs have indulged in a series of mile races, with mutual'benefit, although the honours fell to the Wellington championship candidate?, who have been referred to previously. 1 v:iiiv in the week the men changed seats in the boat, Galbraith retiring to the bow, as lie considered that his shortness of condition might be less harmful in that position. The change does not appear to have affected tlie combination at all—the duo's worst fault being a failure to keep' their blades oft the water Still their chance on AVednesday must be considered a good one.

Although Ixtttcn in theso "tests" the Star pair should profit thereby. One tiling proved is that (heir rate of st.rikin" is too slow. The work should Ix! brisker, particularly the recovery and (lie leg drive should be' applied earlier so that the blades are driven through the water quicker and harder. There is yet time' before the Wellington regatta for this crew to attain winning form if they will got dov.-n to it seriously. At present there appears to be a ceviain difference of opinion in the ):o:it as to wliirh of the twain rows the stronger oar, which, whilo in itself is a healthy enough rivalry, is apt to bring about a spirit of eamnftifiou in tho rowing that is absolutely fatal to pair-oar combination. I'.iir-oar rowing requires combination, above all things, artd J his canno' be obtained if (he bow is pulling auaixst the stroke, or vice versa, instead of with him. Another point in which this crew errs somewhat is in (lie steering "depart went. As is the mod 1? nowadays they have dispensed with the rudder, and steer by modulating the work—but they make the mistake of keeping Hie li-Mt on her course by stacking the work 011 one side or flic other. Naturally enough this practice tends to lc-seu I he boat's pace, therefore, it should Ix; resorted to only an extreme occasions. The correct method of steering without a rudder is for the bow to correct the couri-e by staying in the water just a trifle longer, or shorter, as the cose may warrant, than the stroke. A vwy little tloca it, aud the balance of the boot ncod

not be affected, but it is jnst this knaok of doing only enough and no more that is so hard to obtain. However, it is tho only wav to steer without, tho rudder successfully, and if (lie knack cannot be learned, a. crew (should revert to tho rudder so that both men can bo able to row up to full strength, which is obviously what is necessary for successful racing. Tliu Star senior crow has definitely ended it* fitful career. It is strange that this club is so unfortunate in its senior fours. What with transfers and sickness it seems impossible to build up a. crew, and things have reached such a stage now that when four men arc picked for tho purpose, it can safely be relied upon that, at least ono of them will either leave Wellington, or meet with-an accident before the creiv gets to the post. It is said that some of the lift* insurance officers intend "loading" crews selected for the S.IJ.C. senior four, but this has boon contradicted. This time the retiring member is M. A. Turner, the No. 3, whose second oft'enco it is,' as he left tho ciew earlier in tho season to cnablo an operlvtion to lx> performed to one of his hands. He is at present confined to his bed, ill, and owing to tho shortness of tho time left it has been decided to abandon tho four altogether.

The Olympic Eight of N.S.W, Tho important work of choosing the N.S.W. Olympic representatives has been done bv the selector and according to the Australian press it lias been done well. The chosen aie:— st. lb Roger B. Fitzhardinga (Sydney R.C.) ?. U 2 H. Hauenstein (Leichhardt, R.C.) 13 8 H. Ross-Soden (Melbourne University) 12 C S. A.'Middleton (Sydney R.C.) ...... 13 7 S. Frascr (Melbourne University) 11 2 T. C. Parker (Ilalmain R.C.) 13 7 J. A. Ryrie (Sydney R.C.) 12 i Keith Heritage (Sydney R.C.) 12 9 13. R. Barker (Sydney R.C.) 12 0 S. Amoss (Balmain R.C.) 12 0 Dr. 11. K. Ward (Sydney University) 11 10 A. B. Doyle (Sydney University) 13 0 Mr. J. Middleton will accompany the crew as coach and the crew will leave Sydney for the front on April 10, excepting Ward and Doyle,') who are at present at Oxford University, tho former being a Rhodes Scholar.

The Star Single Scull*. On Tuesday evening the Star iculling rncos wore completed, the winners boing P. C. Craig in tho senior division, and D. M'Kny in the junior. In each case the result came somewhat as a surprise as the beaten finalists wore the more experienced scullers, but the good work of the winners more than mode up for the marKin of length of service. Craig's win is particularly meritorious as he only started sculling in the senior boats this season and his display gave proiniso of good things in tho future. The Sta.r Club's annual swimming sports are to bo held this afternoon at the Club House with the usual accompaniment of afternoon tea and etceteras for the club's guests.