ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 3

ROWING.

* (By Mercury.) ■ i

■THE COMING REGATTA. There is but one week more of the toil and tribulation connected with a championship preparation to be borne by the Dominion's rarsmen—oi)e week more of worry and anxiety over crews, to be lived through by selection committees and club officials—one more week of anticipation by the public, and then, if the fates are. kind as regards the weather conditions, Wellington will see a rowing regatta "such as never was before"—on local waters, anyhow. . In fact, to judge from the entries received, and the interest displayed in the meeting, it is doubtful whether any championship regatta to date has promised so well. The successes achieved by the local association durng the last few years have been such as to place the Wellington regatta right at the top of New Zealand aquatic fixtures, and with the magic word championship as an additional lure, entries from north and south have simply rolled in. ' To quote a local official, the only, trouble seems .to be that tho pros- . pects are too pleasing. "It's too, easy," ho told "Mercury." 'Too good to le true—something is bound to go wrong." However, everything that can possibly have been anticipated as likely to go wrong has .been guarded against—everything, that, is, except the weather, and that has been a subject, if not exactly for fasting and prayer,, for much anxious speculation and strenuous desire. As usual,(two courses have been laid off—one for a southerly wind with the start in Evans Bay, and the finish between the Queen's and Taranaki Street wharves, and the alternative (and really the better course) along tho Ngahauranga foreshore for a northerly, with the start just above Ngahauranga, and tho finish off Korokoro. A Critique and Some Comments. "Mercury" has been away from Wellington for some weeks, find naturally dur? ing this time there have been changes and developments in the personnel and racing form of the -representatives of the local clubs. Naturally, also, the writer cannot speak of thu home crew's prospects and form from personal observation. He has, however, to thank a correspondent from the Wellington Rowing Club: for a review of that club's entrants in the various events. The critique runs as under: •' "Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, conditions during the season, training operations have been somewhat upset, but nevertheless all the maroon-and-white representatives have been doing solid work.. The various crews entered are as follow:— Senior Fours.—C. Hegglun (str.|, •A. Jackson (3), E. T. Hegglun (2), G. Blanchard (bow). . Senior Pairs. —G. Blanchard (str,), C. Hegglun (bow). * Senior Double Sculls. —A. Jackson (str.), H. M'Kinley (bow). Junior Fours.—H. Hinchcliff (str.),- E. . Cairn's (3), S. Shilling (2), T. Jenkins (bow). Maiden Fours.—A. Donaldson (str.), .T. Hoaro, (3), W. Hoare' (2), C. Murray (bow). Maiden Pairs.—A. Donaldson (str.), J. Ho'are (bow). -l, „ Maiden Double Sculls:'—E. M Gill (str,), C. Svmonds' (bow). ' . . "The Wellington Club members have to thauk the Star Club for granting, the use of their' shed at the .Thorndon, Lsplanade" for" training \'pbriipses,.in the northerly weather.' fhe senior' four has taken full advantage of this, and have been getting in two rows a day. The crew is swinging along splendidly—tho time ]>eing Exceptionally good. The body-swing and slide work throughout the boat is well knit together, while the catch and drive are both hard nnd vigorous. "The crew is nicely suited by the new boat procured from George Norton this season, and, in all, the prospects of the combination of annexing the big event ore of tli© brightest. This is tho first', time for a number of years that a crew of this calibre has been seen on Port Nicholson, and members of the club are -looking to it to put the old colours'back where they belong—at tho top of championship list." Is This Optimism Justified? • Right here "Mercury" interrupts to remind his readers that the above remarks are not his—but his correspondent's, lho writer hopes sincerely that the optimism contained in-the foregoing critiaue will be justified by the outcome of the big race and that the crew will row up to its club'£ apparently very high expectations. But it'must be . said that this optimism is not general among local rowing men. More than one _ critic has expressed to tho writer a feeling of disappointment at the form displayed by the crew —fault'being found chiefly with the length set by the stroke. Also/ doubt has been expressed to "Mercury" as to whether the men have had enough boat work for a severe ordeal like a championship race. ."Dick" Hegglun was laid aside for a while with a poisoned finger and although the crew got in its work with a substitute, time was lost through tlijs mishap, that will take a deal of catching up. Also there are other matters that have led of .late to head-shakinr/ bv some, of the critics. For-example, on Wednesday last the crew was out with .Tackson in the No, 2 seat and "Dick" Hegglun No. fl,, and it is considered to be a verv late hour at which to be trying exneriments—^whatever the that led to th.e chang may be. The Doint is that at this stage of the game there should ba ni reasons demanding a change—thev should liavp been disposed of weeks ago. Of Lesser Lights. However, this-is a digression. With regard to the other AVellinglon club crews my friend goes on to say:— "The juniors are doing good work. Last week they journeyed to the Wangnuui regatta and scored two good seconds. A hint to the stroke may be useful at this' juncture—increase of length in front' of the rigger and an easier forward movement on the slide would have the twofold effect of adding to his boat's, pace and at the same time of proving less exhausting to the men behind him. Willi duo attention to these important details I feel sure this crew will race well, and will do credit to the club. "The maiden four has lately settled down to 'good solid training—doing iwo rows daily and land work in the evening. They 'swing along in gcod style, and the boat runs jnicely between the strokes, but the work would be improved by a harder catch and a livelier stroke. No. 3 should rid himself of a tendency to, drop his hands, into the boat at the. catch. No. 2 should get his work on quicker at the beginning, which comment also applies to the bow oar, who also could reach out further with advantage. "The pair-oared and double sculling duos are working in between the fouroared rowing so that the selectors hove no need to worry about slackness in the training department. The only thing toworrv about for next Saturday is the weather. If this does ils dntv as "'ell as the o n rsm»n have, men'bers of the Wellington 7!owi"g Club will have no cause to complain." So miHi for the W.TC.C. and its prospects. Pressure on space prevents any Tomarks this we~k on the repres"uM'ves of . the other clubs, but next week "MrsX cury" hopes to b« able to make fine! crP" ticisms and anticipations.