ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 12

ROWING.

1 _. [Bi "Mercury."]

ON YELLOW WAIHOLA 1912. February 17.—Wellington Regatta. February 22.—Christchnrch Regatta, Lake ForsytU. February 21.—Waugauui Kcgtitta The Few North Islanders. ' As far as can be gathered from the reports to hand at time of writing, the Championship Ifegatta at Waihola on Wednesday appears to have been up to the standard of these meetings—the only serious blemish being the small representation from the North Island, owing to the distance, and inconvenience of transit for racing boats to the lake. Thus the only participants from the north were C. E. Stone, the Auckland sculler, aud the Wangaiiui Union Club's contingent. In this respect our morning contemporary in heading up its report, limkcs. a note of the fact tlint the Wi-1-lingtou crews had no success. They were not there. . Picton Was Unbeaten, The blue riband event of the day was of course the Champion Fours, and this worked out much as was expected. Two weeks ago "Mercury" gave it as his opinion that the issue lay between the Picton, Wanganui Union, and Christclinrch Union combinations, and that the crew that beat I'icton should win. This prediction was borne out exactly, i'icton was unbeaten, and apparently had no trouble at all, winning by five lengths from the Wanganui Union in llmin. 9sec—an extraordinary fast performance for the dead water in Lake Wuihola. This appears to make the Picton crew nt least as good as last yenr's champions of the Blenheim Club, who defeated the two Union crews—almost identically the same combinations—at Wnngnuui last year. Then the Blenheim quartet won by two lengths in lOmin. -lßscc, rowing with the current, Christchurch Union being second, aud Wanganui half a length away third. This time Picton took llmin. ilsec. for the distance (on still water), but beat the same' opposition by five lengths, and, on this occasion, the Wanganui men displaced the Christchurch Union from second honours. The personnel of the present, champion crew has been dealt with already in this column. Physically it is one of the finest combinations that has entered for the competition, and, moreover, its rowing form is ot a high standard. This latter was guaranteed by the fact that three of the men already possess-sd their champion coats—Andrews and Jackson, the stroke and No. 3—by virtue of their win for Blenheim last year, and C'arrick, tho bow, by his win in the Champion Pairs at Napier in 1010. The other member of the crew, E. Kenny, has a good junior record, and a win in a senior four race to his credit, so it iwill be seen that the material of tho crew right from the very start. As for the combination, the fact that the stroke and No. ;t had already rowed together, and successfully, for a season gave them a good start, and on the still waters of Picton Harbour the rest was easy. The Picton Club can also congratulate itself on its win in the pairs. For F. C'arrick, bow, it was a double championship, as he was also bow in the four. The stroke of the pair, F. Burns, is a very promising young oar, only recently out of the youth class, with a good record of youths' and junior races behind him. Last year he rowed senior, but without success at the big regattas, but he gave every promise of becoming a champion—a promise which he has now made good. Champion Events. The Double Sculls title did not change hands—H. Sharpe and J. Yarrow, of the Wanganui Unions, tightening up their grip on it. Picton appear to have made a bold bid fur this event nlso, nnd apparently lost second place through fin. ishing outside the mark-buoy. Old-timer Jack M'Grath can be congratulated on achieving second honours, as also in the Single Sculls.' As was anticipated. C. E. Stone, the Aucklander— and a sterling sculler-captured the singles for the fourth consecutive year— easily a record. Here again .M'Grath put up n good performance, but youth, especially when combined with the skill that Stone possesses, will be served, and the veteran had to content himself with an honourable second. Our Own Regatta. Not' that the championship gathering is over, the attention of rowing men is turning toward the Wellington meeting next Saturday. Always an important and a popular fixture, the occasion this time promises eveii better than usual, i'or reasons indicated, many clubs did not send crews to Wailiola, and theso are dispatching a big representation, to Wellington to measure blades with the returning champion aspirants. Nearly all, if not all. the present champion crews will be competing, nnd the local association is doing all in its power to make the occasion a worthy one. The usual procedure with regard to courses will be followed. If southerly, Evans Bay to the wharf course; if northerly, the offshore course from Ngahaurauga to Korokoro. The improvement in the rowing conditions of late has brought about the inevitable improvement in the form of the local crews, hut there are signs—at time of- writing—of another relapse in the weather. The crews now all want a few good stiff long-distance-rows to weld the men together, and, interspersed with these, as much racing over the distances as can be got should be indulged in. Some of the crews—particularly tho Star maidens and youths—require to work up their rate of striking tu racing pitch-ut present it is too slow by far. The Wellington maidens arc setting a good example in this respect, their blade-work being very pleasing. The time is good uud the stroke orisp and lively, and the crow will tako a lot of beating. Another Wellington crew showing good form is the senior pair, St.indin nnd Galbi'aith. Earlv in the week the challenge race between this duo and Shilling and ll'luuley was raced off, the challengers being beaten after a stubborn raoe, in which they led until a quarter of a mile l'rom iiome. Stiinden and Galbraith displayed excellent watermanship and combination, and steered well, I:ut rather lacked pace in tlip earlier stages. The Still , junior four and pair art , al-o doing plra-ing work, albeit the work in the four is more elleclivii Iliau pretty." \ n improvement could Ih- obtained by ;i slif. iening-iip ol the No. 2's bni-k at tlic finish ■ and a quicker recovery and '•mailer m-fl ting-away of the hands of the bow. '