ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1995, 28 February 1914, Page 12

ROWING.

[AT "MEBCURI/'J THE GROWN & TB£ CLAIMAiNT, To-day^—Christehurch -Regatta. March 1-4—Wellington Regatta. Tho Crown. Tho title of professional sculling champion of New Zealand lias lain in abeyance for some time now—ever since its lust holder, "Billy 1 ' Fogwell., of New South Wales, defeated the Akaroa Soulier, George Whelcii, for the honour, jl'ogwell came over en a flying trip, was successful, and sooii after retired from boat racing. In the ordinary course the title fihould have reverted to its previous holder, but in this instance Wlieloh had also retired, bo there lias b®m no one upon whom tho champioitsliLp- mantle could fall.

Tho Claimant. Now, honi-evef, the title is to be revived. A challenger in the person of '•Paddy" Hsnuoii, to whom refeiren.ee was made in this column last week, has arisen. Fogwell has consented to get into training again for the purpose of defending his honours, and, as the cables hive advised, llannnn has come over from Sydney to make arrangements for the race.

tho Claimant's Bad Loch. _ Commenting upon tho present situation, a Sydney writer says;— "Hannan has drawn Fogwell, who states thai he will bo prepared to defend his title, but asks for tho small 6um of £2A to meet part of his expenses. Whether Fogtveli can make his acceptance conditional on receiving a sum for expenses is open to' argument, but the demand is net dictated by greed. Hannan is a yOu:ig New Zeatander, who has come hero to learn how to scull, 'and ho lias by no means failed in his mission. He has made many friends, and stands well in the estimation of rowing men generally, but in taking on the ever-popular Fogwell he must realise that, a deal of .sympathetic support wili b.o reserved for tlie local sculler. I '' ' No doubt Ifennan is enterprising and ambitious, i but it big weir in front of him, As a sculler }t3 is unknown in the Pftiwiiiion, This will bo an obshu'ln for him fmanciallv, unless lie. can find taaeking on the other side, and this factor will also make a difference to the gate.

What Locals for tho Raco ; Where tho race is to ho rowed and for wliivt purse has not yet transpired. It is doubtful, in fact, whether the locale lias yet been decided upon—most, probably this wiij be set'tM by ti:e "gate" ooiuidcrntiori; and here it is that Hannan is mimrtunalo iii being unknown out of W-elliiigfom. Here, where lie lifts friends ami nvild soon find a following, natural eonciitions are. all against the harbour n-s a course from whieh any gate money can be derived. However, upon his arrival in Wellington further particulars will no doubt be available. In the meantime satisfaction must bo expressed at tho fact that an eftdeavp-u-r is being made to give sculling an uplift that is much needed at the nre.sent time.

Tho River' Regatta, ytio Wangan-uj regatta, held last Saturday, wag a great triumph for the river ere,vs. Seven clubs were represented. but, wi.t!'. the exception, of olic race, the whole pttsgrammo vis won b>* the three Wnnguniti clubs. Union was •most successful, with fivo wins, including tin. _ two senior four races. Aratf.olio, with three wins, were next, while Wanganui R.-O. and Mamuvntu seeiirat one win each, the former pulling ftff tho Senior foulk with tho veteran George Marshall. The Mannwatu Clul; is to bo rongrntiil-ated on breaking ink) wmuiiig so 'sarly in the day. It ca;)fnred the Junior Singles through the medium of B. good start for the young club.

Form >f tiro V/illington Crews. The WolUii-gtot c-tabs were rrprcscntcri hy three hwr-oa'.ed crows from (lie ■Stai' shod. The local men started in five races, and scoured, for,: - seconds. Tho best c'fEoi-t-S wi>ro msttle fry the Maiden erosr, frljej boro out "Mercury V l -' prognostication at last Saturday by racing esrti'emely well. The writer then caid tliut the crew that beat them would will. Tins is just whit happened. In tho fours, a. splendid rare saw the Star Men beaten by four foot -only, while in the Maiden Doubio Sculls, two of tho quartet--!'!. Kuwson and il. Lawson— were beaten by even a shorter margintwo feet. Thus so narrowly lirissnvg a "double" may not have been bad luak far tho Star mich, but it can crtsmiy bo -characterised as air abscace of good luck.

Chief intercut was naturally centred upon tho Star senior four. Meeting this champions. upon their own water gave the .Star men tat a Small clianco of winning, but it was recognised that tho fact of being measured against sueli a well-tried cr >»v as the Union co'nbina(ion. would afford ari, excellent index as to their strength. As was expected, they wftfft beaten,* but the showing which they made was, considering tlie length of time. that they have been together and tho recent diafi..ge in the ■eretf, deemed satisfactory.

OUr Grows for Lyttolton. Tlio best and best raco was rowed in llmin. -lOsec. for tlbo two miles, «nd even allowing for a following current ill the river, tliis is smart goiiig. The Union crow were admittedly hot "qll out," but the Star men were under two lengths behind this time, so their showing was not at all ft "uad one—nuitc good ciwigh to justify their nuiking tho trip to Lvltelton to compete in tlio big race at tho Chrisfc'nurcli regatta tO'day. On the strength of their good form last Saturday! tlio maidons are akq iuc sent south to-day. and some surprise- will bo felt locally if tlio expedition does not meet with sonie measure of success. ■

Tho freak of Corsair Bay. Tiso ChrisichuTc'.i regatta to-day is being hold afi Corsair 13ay. The experiment was tried last year also, but it was not successful, the Wellington crows having to return without, getting a race on account of tho brtd wafer Corsair Bay appears to bo something like Picton hi this respect. On 364 days 0? tho yeijr there is calm water oil tho- Jaeing coarse—the 3Gsth day is regatta- day.

Rfddla of. the Star Juniors. Kovcrar.g to tho Wanjrsnui regatta, conio explanation is needed regarding the disappointing showing made hv the! Star Junior Four. This wow is physically a. good one, .its combination ia not at'all bad, and tho men wore fairly fit, yet its performance on Saturday dis■clohkl mi nstffrtisli-ing.lack of pace. For this the.ro can ■he only two reasons. firther there is one or ino® Pafseuuef* iii the boat, or' ete# there, is eo,-no technical fault in the rowing that in preventing the work goims on at the (•igiit tinio alid in the right place. ftnowiedfc uf tho- personnel of the orew tlisniifTseS the first rf these alternatives, and, therefore, the fault lies ill tno roivin,,; As it is not in lack of coiiibuiatwn m' pc-wer, it roust ho iir the faulty appiiration of the power. It, remains iww for the crew to disrover where the trouble lies, awl then to remedy it by the time the local recatio comes along next montb. There if, time for this, and every possibility of the foinbinatiosi to i turn orit a good too wise the fault is oiscovejed and ror-i-ccted. Ijast Saturday's form whs tod' bad to he true,