ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1467, 15 June 1912, Page 13

ROWING.

[Bi "MERonai."]

"ANCIENT MARINER'S" LETTER

July 5 and 6-Henley Royal Regatta. July 18 and 19—Hawing Events, Fifth Olympiad, at Stockholm. July 29.—World's Championship; Arnst v. Harry, tlio Thames.

Wellington Entered for the "Permanent Course,"

In response to "Mercury's" invitation to rowing men to express their views upon tho nnich-ilebnteil "pprninncnt courso" question, there camo during tho week tlio following letter from an old rowing man, whoso record in tho boat, and more latterly, in tho council room of tho local association, gives his opinion weight. He writes:—

Dear Mercury,—l have read with interest the remarks of Mr. Galbraith and your correspondent with reference to tho question, ot a permanent course for championship regattas, and I think thot it is a subject that should be dealt with without delay by the N.Z.A.R.A. The main objects (o bo striven for in tho EClection of a championship course are:— (1) A fair courso which is usablo in any weather; (2) one that has tho facilities for housing boats, and is easily accessible to rowing men. I have rowed on a number of the rivor courses and know of none whioh Mas absolutely fair water conditions, for a field of eight or ton crows. In every instance theso courses are marred by a current which does not run at the samo rate on. ovory part of the course. The lake courses which have been tried (i.e., Forsyth, Wnihola, and Horowhenua) aro objected to on the grounds that they aro subject to some of the following troubles:—Shallowness, weed trouble, or they are unrowablo except on a still day. This brings us back to salt water. Tho principal sea courses are those situated at Dunedin, Picton, Wellington, Auckland, Napier, and Nelson.

In weighing the claims of tho foregoing, tho only two which approach tho ideal conditions of water and accessibility, are Picton and Wellington, and of thc-so two, I think Wellington is entitled to first selpction. No regatta in Port Nicholson has been postponed (during, at anyrate, the last 18 years), -whereas, nt Picton, it is quite the exception to get off a "satisfactory" Tegatta at tho programme times. 1 have seen a champion four race at Picton when only two crows would face the water, and one swamped. Conditions like that cannot bo termed "satisfactory." Further reasons in favour of Wollington are that Port Nicholson is tho natural centre of the Dominion, and la easily accessible by boat and rail to the majority of rowing men, without tho risks, to boats and gear, of transhipments. And lastly and chiefly o, courso can bo found in any wind. But, in the event of Wellington not being agreed on, Picton is my next choice, subject to a proviso that two days nre Ect aside for the events, all to bo rowed on the first clay, if fine. One of tho main arguments used against a permanent course is that old bogey about tho local "form" being improved when tho championships nre annnally moved from place to place. This, to my mind, is nil "buncomb." Tho question of "form"' is almost entirely a matter of coaching, and tbo holding of the usnal local regattas, but by no means necessarily a championship regatta. Fixing a permanent course, as suggested, may be a littlo hard on clubs at, say, tho Bluff or north of Auckland, but the topography of the country must be blamed for that. Perhaps the N.Z.A.K.A. could slightly raise the capitation allowance, and then allow clubs beyond a certain, distance who come, for championship events a rebate of a percentage of euen capitation, but, at tho same time, I do not think that that point "would weigh with clubs entering a crew for, say, the championship fours. If a chit has a crew which it considers good enough for a championship ovent, it will send it no niattor where tho regatta, is held. Trusting this most important matter will be thoroughly debated in your columns, — I am, etc., THE ANCIENT MARINER.

Henley and Some , Australians. Commenting on the cablegram reporting that tho entry of the Australian Olympic eight had been accepted for tho Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley regatta on July 5 and C, a prominent Sydney rowing authority writes:—No doubt there- is a strong Wish on the part of rowing enthusiasts of Australia to see our crew measure blades with the best men of England, but, in view of the fact that tho crew is to compete at Stockholm on Julv .18 and 19, and as tho Henley regatta takes place only 12 days earlier, it appears injudicious to the beat interests of tho crew to have entered into a contest at Henley, as it will permit of little time to gel accustomed to tho conditions prevailing at Stockholm. Accommodation had also been arranged for the crew at that place to cover threo weeks teforo th« race. However, I can only assume that it was the only opportunity of securing a raco against England's best crew, and they decided fo avail themselves of it, and risk their chances at Stockholm; that the acceptance of our entry by tho Henley regatta committee makes history for that great regatta, and is, indeed, a source of great pleasure to the followers of rowing in Australia, many of whom prefer to seo our crew row in England rather than Stockholm. Tho event will bo looked forward to with keen interest.

"Dick" Arnst and Some Sound Reasoning. The same authority discourses veTy sensibly about champion "Dick" Amst. Referring to tho cablegram that stated that his first appearance on the Thamog hnd found favour in the. eyes of tho English critics, tlio Sydney writer warns us not to be unduly carried away because of this flattering unction. Ho points out that most probably the feature of tho champion's form that most impressed the critics was his body swing and his log drive, ond goes on to say: It is possible that' the English critics might place too much reliance upon these features of Arnsf s work, and pay les3 attention to his actual condition. Of course, ho lias done exceptionally in reduoing his weight by 2st. already, but Sydneyites know that list. 41b. is still much too heavy for Arnst, if he is to cover the four miles at top' speed. Thirteen stouo and some odd pounds is his racing weight, ami his friends will be all the more pleased when they hear that lie has achieved that weight or something in tho vicinity of it, and still maintain his strength. Removing the extra poundage would not mean much in itself, but when every ounce of strength has to be conf«ryod, notwithstanding the reduction, it is a different matter, and ono which causes physically big athletes a considerable amount of trouble, and even anxiety. Two days, or oven ono day away from their work would see them run up in avoirdupois at nn alarming rate. This was a failing of "Jim" Stanbury. He put on flesh to quickly when away from training that it was a matter of extreme difficulty for him to get down to raein? weight, and still retain all his strength, ilowevcr, it is Arnsfs condition regarding which Australians are concoTiiod, and they care little about what tho Englishmen think of his work, because they know just about as much as there is to know concerning it, and have no fear in that connection, but they also know that without condition all his great body swing and leg drive could not win a raco for him. Ifo had some trouble in getting into form to meet Pearce. and, although ho wns decidedly well, lie had boon seen better. Tlioro is, though, a good long time still for him to train, and so ho will probably bo able to show the Englishmen what ho is like when in tho best of health and condition. Let him fcoiiro good condition and health, and his friends in Australia will lie perfectly satLsfiod.