ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 12

ROWING.

[Bγ "Mercuet."] CHARLES HEGGLUM'S LETTER. To-day.—Opening Rowing Season, October U.—World Championship, Barry v. Durnan, Thames. On Monday next Ernest Barry is to bo called upon, for tho Erst time, to defend liis title. His challenger is "Eddie" Durnan, of Canada, who had one essay in tho same direction some years ago, when ho journeyed out to Sydney and was soundly beaten by George Towns.

Much water has flowed down the championship courses since that time, and Durnan has grown no younger what time the title has been battled for by Webb, Arnst, Barry, and Co. Ho was not taken seriously as a championship sculler in Australia, and, if ho hn9 not improved with years—a very unlikely happeninglie should prove a very light lunch for the Englishman.

"Mercury"—although after the Arnst surprise, rather diffident about prophecies —intends indulging in just one more tip,

and so nominates Barry to win on Monday "by a street." The Blenheim Oarsman on the Amateur Question. There returned to the Dominion recently Charles Hegglun, the New Zealand champion oarsman, to whose experiences in Australia "Mercury" recently made reference in connection with the amateur definition controversy. On landing, the returned traveller happened to come across what had been written, and he called upon "Mercury" to talk this, and other rowing matters, over. Unfortunately his timo was limited, and ho was unable to delvo very deeply into things, but promised, on leaving for his future home in Marton, to jot down his impressions of Australian rowing men and matters, and 6end them along. These impressions have since como to hand, and "Mercury" and his readers are indebted to him for the following interesting information and opinions on matters that are at present engaging the attention of the rowing world. Firstly, ho touches briefly on the amateur question: "As the N.Z.R.A. hold their annual meeting this month, perhaps you would like to hear my opinion of the status controversy. The chief objection in Australia, as you know, is the presence of professionals in other eports in our rowing ranks. . This I found strikes hardly upon the amateur in all branches like myself, who wishes to try his skill ttnd luck in rowing in other countries, for I found I was debarred •from competing in the big events. "It is apparently considered that if our code is put on a footins with thai of Australia and other countries, our rowing will lose in popularity in New Zealand. This may be so for a short while, but, onco tho principle is firmly established, I consider tli9 result will be all for good, and the effect would be to mako tho sport moro popular than over by openjng the way to competition with other countries, tmrticularly Australia.

"The other difficulty—the prize money question—can be easily overcome. Of course, it would not be wise to do away with, prize money altogether, as has been done in Australia, as thereis a lot of expense attached to rowing in New Zealand that does not enter into it in Australia.

"Thero all or most of tho regattas are local, whereas we have only one, or, at the outside, two, regattas in each province (except Auckland), and therefore have to travel to compete with outside clubs.

"Our system Is necessary to pay the expenses of travelling crews which could not bo done on the subscriptions of clnb mernWs, which, with us. are not nearly so high as in Australia. Moreover, we do not have the wealthy men as they dokeen sports who help the club nlong when necessary. We have the keen sports all right, but not tho wealth. However, ns this is a matter that can be arranged easily enough, I wont go further into it. Why Remain In our Present Grove? "Kevorting.'to the other difficulty, I now wonder what advantage there is in remaining \in our present groove. Where would have been tho prestige of Now Zealand Rugby football had the players been in the position occupied at present by our rowers of not being able to play the amateur teams of Australia and Great Britain?

1 consider, too, that we lave worldteaters in our oarsmen if given a chance even against the best the world can produce. This may make you smile, but why not? Now Zealand has produced Arnst, the All Blacks, Fitzsimmons, Wilding, and so on, and why not the same in ro-.v-iiipr. ''Take the Sydney R.C. and Leander, for instance. How much is thcro between these- crows? The pick of the world's amateurs, and yet I consider seriously that New Zealand orews can hold their own with them. If anyone wishes to argue this point, I can qnote luru times, conditions of water, ftyles, and so on, for if I thought I could not prove ray contention, at least on paper, I would not write in this strain." Mr. Hegglum on the Style Controvrsy. On the question of etyle the returned traveller is particularly interesting. In Sydney he joined the Balmajn Club, and after undergoing the formality of reinstatement, he found ho could row in club contests, although ineligible for the big raoes. Ho met with some measure of success, and, judging from letters he brings back, made an excellent impression as an oarsman.

He found the style in vogue in Sydney rather nwkward at first, boing shorter in the water and calling for far less body swing than he had been accustomed to in the Blenheim Club, so it will easily be understood how short the work of the Australian , eight must have seemed to tho English critics, accustomed ns they are to the long, sweeping stroke and accentuated body swing. He also found the recoverv in Sydney too fast for him at first. He had been taught here to get his hands away and his arms straight before beginning the forward move on the slide, which he soon discovered made him Into in his body work, as the method there is to get the hands out, and the body and slide moving forward all at once.

He Kays that this is a feature of the New South Wales stylo, to move very smartly, body and slide together, from the back chocks to about half-way down the slide, and then decrease the pace to the end, so as to avoid bumping the front chocks.

This action, to my idea, tends to make the stroke short, as the body is almost perpendicular when the water is taken for the next stroke. It struck me there is not enough pace in the latter part of tho movement for a good body swing forward, as I like to use.

Now, I agree with them as to the first half of the slide-work, but I would give a little more pace in the latter half, so as to give a greater length without over-reach. Of course, there is nothing new in the doctrine of a good forward reach before the rigger—it is old news to us, and I would like a combination of their recovery and our beginning. In one point their methods are superior to ours—in the start. In this I consider we can improve by following the example of the N.S.W.- crews. They give three, smart half-strokes at tho rate of about 90 to the minute. Their boats seem to get away like a runner leaves the mark, and I think their crews, with their style of starting, would beat ours in this department." Pointed Part of the Letter, Summing up, Mr* Ifcgglun writes:—"l would certainly like to impart what I havo learnt to our coming rowers, as I hiivo been observant in Australia on matters of style, and, as you know, have had experience with different club styles in New Zealand. Firstly, I would advocate the gelling away of tho hands at Ilio recovery as the most important piece of work in the movements of a stroke. I would bo most emphatic on this point, as it is a weakness throughout all our rowing. Everything else may be dono smartly, but, if this is neglected, and the recovery allowed to become sluggish, then the rest of tho stroke will follow suit. I would strongly urge upon young oarsmen the necessity of cultivating this and smart, lively work will follow. For tho rest, tho winning stylo of late years in Now Zealand, i.0., that of Blenheim and Wanganui Union is well enough." Mr. Hcgglun gives his remarks a local application thus:—"While in Australia I noticed a contention in a Wellington paper that the Star Club crows would do better

if they cultivated a quicker stroke. Well, Dick (his brother, and three times a champion oar—"Mercury") and I have always noticed that the Stare' greatest fault is that, although getting a good length, they do not row enough strokes to the minute. They swing a little too far back, and there is too much stiffness in the style, aud, chiefly, they are far too slow at the beginning of the Blido-work. If they aimed at getting their hnuds away smarter at the recovery it would make them get away from the back-chocks quicker, aud help in working up <i faster racing stroke. It is noticeable that the Stars are a encceesful club in maiden and junior races, and this, to my idea, is Uie reason of their failure in bost-and-besMxiat racing. The club has the physique in its members, but the men lack 'the pace, for tho reasons given above."

Coaches Pleaso Note, Thus Mr. Hegglun, and his interesting remarks should prove of value to local coaches. It must be remembered, of course, that his contentions regarding things Australian are based upon eightoared oarsmanship, and therefore it is debateable whether the methods described could be adopted in toto into fours. In eights the "sitting" of tho boats is much easier, and so much attention does not have to be paid to preserving the steadiness of the racing craft, thus more can be sacrificed for pace. For example, tho recovery and the slide movement of the N.S.W. style—the simultaneous movement forward of the hands, body, and slidewould be a very tricky manoeuvre in a racing four, and would need to bo Executed very correctly indeed by a trow if the steadiness of'the boat was not to bo impaired. Still, if it could be done, as our critic says, it certainly would brisk up tho work to a wonderful extent, and it is only too true Uhat the recovery is all the local clubs badly wants brisking up. Coaches, please note Mr. Hegglun also has something to eay on tho permanent-course question, but that is another story, and will come up for diecussion again later. Ho advises, also, that his brothor Dick has taken unto himself a wife, and has settled in Marton, so it is probable that the oar will know him no more. Our. correspondent has joined, his brotiier in the country, and says in conclusion: "If I get the opportunity when in Wellington at any tame, I would like to give a practical illustration on the water of what I have written, and then you could criticise the styles. "Mercury hopes to have the opportunity of taking Mr. Hegglun at his word.